Kaleun Stabiz goes to Scapa (again) [Archive]

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stabiz

07-23-06, 06:18 PM

Its always fun to read patrol reports, so I decided to make one, but only halfway through, because this turned out to be a great moment in my "career":

I am in March 1940, and after patrolling AN 44, I decided to visit Scapa Flow, since I still had loads of fish in my trusty Type VIIB. (At this point only a tug boat and a large cargo had seen my rage)

After some sneakin` and wigglin`, I entered Scapa from the east.

Look what met my free roaming camera:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3176/sh32006072321403732xz0.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/324/sh32006072321410615et8.jpg

I have never even SEEN an Auxiliary Cruiser before! And there it lays peacefully, alongside a freekin Illistrious Fleet Carrier?! Man, this was a good moment.

Of course all the patroling destroyers spoiled my mood a bit, but: All hands to battle stations!

Passing the obstacles:

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/4113/sh32006072321461267hs5.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/9711/sh32006072321465360qx6.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3885/sh32006072321470281ht3.jpg

The Cruiser:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/80/sh32006072321553076qy1.jpg

The Carrier:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/326/sh32006072322010223sr9.jpg

Well guarded, too ...

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9426/sh32006072322075700aq8.jpg

First fish hits the Carrier ...

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/918/sh32006072322123956ae2.jpg

... as the Cruiser takes a two hits:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1707/sh32006072322175081kn5.jpg

The final stern tube hits the Carrier:

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/9546/sh32006072322265439fw3.jpg

Unfortunaltely, as I make a U-turn and fire the aft fish, the rear torp detonates midway between me and the carrier. She lurches over, but wont sink after two hits. (The Cruiser is burning and flooding in the background):

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/6461/sh32006072322383614xm5.jpg

stabiz

07-23-06, 06:22 PM

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/448/sh32006072322402070fm5.jpg

I get out of Dodge to load more torpedoes, charge batteries and rest my lads:

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/7/sh32006072322445350io7.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2268/sh32006072322482382nj2.jpg

I sneak back and hit the Carrier REALLY hard with a narrow angled 3-fish salvo from close range, but on the other (and exposed) side. Behold the fireworks!

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/4344/sh32006072323023250lx9.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/8376/sh32006072323025789hq2.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/8140/sh32006072323031621rq8.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/139/sh32006072323034101po3.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/9909/sh32006072323040515hh9.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/2636/sh32006072323043365co6.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/6003/sh32006072323054107ox2.jpg

stabiz

07-23-06, 06:25 PM

After this, they DC`ed me so badly I almost cried.

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/4613/sh32006072323070318lt3.jpg

... so U-52 left in a hurry:

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/5701/sh32006072323072135nq8.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/5374/sh32006072323115214kq4.jpg

On my way back home, I met a small coastal wessel:

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/7366/sh32006072323260801vg0.jpg

I was in such a good mood after knocking out the cruiser and the carrier, so I decided to give this fella my last aft fish. He exploded so hard he actually disappeared completely, hahaha!

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1725/sh32006072323293112kf1.jpg

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/949/sh32006072323293954sk1.jpg

... before popping back up ... to sink for real:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4697/sh32006072323302189yg1.jpg

Home, sweet home in Wilhelmshaven 30th of March: (Yeah, a bit dark)

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/2080/sh32006072323520557xo7.jpg

Confirmed kills:

1 Large Cargo

1 Tug Boat

1 Auxiliary Cruiser

1 Illistrious Fleet Carrier

1 Small Coastal Wessel (:rotfl:)

My best patrol so far, which earned me the Knights Cross. Hooray!

NIGHTFIGHTER

07-23-06, 06:54 PM

One hell of a mission, stunning shots, i get well happy if i manage to sink one, so you must have been over that beutiful moon. It's strange but i have more joy with the stern tube than with the bow torp's, my last mission i put three bow torp's into a C-2 and it just kept going, i then surfaced and used about 50 88 shells and yep it was still going, Quite PI**@$ off i turned to continue the mission and in frustration fired the stern tube and like your shot of the Coastal Vessel it lept out of the water. Stabiz ill have to go to scapa for myself thanks for posting:rock:

Frenssen

07-23-06, 06:58 PM

Nice combat report. When I see your screens the first thought that strikes me more than one year after it`s release the game`s graphics still amaze me.
Your boat`s winter camo is way cool:up:

P_Funk

07-23-06, 07:18 PM

Wicked! I have been U-52 a few times but never had such a great patrol. Where did youget that moon reflection from? I thought I just read a thread where someone said they had finally managed to get the moon to reflect off the water... have I missed some big release?

stabiz

07-23-06, 08:56 PM

Thank you, gentlemen!

The good thing about Scapa is the "free" reknown, but I have never seen a bounty like this one before, only tankers and large cargos. (Nothing is free, I barely survived the dc`ing)

The winter camo is fubars work. (true artist)

The moon is stock Grey Wolves (true artists, too. The only mod I use, except various skins)

catar M

07-24-06, 07:27 AM

How could you survive ?????? well done:up:

stabiz

07-24-06, 07:50 AM

I found the trick in Scapa is to hit and run. I am always on my way out of the damned thing before my topedoes hit any targets. Then I wait for the next day, if I have to finish the job. I think you sometimes need a bit of luck too. :D

catar M

07-24-06, 08:32 AM

When I wonder in to those parts of the world I get done even before getting in:lol: need bit more practice

bigboywooly

07-24-06, 09:42 AM

Very nice job - great pics too:rock:
Dammit might have to go back myself tonight
Only ever met cruisers and DD in there so far

Teho

07-24-06, 11:30 PM

I've spotted the auxiliary curser many times, usually as a part of a convoy. Yesterday i sneaked into Gibraltar and saw what i've never seen before, the Southampton light curser. :rock: -Naturally, i blew her down. :lost:

P_Funk

07-24-06, 11:47 PM

C-4

08-06-06, 05:18 PM

I just sneaked into Scapa Flow now, in Nov. 1939, and as it turns out, all that awaited me there were some tug boats, some medium-small tankers and fishing boats, plus lots and lots of DDs. Was this just bad luck that no large warships or merchants were in port, or did I go during the wrong year?

