[K-61]

By beam position I mean off to the side of the convoy, either with them in front of me, or positioned off to either side ahead of the convoy where I then wait for them to draw in front of me. I don't like taking off-angle shots unless I have to and am firing magnetic pistols.

My sense of daring varies according to the time of the war and Allied numbers, skill and technology. Early war, they are noobs, poor tactics paltry numbers of escorts and air cover. Even the planes they had were not particularly effective. Things changed as the crews gained more experience, more and better planes were put into operation and the weapons tweaked. For example, the depth settings on their aerial depth charges and bombs were set too shallow, I think it was. Through research and experience they found that U-boats were getting down and they were throwing their ordnance on top of their last position, where it detonated harmlessly. Once they set the bombs to detonate at about fifty feet, or 25 metres, there is my memory issue again, they began to enjoy more success. The idea was to get the charge to go off below a diving U-boat.

The invention of airborne radar and the Leigh Light really made planes a danger, as of course did ASW aircraft taken to sea on escort carriers, or very long range maritime patrol planes. It was normal practice to run surfaced at night to charge diesels. Without radar, it was practically impossible to find a surfaced U-boat in the dark. In daylight, a U-boat could see an aircraft and dive away in enough time to avoid damage. Generally, you needed good visibility to see a U-boat, but that visibility allowed the U-boat to see planes afar off. In poor visibility it was only a fluke if a plane happened upon a U-boat. Even then, there was so little time for the plane to set up an attack. The pilot was often as surprised to see the U-boat as was the U-boat to see the plane.

But once radar came along, poor visibility was the friend of the plane. He could now hunt in the dark, like a bat, and his prey could not see him. With the deployment of the Leigh Light, a plane could pick up a surfaced U-boat in the dark, running along and charging diesels, from miles away. He could set up his run, then when only a few hundred yards away would switch on the light. There was the U-boat, naked as the day it was born, with no time to dive away before being attacked.

Thinking about it now, it may have been the other way around... I think the bombs and charges were set too deep, so that when they attacked a U-boat, the explosions were too deep. The more I think about it, the more I think it was the change to 25 feet that made ordnance more effective. Even if the boat had just dived away, at 25 feet depth the charge could still cause damage. I will have to check one my U-boat books.

Getting back to convoy attacks...as I said, early war I am almost contemptuous of the escorts. If the weather is bad, or it is a very dark night, no moon, perhaps some fog, I may attempt to get inside the escort screen while surfaced and launch torpedoes, then turn away. Commanders like Kretshcmer, Prien and Schepke were bold enough to do this. Typically, the escorts would run around outside the perimeter, firing starshells outside the box. Inside the box, a U-boat running with decks awash was hard to see. I remember hearing Kretschmer talking about running past an escort and he could see a crewman shielding a lit cigarette in his cupped hand.

Although I can penetrate a convoy while surfaced at night, I find the game makes it harder to do than in real life. It is best in game to try this when the seas are in motion. Glassy smooth seas make it easy to spot a U-boat's wake. As well, you can't run around at high speed doing this, you must run at lower speeds. Fog can help, but it also shields the escorts from view. Nothing gives more pucker than suddenly seeing a destroyer come out of the fog about a few hundred yards away.

Having penetrated a convoy, I try to position myself diagonal to the columns, so I can use both stern and bow tubes. In the game the columns can be closer than in real life. Remember, your torpedo has to run 300 metres before it will arm. If the ships are only 500 metres apart, you will have to do some maneuvering to ensure this. I will usually fire my bow tubes first, then as the distance from the targets astern increases enough, I will fire my stern tube[s.]. This is why I call it knife fighting range.

Being inside the convoy can help shield you from escort scans. As soon as I fire, I start to dive deep and turn toward the stern of the convoy. This allows me some time to get deeper and let the convoy draw away from me as I quietly slip out the back. If time allows, and I have enough darkness, and if the convoy is slow enough, I will try to find every escort and its position around the perimeter and use that information to set up my attack and escape. If it is a faster convoy and you are running out of darkness, best to do the best attack you can. The escorts usually return to their former position after they hunt you, so if you make another attack later, you will know which part of the convoy has the strongest escorts.

