Into the Jaws of the Lion:U-51 takes on the Scapa Flow Destroyer Base!
 

Sorry guys, this is only my 2nd ever combat patrol so no screenies this time (will do for next time)

Feeling a bit bold, I tried to cut across the Orkney Island Straits and had to sprint and drift through destroyers on picket patrol. Once I was abeam the south approach to Scapa Flow, I started heading north after plotting the patrol paths of all the destroyers in the area.

I set up a 90*AOB shot at a point near the small-tooth shaped island in the middle on this southern approach to Scapa.

Despite having a beautiful side shot at only 400 meters, I missed his stern by about 2 meters. Yes, I really need to practise my shots as I can find the target course and speed pretty easily in the nav menu, but not practised enough to take great shots. Most of my shots are my own lead.

The destroyer didnt notice my shot, so I continued north slient running....

Here's where it gets really interesting. The sun was just setting, and when I snuck a peak in external view, I noticed the destroyer had docked in front of the island!

I snuck up and used my stern tube to nail him, and started running! Needless to say, I stirred up the hornets nest and sank two more escorts before trying to escape west. As I was escaping, I noticed two more destroyers docking at this small island. Heading west, I nearly did it, but then left the TC on 32x to cook some dinner,and came back to see my sub dead from surface attack:down:

Made me think of going back just after sunset to nail 3 resting destroyers for some nice reknown points.

A few questions for your grizzled sea-dogs;

1) any tips on setting up close in kills shots with manual setting for the torps in the TDC screen? I used markers and the 3:15 rule using my own watch to figure out course, predicted track, speed and AOB from the nav map screen)



2) the type XI boat is offered for 8000 reknown, I like the idea of patroling with a "U-Cruiser, " would like to know what are good tactics and fights to avoid to make best use of these larger, and less nimble boats.

That happens to me as well, I snuck into Loch Ewe and after I sunk this Aux Cruiser only like two destroyers showed up, but on they way out I noticed that at least four ships had "docked" near land, all pointing in my direction when I torped the Aux. A bug if I ever saw one, got a fix for it?

i don't conduct full target-motion analysis on escorts/destroyers - they tend to move to quickly/erratically. That is, unless they happen to be moving along with a convoy at a known speed - say 8kts, and they haven't adopted the snake-search. In that case I'll take a precise 90 abeam T2 keel shot on a destroyer. But when they're suspicious, the only way to have high-probability of making a kill, on manual targetting, is to take the shot from 400m or less, set to just below their keel on magnetic pistol. Set the tube to zero gyro, fast speed, and just take a rough guess about the target's course. I then just turn the periscope off them, in the direction of their course, and take a shot. After a while you get the intuition for it. Sometimes I'll go flank for a bit so they get a fix on me (in the case of one pursuer) and come straight for me. This puts you in position for a stern shot DtT (down the throat), which is the best for zero gyro setting. Then, if i miss and the DC me, I stay at PD, do a dodge to escape their charge, and then take another shot, bow, again, fast, keel shot, mag pistol, zero gyro, trying to anticipate their curve - if they turn left, turn the periscope further left, and take a rough guess and fire. If they are really close (~300m) this tends to work well. At any greater distance it's a waste of torpedoes.

T5s are really good for escorts. Often I'll fire one at an escort, then turn and go flank, and have him chase me. He'll speed up to do so, giving hte T5 a good lock. Then I just have to hope it gets him before he runs me over.

Kb

Lol. I'm suprised the Royal Navy even base a sailboat with a damaged hull there, let alone valuable warships, give the amount of U-boats that seem to be forever sneaking in there.

Anyway, Good story.

Egan, don't give the Tommies any ideas now. LOL

:doh: I once manage to experience the ''Triggerhappy Mines Of Loch Ewe''
never had an succesfull Raid :damn:

Ahh the mines of Loch Ewe, was sneeking up to the aproches to the Loch and found two medium size merchants. Started to set myself up on the nearest of the two, and just when i was about take the shot at about 500m BANG:doh: I hit a mine and that did for me on my first patrol.:damn: Back to the drawing board.

Problems with Manual Tube Settings in TDC
 

another quick question; I followed the stickied Illustrated Guide to sinking a ship; all of it made sense to me, in fact I was already doing that nav map target plotting for 90* AOB shots from 400 meters....but what I didnt understand was the manual tube settings for AOB. He set the speed, range and bearing fairly correctly, BUT THE ANGLE ON THE BOW had been previous set as 90* on the periscope, yet the mechanical dial read 035 instead..... and he still hit. I will experiment in navel academy, but it doesn't make much sense to me. Anyone have an answer?

It's really pretty simple. The vorhaltrechner automatically corrects the AOB when you move the periscope.

If you get on an exactly perpendicular course to your target's course, with the periscope or UZO pointed straight ahead set the AOB to 90 degrees. Then, when you move the periscope, the vorhaltrechner 'knows' the correct AOB for whatever relative bearing the periscope (or UZO) is pointed at.*

*(Assuming, of course, that you have entered the other required information)