By the way, I'm using Grey Wolves 1.1a.

By the way, as soon as I neared the ships in port, three DDs rushed over to my position. Is there some kind of detector system in the harbor that I triggered?

Thanks a lot.
C-4

Sailor Steve

08-06-06, 05:23 PM

You need the 'Small Moon' mod.

Nice work, by the way.

issoisso

08-06-06, 05:32 PM

C-4

08-06-06, 05:52 PM

sneak into loch ewe!!!

on that date, there's the nelson battleship anchored there!!

Are you serious? I'm going there! Hopefully the DDs won't get me...

Thanks for the tip!
C-4

stabiz

08-06-06, 06:08 PM

Be very careful, its the hardest port to raid by far. (I have only survived once, an then I cheated, and used external cam to follow the subnets in - to avoid the freekin mines)

When you get hold of an IX, hurry over to New York, its renown-heaven. (Maybe you can go in a Type VII too, with the milkcows and all?)

C-4

08-06-06, 10:40 PM

I got the Neilson! Thanks everyone! 36000 tons added to my record! Although I cheated a bit... My realism is set at 45% or so, when I usually play on 75%+ lol

It took 4 torps under her hull...

I guess I'll post some screenshots when I come back to port...

Yes, this port was hard to get into. One armed trawler kept circling my position, but insteading of DCing me, it keeps on depth charging 100m in front of me. Guess I was lucky this time round. It didn't seem to be as defended as Scapa Flow. I didn't strike any mines, and if I did, they only seemed to cause minimal damage (there were a few tmes when my ship took damage even though enemy warships were far away from me). I only collided (partially) with a sub-net once, with minor damage.

Hip-hip hooray!

Again, thanks everyone.
C-4

Jager Kapitan

08-06-06, 10:53 PM

Ah the nelson, one of the juciest targets in the game. I learned my lesson from sneaking into lock ewe. They made subs real sturdy back then lol. took two mines on right on the middle but on different sides, got DC'd about 5 times, accidently got to close to the Nelson, and when that happened I got treated to two cruisers, a destroyer, and a battleship going full broadside on me.......:nope:......they got bright lights too :o.....Moral: attack during the day, or sneak in at dusk/dawn to see the mines (unless you want to risk it) . I think Dover is the the second hardest port to sneak into, but you can always call in your buddies who work for the plumpy goering, but don't think the warships will ignore you when they got a bomber squadron over their heads.....:dead:

The Munster

08-07-06, 03:38 PM

Stabiz, you're Screenshots are amazing ! To do all that damage in the Scapa Flow and flank away is awesome. Your boat skin is fantastic and I'd like to skin it onto my own. The problem is I'm using Grey Wolves and I'm halfway thru my 7th Patrol (I've finally managed to transfer from Kiel which was a total nightmare to navigate out of into open sea) to Wilhelmslaven but I don't think you can mod mid_patrol ?!).

stabiz

08-07-06, 05:00 PM

Thanks, Munson!

I dont know if you can mod mid-patrol, but here is a link to the skin:

http://files.filefront.com/FUBARS_VIIBcamorar/;5300029;;/fileinfo.html

The Munster

08-07-06, 05:11 PM

Hi Stabiz and thank you for the Link; I have downloaded and will add to our VIIB once this Patrol is over. Danke :D

Fat Bhoy Tim

08-08-06, 01:59 AM

Can someone tell me where in Scapa the sunken barricades are? I'm currently in there and put a full salvo of 4 under a Revenge class - but the bastard hasn't sunk.

Anyway I'm heading west to perhaps sneak out. I know that the northern side of the west exit has a minefield, but I'm unsure about the southern side, or the whats either side of the island in the channel prior to reaching the exit.

stabiz

08-08-06, 06:15 AM

The sunken barricades are in the eastern exit, where there are no mines. (There is no eastern exit in the vanilla game)

Fat Bhoy Tim

08-08-06, 06:31 AM

The sunken barricades are in the eastern exit, where there are no mines. (There is no eastern exit in the vanilla game)

Cheers.

pharos

08-18-06, 08:42 AM

I have hit Loch ewe a couple of times.
If you go in overnight and surfaced stick close to the shore and move at no more than 3 knts. You can get through as the Armed Trawler moves to the outer part of the approach.

Hit the Nelson with a magnetic torp at 11m depth under the smokestack and BOOM!.

You may want to take out the V&W to the stern of the Nelson first.

After that just cruise the harbour very slowly at Pscope depth and see what you find.

Watch out for the Yank Tankers, before they join in the war, and also the occasional hospital ship.

If you want to reload or run out of nightime to make your escape, the head of the loch to the south of the port is a good place to hold up.

After you finish just hug the coast again on the way out.

I usually approach on the south side of the loch.

Probably not that historicaly accurate but lots of fun and big renown.