Convoys in RUB, SH3Comm & Improved Convoys
 

I play RUB using SH3Comm 1.43; both 1.42 and the new 1.43. :up: These mods I gather now incorporate the Improved Convoys mod.

In one of the other threads one of the guys behind Improved Convoys stated that he wanted feedback so that better versions can be made.

So.....

5 patrols, over 2 careers; both careers starting in September 39 with the 2nd flotilla. That works out as 2 in September, 2 in October, and 1 in December. A convoy encountered on each patrol, and each convoy it appears has had 3 Destroyers and a Corvette as an esccort! :o

There is variation in the make up of the convoys. One I recall had a couple of small tankers and 1/3 US ships. Another convoy had a T2 and T3 tanker along with a troop transport; one seemed to be an even mix of English ships with Norwegian, Swedish and Greek ships and was mostly smaller merchants. Finally the convoy I have just sighted seems to be C2 and C3 merchants, some smaller merchants and a warship in the middle (not close enough to make out what it is yet, but guess its a cruiser from what other threads say).

Now I thought that the convoys were not well protected in 39. Whilst some of the convoys described above might merit better protection, some surely not. :hmm:

When I worked out last night that this latest convoy had the exact same number of escorts, I must say my enthusiasm did slip. :(

Am I being unreasonable in feeling that there may be something amiss with the escort composition?

Also playing RUb1.43 and SHCdr 1.43.
Time is January 1940, I have been just sunk in a foolish surface action with a East-bound convoy, North-West of Ireland. Escort was composed of two Flower-class corvettes and an auxiliary cruiser imbedded into the convoy (and which was the cause of my boat's loss).
I'm quite sure there were no other escorts, because I made three successive approaches, the last one on the surface.

On the very first patrol of this short career, September 39, I bumped against a covoy whose escort included an armed trawler.

So I am quite confident that different escort posses are indeed modelled.

I did four patrol with Rub 1.43 ...

Found/was reported on 4 convoys between Sep 39 and Mar 40.
My experience was very different from BladeHeart.

1st convoy - had the usual config of stock SH3, plus the auxiliary cruiser imbedded into the convoy columns. So, 3 destroyers at zero degrees(D), 120D and 150D, plus that cruiser.

2nd convoy - convoy NOT escorted at all in front of convoy, but two destroyers at back

3rd convoy - same as 1st (for DD escorts)

4th convoy - same as 1st (for DD escorts)

I did run into a naval task force of two (2) Nelson BBs escorted by some cruisers and destroyers.

The convoys I saw (all of them) were very heavy proportionally with C2s - but I think that was on purpose according to earlier threads during its development.