Today I finished my first patrol. I sunk 2 ships for 1900 tonnage. Im not pleased at all (even if its my fist patrol), as I've spent quite a lot of time on the sea, but I havent managed to encounter ANYTHING. After patrolling my designated grid, I went to the english coast only to sink a small ship, and then nothingness again.

I presume Im missing something. I received some messages from other uboats telling me things like "convoy on AL 5908 heading west", but I couldnt make use of this information as I couldnt know what it meant.

Do you have any tips or strategies on where/how to move to get a higher chance of contact?

A lot of the messages you receive in GWX are to provide period atmosphere only. There is no other U-Boat and no convoy at that location. It's not unusual to spend a lot of time at sea in the game and see absolutely nothing for days as happened historically. It's a huge ocean. Your best bet is to hang on the main convoy routes from North America and Gibraltar, especially where they come together north of Ireland. Sooner or later you'll get a contact report.

Ok thanks. With that in mind, I've gone a few saves back and Im continuing the patrol as I've got plenty of fuel and torpedos. AS you suggested, I went to the main routes and Im finding guite a lot more activity. I've sunk 2 ships in an hour (real time), compared with the 2 ships I had sunk in about 5 hours.

I think running at low speed helps. If you're on the route, and you know ships are going to come by, I think its no use going fast and deviate from their course.

With larger ships, impact hist below the forward mast to under the bridge seem to bring them down. Smaller ships, from under the funnel to the rear mast.

There will be the occasional ship that will need more (small ones can be tough to sink, I used three to sink a ship less than 2,000 tons, pride was the reason!) and remember that they will sometimes take awhile to sink. If your unsure, use another, and for bigger or more important targets (liners, cruisers, battleships, carriers) more are recommended!:arrgh!:

Try AM51 through AM53. There is usually a fair bit of traffic in these squares. Avoid using high tc (256x & above) in AM52-53 as you can run into trouble (ASW vessels) really fast!:eek: In the early war years ('39-'40) avoid using magnetic pistols. The pistols malfunctioned quite a bit which resulted in premature detonations & many lost kills.:damn:

Hope this helps & good hunting...:arrgh!:

Also when shooting at large warships (Battleships, Cruisers) aim for underneath the turret the objective being to detonate the magazine It can be spectacular when you hit the sweet spot

Most radio messages are indeed just immersion only. But sometimes you get a radio message that belongs to a convoy icon on the map. It gives a grid quadrant (where the icon is), speed in knots and rough course. Which is also written into the message panel. These ARE reliable. If you are within range definately intercept them! I am not sure if this also comes with radio morsecode audiocue, or cuts down the time compression. But keep a sharp eye for them.

thanks! that confirms my ideas. The hunting is going better now, I have intercepted a convoy and managed to sneak into it without being detected by the escorts. I have noticed I have a lot to learn and practice (probably on single missions after I get to base after the attack). Sadly, I had to stop playing when the best part was about to come (a few minutes before launching the salvo at the biggest target).

Thanks for the help, I'm really learning a lot via this forum.

One small step at a time Kaleun...to begin with.

Good hunting.

SINK EM ALL!! http://www.psionguild.org/forums/ima...ies/pirate.gif

Don't get frustrated. We all had to take baby steps to start. You will get better with practice, practice, practice.:up: