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StrangeSignal · 11-01-19, 03:53 PM

Depends on what time during the war you are in. In 1939 and 1940 I've done both plenty of times there, it's not too difficult until like 1942 when patrols increase and allied crews and equipment become better.

It's best to coordinate your attack for nighttime. I've found the best way to approach Scapa Flow is not through the historical route east of the harbor, but from the west. There's only one motorboat patrol here that you need to keep an eye for so early in the war, and usually a destroyer patrolling far north of the harbor, so you need to time your entrance properly.

A valuable trick is to go 'decks awash' and submerge the submarine to about 7, or 8 meters if possible, so that the deck ends up below the waterline but the conning tower is above it, then you can still use the diesel engine while being harder to spot - only disadvantage is that you will be slower. Submerge fully to periscope depth when approaching about 5km from the coastal gun batteries. You'll have to take long range torpedo shots, but the islands south of the harbor often sink most destroyers aproaching from the east due to the AI not handling islands well.

There's also a floating dock nearby for some easy 30k GRT. Don't wait for torpedoes to reach their target, shoot and get out. It will take destroyers a while to get there, if you retreat at slow speed underwater you'll be out of their detection range by when they arrive.

As for Gibraltar,
-approach from the center of the entrance, this will reduce chances of the coastal batteries spotting your periscope
-be patient, not fast. Reduce the noise by going at no more than 2 knots underwater. It's tedious, but a lot safer.
-sometimes, a convoy spawns around there before you arrive. If something spots you, they always call for reinforcements.
-always stay at periscope depth as long as possible, even if that means consuming most of your battery power and being low on oxygen
-take long range shots, work fast, and do not surface until at least reaching the safety of deep waters.
-do not bother turning around to leave the harbour, there are usually destroyers docked there and they will spot you, but not move to attack you, if you make too much noise. Just reverse at minimum speed, you'll be out of range a few minutes faster and just as silently.

Hope it helps. I've done it plenty of times, until I got a scare when the destroyer north of Scapa Flow found me in shallow waters and I spent half an hour trying to get away, until I got a lucky hit from the aft torpedo tube

Hope it helps.

11-01-19, 03:53 PM	#5
StrangeSignal Swabbie Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Somewhere near the South Atlantic Posts: 5 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	Depends on what time during the war you are in. In 1939 and 1940 I've done both plenty of times there, it's not too difficult until like 1942 when patrols increase and allied crews and equipment become better. It's best to coordinate your attack for nighttime. I've found the best way to approach Scapa Flow is not through the historical route east of the harbor, but from the west. There's only one motorboat patrol here that you need to keep an eye for so early in the war, and usually a destroyer patrolling far north of the harbor, so you need to time your entrance properly. A valuable trick is to go 'decks awash' and submerge the submarine to about 7, or 8 meters if possible, so that the deck ends up below the waterline but the conning tower is above it, then you can still use the diesel engine while being harder to spot - only disadvantage is that you will be slower. Submerge fully to periscope depth when approaching about 5km from the coastal gun batteries. You'll have to take long range torpedo shots, but the islands south of the harbor often sink most destroyers aproaching from the east due to the AI not handling islands well. There's also a floating dock nearby for some easy 30k GRT. Don't wait for torpedoes to reach their target, shoot and get out. It will take destroyers a while to get there, if you retreat at slow speed underwater you'll be out of their detection range by when they arrive. As for Gibraltar, -approach from the center of the entrance, this will reduce chances of the coastal batteries spotting your periscope -be patient, not fast. Reduce the noise by going at no more than 2 knots underwater. It's tedious, but a lot safer. -sometimes, a convoy spawns around there before you arrive. If something spots you, they always call for reinforcements. -always stay at periscope depth as long as possible, even if that means consuming most of your battery power and being low on oxygen -take long range shots, work fast, and do not surface until at least reaching the safety of deep waters. -do not bother turning around to leave the harbour, there are usually destroyers docked there and they will spot you, but not move to attack you, if you make too much noise. Just reverse at minimum speed, you'll be out of range a few minutes faster and just as silently. Hope it helps. I've done it plenty of times, until I got a scare when the destroyer north of Scapa Flow found me in shallow waters and I spent half an hour trying to get away, until I got a lucky hit from the aft torpedo tube Hope it helps.