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Originally Posted by Doolar Semler
i'm with Flopper ... no luck with large convoys ... i get too far ahead then they change directions on me and then I'm out of postiion ... or I get detected ... the tips above are just what the doctor ordered ... THANX ALL ! It's still early in the war for me ( May 1940 ) , but as I progress , I'll need to learn these skills .... Jerry
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This I am sure has happened to us all. Like I said do not try to force a bad attack. Unless you are starting to get too close to the shallows around England, plot the new course and swing around for another run at them. I used to have this situation alot when I would try and plot the convoy course and rush to where they will be at nightime. I have changed things up and now just plot an intercept course and stay ahead of them at about the 2 (or 10) o'clock position. I try to match their speed and do hourly or 2 hour periscope depth hydrophone checks to make sure I am still in good position. As nightime comes I set up for hunting. In this way if they change course I can react and never get to far out of position.
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Originally Posted by pickinthebanjo
Also thats the tactic that I use to intercept convoys, how well does it work in the later years? when I know im in there path I cut engines and run silent.
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Early on in the war I have sat at 25m directly in the convoy path, middle of the day and had destroyers pass right over me and attack from within the convoy. Later on, this would be absolute suicide. If I recall, the sonar range of destroyers is somewhere around 2 kms and beyond that is hydrophones. So as a rule I try and stay at least 1500 - 2000 meters away from the lead destroyer. Running silent, they will have a hard time detecting me unless I make a grevious error. After he passes in front of me I can use his dead zone to get into a closer position.