Dangerous, but ...
 

It is Sept 1939 and I have 11 torps left so I thought I'd head into Scapa Flow. The weather is bad, foggy, rough seas, winds 15/s. Should I wait outside until night fall and then try to go in? Time is 1119 and I'm just about there. I have a VIIB.

Any advice???

I'd wait for nightfall myself. Warships tend to spot you a little too easily in daylight.

I was thinking about waiting for nightfall just a ways out before heading in. Any other advice, like going in decks awash if desk awash allows me to use diesel.

But maybe decks awash is not possible in such rough weather.

I thought "night & day vision" was not modelled into SH III...?:doh:

I'm using TGW1.1a

Still, I thought it wouldn't be released until GWX!:hmm:

I would wait till the end of the war and go to SF as a tourist:hmm:

I just completed a mission into Loch Ewe in October 1939: I bagged the Rodney and managed to slip out before the escorts found me. I went in at night with decks awash (7 meters) at 1-2 knots. At narrow choke points where I was more likely to be spotted, I went to periscope depth, creeping at 1 knot. Depending upon what you have your water density set for, you may be able to use your attack periscope while underwater to search for anti-submarine nets. I have mine set pretty clear and was able to spot the nets before running into them. Technically, your observation scope is supposed to have significantly better light-gathering qualities, but I didn't notice any difference between it and the attack scope. Don't bother with 6x magnification - it won't do you any good underwater.

It looked like the nets at Loch Ewe would catch a boat at about 8.5-9 meters (they must have lowered the nets when the Rodney entered), so be careful if the sea state is rough, as you might bounce right into the net (or worse). Don't bother trying to blow up the nets using torpedoes - it doesn't work.

My only other bit of advice is to make sure your watch crew is sharp.

Good luck and good hunting!

I am using TGW, hot do I set my water density?

I believe you can set it in SH3 Commander, but I'm not sure.

Using SH3 Commander, you can find water density by going to SH3 Options, then Gameplay Options. A setting of 20 is perfectly transparent. I have mine set to 18, which is pretty close to the stock game, but probably not very realistic.

Good luck!

By the way, if you're not using SH3 Commander, I highly recommend it.

Thanks, but I can't set until finished mission. So for good clarity under water in TGW I should set the density for 18 for dark nights?

It is now 2248 Sept 13 and pitch black out and I'm heading in at 1/3 speed. When I come across any war ships on the way in, should I sink them or try to avoid them. I want to sink some capital ships.

Continue through the side passage, with the barricade ships. Stay on the surface decks awash and keep an eye with the binoculars for any land battery or a patrol boat. 1/3 is OK; you dont want to make a big wake.

When you finish the passage, submerge. Continue with 1/3, checking the hudrophones towards the harbour. If there is no capital ships there, continue to the other side to get to the Atlantic. Near the enterance of the other (west) passage, sometimes there is an auxilliary cruiser. It's better than notning.

I'm entering from the west side. Decks awash in rough weather is tough but will give it a try. How will I know if there are Capital ships before the mines and nets? If I have to leave I will have to exit the east side and then south through AN grid towards home.

You won't know until you get there! Do it at night although I've visited in daylight I've never gotten out alive.

The eastern approach is easier as there are no nets or minefields in the way. All you have to do is slip between the blockade wrecks and steer in. My policy is to run decks awash until you enter the harbour proper then slip to periscope depth and run silent until you get close enough for a shot. Use the scope sparingly but enough so you can see what is going on.

Check out this Harbour Infiltration Tutorial thread for other tips on getting in and out safely: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=96843