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Originally Posted by Dantenoc
If you're playing stock SHIII (without any major mods) then you should be aware that you are the only u-boat in the whole universe. If you are very lucky and are near a german airbase you might get some air support though.
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I had my first encounter with "friendly" air support, and I'm not sure that "very lucky" is the phrase I'd use.
I was near the end of my 4th patrol in the Mediterranean, in May, '42. I had 4 torpedoes left in the bow tubes, and one left in the aft tube.
The only ships I had encountered on that patrol (or any of the previous ones, for that matter) were coastal merchants and small merchants. Now, I come across a solitary C3 in broad daylight. Here's the perfect opportunity substantially to increase my tonnage.
I submerge and when the C3 is about 800 meters away, I fire two torpedoes (magnetic triggers, depth set @ 9 meters). Torpedo #1 detonates prematurely, while torpedo #2 hits the C3, causing it to slow to 5 kts. Suddenly, the external view pane opens to reveal diving aircraft. My first thought is that, somehow, I've been spotted and the planes are after me. Then I realize that they are Stukas and they are going after the C3. The Stukas get several near misses.
I reposition my sub and fire tubes 3 and 4. Torpedo #3 is a dud!
Torpedo #4 explodes under the hull. Now the C3 is motionless, and is starting slowly to go down at the stern. I pass under the C3 so I can use the aft tube. Just as I am about to administer the coup de grace, several more Stukas show up and score direct hits. I fire the last torpedo. However, the C3 sinks before the torpedo reaches it.
Thanks to the "lucky" intervention of the Stukas, I get no credit for the C3.