Very important Task Force
 

...or so it seemed. I spent a few hours stalking it and discovered...

4 Clemson class destroyers. That was it.

How often are task forces this small? Or perhaps some other sub took down the main ships... I dunno. It ticked me off. They were somewhat far apart...

Approximate positions: http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/Clemsons.gif
As noted, one DD was apparently searching for someone else. I only heard the DD's even when searching manually(25m deep, top-mounted hydrophones).

Once again, the magical Uboot => Brest teleporter saves the day!

Unrelated note: dolphins can move pretty fast...

My first intention was "this is a subchaser group", but the Clemson-Class was not very suitable for the "U-Jagd" (large turning circle, only 2 DepthCharge-Racks, insufficient range) - compared to other destroyers , alltough four of them could be a pain in the ass.
So .. I have no clue :hmmm:

No idea of what year you are operating in, but I noticed a lot more sub hunter groups composed of just destroyers in 1944.

I've run across a similar group in the North Sea, but I don't remember what class of DD they were. I just remember there being four of them out there patrolling.

It's late 1942. http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/a...ame/Mapppp.png

The arrow shows the approximate direction of the TF, with the tip right about where I intercepted it.


@ Opeks: I'd be happy to find a couple boxships. They should actually be MORE valuable than a battleship, I thought. Anyone know the renown values for an Illustrious class or the escort carriers?

Cheater! :O:

Nothing strange about them. Hunter-killer groups were one of the cornerstones of the successful allied ASW strategy. Captain Johnnie Walker was in large part responsible for promoting this idea, and every time I run into a group of Black Swans, I sure do feel a bit of a chill... definitely one of the most determined threats you can meet!

"Walker led from Starling, a newly-commissioned Black Swan-class sloop. The group was intended to act as re-inforcement to convoys under attack, with the capacity to actively hunt and destroy U-boats, rather than be restricted to escorting convoys. Walker had suggested the innovative idea to Commander-in-Chief Western Approaches Command Sir Max Horton. The combination of an active hunting group and a charismatic, determined and innovative anti-submarine specialist such as Walker would prove to be a potent force.

Walker sank more U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic than any other British or Allied commander and was instrumental in the Allied victory of the Battle of the Atlantic, one of the most important campaigns of the war. "

So in reality, you think you were stalking a task force, but it's actually a task force whose sole purpose is stalking you!

...then that brings me to my other questions. Why were they oblivious to me despite plenty of frantic above- and below-surface movements? The only destroyer that was attempting to search was going the wrong way.

Game AI being dumb :O:

I've certainly had my share of extremely ugly encounters with these groups, though. Don't think they can't hear you if they're sailing straight. But a lot depends on the game config/mod you're using, too.

I've run across many task forces just consisting of 3-4 destroyers, always went deep and silent running when I spotted one as it will be end of career if I was was bold and attacked:doh:

if it was just one destroyer, I would have engaged it for sure. Those Clemsons aren't exactly on the high end of the DD tier... it would have taken just a bit of maneuvering. (The weather was too rough for the deck gun. Shame.)

Not much point in taking on destroyers that haven't engaged you....little renown and tonnage.

:o

I may be crazy...... but not that crazy.

Deck gun vs DD?

It works if you're as stupid as I am. Only against 1 DD, though. You have to start firing first, from at least 3km away. Never stop moving and aim for things that go boom (torpedo launchers, depth charge racks). AIM MANUALLY! And hope for luck.

Recently came across a small convoy, 1 V&W scouting ahead. Took Sir Humphreys down with 15 10.5cm rounds, no damage suffered (still had the crew on full alert tho). Took down the rest of the convoy (~17k tons.)

My record was 2 hits on a Hunt I and she went down.

Maybe that's why your name is missing..... you went nuts and forgot it :D

But now you have me really really intrigued........

Next time on U-103, Kaleun goes mano a mano with a destroyer!