Scapa...surprisingly easy.

[Kruger]

I'm using GW, and my realism is set to 53%. I now I'm not supposed to have infinit amount of diesel fuel...but what the heck. You"ll forgive me for that.


In my last mission (november 1942), I managed to get into Loch Ewe. Hardly. Mines, subnets, I scratched my keel on the nets and on the bottom. After 7 hours (in the game) I reached the inner port and found a Nelson, two Dido's, one transport, tankers, one liner...really juicy stuff. Sank as much as I could.


So I decided that in the next mission I could raid Scapa (december 42). I imagined that it would be hell under the sea. No way. I entered from the east, and except the guns on the shore, there was no protection at all. I just cruised undisturbed at PD, 3 knots. 2 Dido's...one large transport...one destroyer...that's about it. 6 hours later I was in the open sea. It's much easyer that taking on a convoy.

[bigboywooly]

Lucky you
While I find getting in easy - as long as I evade all the patrolling DD
Its the getting out thats harder
Once I have sunk a couple the place is normally swarming with DD and patrol boats

[stabiz]

Yup, I did not survive my first (and so far only) visit to Scapa.

[Jager Kapitan]

I like raiding harbors also, but GW really makes it worth it, in the stock version, Scapa is supposed to have breaks in the land on that east side, that's how Prien actually did enter Scapa. Good job :up:

Edit: found a copy of the map Prien used during his raid.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3456/u47logmap6pf.th.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=u47logmap6pf.jpg)

[Jager]

My first true visit to Scapa was the single player mission when I first bought the game...that did not work out so I did not try it again until a few months ago at 100%. I knew from the previous experience that the south extrance was just out of the question with the amount of escorts, search lights and that blasted sub net so I figured to go around the back, the western approach which proved almost as much as a challenge as it was guarded by three determined Hunt I's and one thick mine field. I was about to turn home and give up the chance of entering when I noticed a fishing trawler calming making its way across the minefield and turning around. This gave me the idea, if he can do it, so can I so I surfaced and headed the coastline of the Scapa flow inlet believing that the nearer to the coast I was, the less chance of hitting a mine. Well it worked and I got in to Scapa (minus two DD's that tried to catch me over the mine field). I found a perfect natural habour just 2km from the nearest gun emplacement and decided to rearm, recharge the batteries, and get 100% oxygen again. At 9pm I was ready to make the attempt. Four hours later, at ahead slow and at silent speed I made it to the centre of the harbour to only notice three Tribal destroyers, NO battleships! I decided to show the Britsh they had been truly breached, I torpedoed a Tribal in the middle of the harbour anchorage which sank rather quickly in two pieces. To my amazement, no DD's came after me and I continued at ahead slow, hugging the coastline back to my natural anchorage. At 4am I made it back to my natural anchorage and took a huge breath of relief, the deed was done but I still had to escape the minefield. I decided to take the same way I came in. Two hours later, I was out of Scapa Flow and on my way back to Kiel. This mission was conducted Sept. 1939 witha Type VIIB out of Kiel. Now to provide the eye candy:

http://www.geocities.com/the_377th/Scapaflow1.jpg

The first DD to die near the Western approach to Scapa.

http://www.geocities.com/the_377th/Scapaflow2.jpg

This was the second DD that had came from around the corner of the inlet. I decided to lead him into the minefield which detered him for a while, forcing him ultimately to run aground and be destroyed by one of my torpedos (the first three bouncing off).

http://www.geocities.com/the_377th/Scapaflow3.jpg

The centre of Scapa flow with three Tribal DD's.

http://www.geocities.com/the_377th/Scapaflow4.jpg

The targeted Tribal, notice the harbour lighthouse in the background.

http://www.geocities.com/the_377th/Scapaflow5.jpg

A picture from my navigation chart showing my position within Scapa Flow.

After I had left Scapa I managed to catch three merchants trying to make the northly run to get to the eastern ports of the UK. I returned to Kiel on Sept. 12th.

[Dowly]

Edit: found a copy of the map Prien used during his raid.

Actually, this is the map that he draw for BDU/FDU after the raid. :up:

[Jager Kapitan]

Actually, this is the map that he draw for BDU/FDU after the raid.

Ah I see, went back to the site I got it from...always wondered why it was in english :hmm: