Tanker Alley

[Brag]

You just sunk a tanker. You haven't finished reloading the tube and the sound man reports another contact. It's another oil bearing argonaut, 15,000 tons waiting to go to the bottom.

Sounds like a Kaleun's dream, Right?

Such an area does exist just 50 hours steaming from Lorient. Tanker Alley, a route where frequently you can sink 2 or 3 tankers in one day!

Presently, after 21 days of going up and down the Alley trying to pinpoint its exact location, I'm sailing home to Lorient with 135,676 BRTs under U-123's keel.

As a reference point (Datum) I have used the detailed Kriegsmarine grid

Picture provided courtesy of ReM



When you look at the chart below, you can see the datum is located at grid BE3936. This is an area if any other ship is present it will be within hydrophone range.

I have confirmed the exact location of this route by running 3 patrols here from May to December 1940. The tankers are always there, though, you should expect a few days without contacs from time to time.



If you measure 10 kms south of the BE36 boundary and extend a line of 240 degrees it will give you the route of the tankers. All the ones I have encountered where northeast bound.

Bear in mind, not all tankers travel exactly along this line. Strangely enough, I have intercepted tankers transiting the Alley at headings somewhat different than the direction of the route. Besides tankers, I have intercepted Large freighters here and one whale factory.

I've tried to sink all ships by using one torpedo. A magnetic torp at the engine room or an impact just at the rear of the forecastle are usualy fatal, but it can take a long time for the tanker to sink.

Good luck Kaleuns, we should see some good tonnages from fishing on Tanker Alley

[SmokinTep]

Will investigate this tonight............

[danlisa]

LOL, I think you can now pretty much assume that this won't happen in GWX 1.04.:rotfl:

Thanks for the intel.

[Stoli]

Originally Posted by danlisa

LOL, I think you can now pretty much assume that this won't happen in GWX 1.04.:rotfl:

Thanks for the intel.

What changed in 1.04? Do they randomize the routes?


Great Patrol Brag, keep dishing out the hell!

[danlisa]

Nothing like that.

It's just, as Brag has brought it to our attention, it may get changed/reduced as it seems a source of very high tonnages or maybe better protection will be offered to these sitting ducks.

Have to wait and see what the campaign scripters say.

[Paajtor]

Go for it, Danlisa!!

No way that in RL, ships would continue to use this route...they'd either spread out or go elsewhere, or call for better protection.

Gj, Brag.

[nikbear]

Originally Posted by danlisa

LOL, I think you can now pretty much assume that this won't happen in GWX 1.04.:rotfl:

Thanks for the intel.

I'm a bit worried as to what the next installment may bring is the happy time to vanish altogether,I'm hoping that there will be some balance to this,its just that as soon as someone finds something juicy in the game someone else chirps in with "that won't happen in GWX1.04"I'm all for realism and that but I hope the baby's not going to be thrown out with the bath water in the constant striving for a realistic experience:hmm:

[danlisa]

Don't worry.

It's just tonnages that high are a bit OTT.

GWX will remain scalable for the average player, it's sort of a requirement.

[nikbear]

Phew,thank god for that Had me worried for a moment

[Brag]

Originally Posted by danlisa

Nothing like that.

It's just, as Brag has brought it to our attention, it may get changed/reduced as it seems a source of very high tonnages or maybe better protection will be offered to these sitting ducks.

Have to wait and see what the campaign scripters say.

I agree. In RL even if they were using the same route, a ship's distress message would alert everyone that a U-boat was in the area.

Speaking of better protection: In one year (39-40) of GWX, I've ran into 5 battleships and sunk them all. Only once I was persecuted by escorts after the deed.
My tonnage in general is a bit on the high side, too.

I did get a nasty surprise when chasing after a fast troop transport. The blighter opened fire at me with several guns including a shower of flack. This caused a lot of damage, though no casualties.

After Danlisa's comments, I see Kaleuns scrambling out of the harbours and heading for this elephant bone-yard before GWX 1.04 shuts down the easy pickings :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[KeptinCranky]

And rightly so! Mr Brag

IRL if anything like your killing spree were to happen you'd be happily cruising along looking for the next juicy floating bomb and kerblammo the brits have just invented the Hunter/Killer group, and your their first guinea pig...

Then again, they'd probably have a Bogue or something along, and those are good tonnage too

I have no luck sinking BBs they seem to be heavily damaged but sail on nonetheless, and no time to put in another fish to make sure because of escorts...

Since you seem to have attracted the attention of the GWX crew, they might want to have a look at the Cunard Liner damage model (see also screenshot thread) because 1 hit kills on one of those seem a bit unlikely.....

now I'm off to tanker alley (while it's still there)

[Telgriff]

I think I need to have a sick day from work and 'rest' for a patrol.

[Lagger123987]

Tanker Alley is in Mexico! Not in the convoy routes! Tankers are numerous around the Pirates of the Carribeean land!

[bigboywooly]

[Lagger123987]

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

What you mean by that?