Depends on the situation, clear skys and calm seas 8 to 10 miles, night or bad weather you can be closer.

The main point is you must be ahead of the target and not too far off it's plotted course. Plan an intercept point about 2000 yards off the course and then let them come to you. You can just set submerged at slow speed on silent running and maneuver into a good attack position.

You could not be in a worse position than what is in the so called Training mission. The only way to catch that convoy is to go submerged at 7 or so knots and you risk detection or just take on the DDs to start with. Not exactly convoy attack training.

If I was in that position I would turn West at flank speed submerged if necessary and try to set up in a better spot. Track the convoy with radar once you get 8 or 10 miles away and can surface. The convoy turns west anyway.

That is why I suggested a War Patrol. Such as Hellcat or even Lifeguard.
In Lifeguard you have 5 big fat, unescorted, CVs to practice on. See the thread on Lifeguard.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=159594

Magic

Another option would be to use the mission editor and start yourself a little further away, giving you time to set up a good ambush. There is a great tutorial for using the editor here. You won't need the tutorial if all you want to do is change your starting position. That will be very simple... just start the editor, open the existing mission, drag your boat to another location, and save.

I tried this 'training' mission yesterday, and I just exited the mission when I saw the ridiculous starting position. Kind-of like the torpedo training where the target ship is super-close and closing fast, leaving you virtually no time to identify the ship and set up a shot manually.

The mission editor is great for adjusting the training missions, or creating your own.

Thanks guys this thread has been very helpful. :up:

What WOULD a good position be in this case? I am just wondering. Happy to hear yours or anybody elses thoughts on this matter.

You should be about 15 or so miles away, that will give you time to set up a good shoot by tracking the convoy on radar and plot it's course and get speed using the three minute rule.

Mark the position and start the clock, three minutes later mark again and measure the distance between marks. 1 knot for each 100 yards.
500 yards = 5 knots, 10,000 yards = 10 knots etc. I do this three times and that will give you a good course line as well.

Once you have this you can set up an intercept point and be there waiting.

Magic