Some players like to attack escorts first. This can leave a gaping hole in the perimeter which you can exploit later. I have used this tactic and had it work for me. You must have a reasonable expectation that you will be able to maintain contact with the convoy so you can come back later and attack from that unscreened quarter. Factors that you should consider if wanting to employ this stratagem: What period of the war is it, how close to shore [think planes] is the convoy? Is there a carrier nearby [have you seen carrier based planes?] Is the convoy approaching land or moving away from land based aviation? Is the weather improving or worsening, visibility, etc.? Do you have enough fuel for the high speed runs you will need to make? Last of all, how many torpedoes do you have? There is no point in using all or most of your torpedoes in attacking escorts, then to have few or none to attack the convoy.

I try to setup my attack so that I can get the highest value targets first, in case I lose contact with the convoy later or get forced by damage or other considerations [fuel!] into breaking contact. The type of torpedoes you have [steam or electric] and their speed and range will have to factored in. At night, it is best to use your steamers. In daylight, you may prefer to use your electrics. I prefer to keep electrics in my stern tubes for defense against warships, and also to ensure that when I fire, I am already moving away from the target or escorts. I also prefer to keep at least one torpedo for the trip home, in case I get attacked and am desperate to attack my tormentor, or for any targets of opportunity I see on the way home. On the other hand, I would rather attack a fat target in a convoy with my last torpedo than save it, hoping for an even fatter target on the way home. These are things that you as the Kaleun have to consider. If you are running low on fuel, what use is a belly full of torpedoes?

There are so many factors to consider in this game that I find it never gets old for me. This is a game that gets harder as you progress, not easier. In the early years I can be a tonnage whore, but as the war progresses I find simple survival becomes a priority. I have had my share of fun attacking unwary destroyers, but I find nothing more satisfying than grabbing the beard of the British lion, giving a tweak and then getting away. What do I mean by that? How about nailing a carrier they are escorting and getting away scot-free? Picking off a battleship at sea or other capital ship. Our priority as U-boat commanders is the merchant shipping attrition war, but every now and then we must give the Royal Navy a dent to its pride.

I am a Canadian, married to a girl I met in England when I was a young man travelling the country. I like to tease her every now and then when I enjoy a success in-game: "Dear, your mates are really cross with me right now. I sunk one of their carriers and Winston is jolly well miffed!" I often play with my gaming notebook in our bedroom, so when she comes to bed at night it is not unusual for her to hear me yelling in German at my crew or cussing out the Tommies.

Well, it is time to get back to the game. I am still in patrol 3; after several successes against singles I have been chasing a faster convoy for several days. I am now off the port beam, just close enough to keep them in sight. There is a Hunt class destroyer roaming about at the front of the convoy, sheepdogging for us Germans. I am planning to make an attack around nightfall. In the middle of the convoy there is a cruiser, as well as some very fat liners, tankers and freighters.

I've only got six torpedoes left: four in the bow tubes, one in the stern tube and one spare up front. My plan is to attack the fattest merchantmen, hoping that any that do not sink will soon fall out of this 9-knot convoy. It would be nice to hit the cruiser, but it is in the middle column, at the rear. That would mean allowing all the rest of the merchantmen passing me by in order to attack it. No, I think the merchantmen are the priority, and if the circumstances allow I may be able to fire a stern fish at her. So many fat targets and so few torpedoes.

I am approaching half a tank of fuel; whether I am successful or not I will soon have to consider heading home or perhaps hitting a supply tanker. The weather is still calm enough to use the deck gun, but that's only if the weather holds until this evening. Weather has a way of messing up the best laid plans. I recall once stalking a convoy in my small duck boat, only to have the weather close in and muck things up. That is life at sea, you take what cards you are given and play them.

I am happy to hear of your patrol successes. Enjoy the Happy Times while we can, kamerad. This war is going to get very interesting.