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Originally Posted by Corsair
Starting a new career yesterday from Wilhelmshaven (after my old U 104 type IX finally met its fate near Gibraltar earlier this week, crushing at 140m after an unlucky depth charge hit) I was surprised so early in the war to be under attack of a couple of hurricanes 200+ km NW of Scapa Flow at daybreak (06h45) just when I was planning to go submerged for the day. Not much damage but one sailor killed... May be the large merchant I had sunk during the night had time to send a report giving my position away ? (although it sank almost immediately after a 2 torps salvo at 600m in the engine room region) - I run NYGM 2.2.
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NW of Scapa is Hurricane alley, even at the start of the war. I find there are a few things to consider:
1. If I use high TC, will I avoid aircraft, or will I get unlucky and contact one at point blank range?
2. Should I simply dive at dawn?
3. Does heavy fog prevent them from seeing me?
I find that I run TC at no more than 256x and that usually gives me enough warning to be diving by the time a/c actually reach an attack position. In light fog I dive, because a/c will find me but my ability to spot them is reduced. In heavy weather/fog, I can stay surfaced as a/c either don't fly or tend not to spot me (which is accurate - a/c actually spot a vessel's wake, not the ship itself, so a sea with whitecaps makes spotting a vessel from the air
very difficult).
I'm also using NYGM 2.2.
I've been straffed and bombed, but I've not lost any crew as I immediately order a CD when an aircraft is reported, so the crew is below even if I'm straffed. Never had a bomb closer than about 30-40m, and I've been at about 10m at least when they've landed.
I NEVER attempt to fight a/c, which is how it should be.