SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post

Talisker · 12-19-12, 10:53 AM

Lots of good advice here. Heres a method I have found works very well.

First, identify the convoys general range, course and speed (if not already known) by ploting several hydophone contact positions. Surface and move to a position well in front of the convoy. Try to stay about 10 - 12 km away when surfaced as the escorts do venture out about 6km. Always attack at night. Approaching the convoy from the front corner at a 45 angle keeps you away from the front and flanking destroyers.

When within visual range, submerge and pop your periscope and identify the vessels. Using your map try to plot the course of each column. (HINT:they are usually all travelling the same course). Next, draw the convoy on a piece of paper identifying each ship. If you are doing manual targeting (which I havent mastered yet) I would enter as much data into the targeting computer as possible before going in on your attack run. In theory the TDC keeps track of your sub movements so the data should still be valid after you've moved.

Next determine a course that puts you in a position that will allow you to target multiple ships without having to move your sub between shots. keep in mind some of the excellent tips mentioned in earlier posts (you'll want to fire all your torpedos so they hit their targets at roughly the same time). With the course of each column already recorded on the nav map, and the composition of each column recorded on paper, this should be a relatively simple task. Ideally I set-up all my torpedos ahead of time and know the targets and order of firing and write down this information. After that, just run silent and move in. Keep your distance from the lead destroyer and your periscope down as much as possible and avoid being rammed! A good position is usually inside the first column facing 90 degrees to the middle rows of ships - you'll have some juicy targets in front of you and a bonus small merchant for the rear tube. Recommend using under the keel magnetic detonation as you'll likely be targeting ships at less than ideal bow angles.

Exit Stratagy: once you've launched your final torpedo immediately go deep and run silent and continue right underneath the convoy. Destroyers cant run a search pattern within a convoy (although I did have one chase me into a convoy once!). Optionally you could reload torpedoes and get a second attack after coming out the other side but you will make noise while doing so (this might not be wise with high realism and post '42 destroyers!). Wait for the convoy to be well on its way then finish off any stragglers. If you're feeling lucky - go back and do it again!

This is based on my experience with a type VIIB U-boat in the North Atlantic 1941, Silent Hunter III.

Hope this helps!

12-19-12, 10:53 AM	#8
Talisker Nub Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Proven convoy attack method Lots of good advice here. Heres a method I have found works very well. First, identify the convoys general range, course and speed (if not already known) by ploting several hydophone contact positions. Surface and move to a position well in front of the convoy. Try to stay about 10 - 12 km away when surfaced as the escorts do venture out about 6km. Always attack at night. Approaching the convoy from the front corner at a 45 angle keeps you away from the front and flanking destroyers. When within visual range, submerge and pop your periscope and identify the vessels. Using your map try to plot the course of each column. (HINT:they are usually all travelling the same course). Next, draw the convoy on a piece of paper identifying each ship. If you are doing manual targeting (which I havent mastered yet) I would enter as much data into the targeting computer as possible before going in on your attack run. In theory the TDC keeps track of your sub movements so the data should still be valid after you've moved. Next determine a course that puts you in a position that will allow you to target multiple ships without having to move your sub between shots. keep in mind some of the excellent tips mentioned in earlier posts (you'll want to fire all your torpedos so they hit their targets at roughly the same time). With the course of each column already recorded on the nav map, and the composition of each column recorded on paper, this should be a relatively simple task. Ideally I set-up all my torpedos ahead of time and know the targets and order of firing and write down this information. After that, just run silent and move in. Keep your distance from the lead destroyer and your periscope down as much as possible and avoid being rammed! A good position is usually inside the first column facing 90 degrees to the middle rows of ships - you'll have some juicy targets in front of you and a bonus small merchant for the rear tube. Recommend using under the keel magnetic detonation as you'll likely be targeting ships at less than ideal bow angles. Exit Stratagy: once you've launched your final torpedo immediately go deep and run silent and continue right underneath the convoy. Destroyers cant run a search pattern within a convoy (although I did have one chase me into a convoy once!). Optionally you could reload torpedoes and get a second attack after coming out the other side but you will make noise while doing so (this might not be wise with high realism and post '42 destroyers!). Wait for the convoy to be well on its way then finish off any stragglers. If you're feeling lucky - go back and do it again! This is based on my experience with a type VIIB U-boat in the North Atlantic 1941, Silent Hunter III. Hope this helps! Last edited by Talisker; 12-19-12 at 02:46 PM.