Still amazes me...

[PappyCain]

The sim amazes me still ...


I set up 3 boats from the same flotilla to patrol in the year 1940 (fall). I assigned one boat to be a seasoned skipper who knows many tricks, and new skipper who was an exec and now has his own command, and the third is right out of the chute - eager but tentative.

I put on the personae of the each and I just played #3 with his band of young sea pups.

He tracked a convoy well enough but his interception was off. Indecision. He spotted a straggler left behind whose bow was plowing and saw that as easy meat. But 4 eels missed with shots to the tramp's stern at night using the surface UZO - the tramp steamer then put the lights on him as best they could (his exec. said 'we are in for it now, the escorts will come back'. Watch said 'no sign of the convoy' so they reloaded the tubes and hung back 1500m.

Then star shells. The young kaleun decided to reverse direction and run at flank speed away. He knew his crew was green and they did not have a chance. The escort came to the aid of the tramp steamer like a mama elk defending her lost charge.

Red faced the Kaleun knew he better shape the crew up as well as himself.

In his log he noted a 'submarine' in the convoy ... maybe 4 escorts. Plan is to head east for another intercept when they head NE. It is a gamble.

[Sailor Steve]

You're not the only one. I've just added a bunch of new mods, including FM's Interiors. Now I have three shiny new careers, one from each flotilla.

I always do a quick turnaround in the harbor so I can add stuff right away, and so I'll never start on the first of the month. My skipper from the 2nd did his August 1st and then I set Commander's Days In Base to 18. So I put out on the 19th, just like for real, and it's now September 3rd and Britain has declared war, so I'm finally in business. By the way, My boat was a VIIa so I dumped two of the stern eels and one forward, and got rid of the externals. I now have 10 forward and 1 aft, and I'm limiting my top speed to 17 knots. Closest I can come.

My other two captains both did their turnarounds on September 1, and I'll randomize their leave so who knows when they'll set out. I'll start another one from the 2nd on December 1st when the IX is ready.

I'll also be running the same career patterns in SH4 UBM OM, and even more when the Americans come in. It's going to be a long war.

[Jimbuna]

I tend to find that the submarine in a convoy (usually the British S class) lags a bit at the rear of the convoy and it is usually they're reports that warn the escorts of a hunter approaching from the rear.

My remedy for this is usually to take the sub out with my deck gun or eel(dependant upon your position) then go deep on a following course to that of the convoy.

If an escort comes sniffing you are usually safe at depth and in silent running mode.

Once they leave the scene to take up their convoy station again you can surface and hopefully pick off the rearmost ships in the convoy, one by one....repeating the previous operation if and when an escort comes sniffing again.

[RConch]

I have enough problems just keeping "Karl Wolff" alive in one career.
Good intelligence on the Brit sub, something I didn't think of.
Doesn't using the deck gun alert the other escorts or panic a merchy? Seems rather bold. I do like the torp in him idea. I did wonder why a good percentage of my rear convoy attacks failed.
Does the Brit sub engage you also with his gun?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Rconch

I have enough problems just keeping "Karl Wolff" alive in one career.
Good intelligence on the Brit sub, something I didn't think of.
Doesn't using the deck gun alert the other escorts or panic a merchy? Seems rather bold. I do like the torp in him idea. I did wonder why a good percentage of my rear convoy attacks failed.
Does the Brit sub engage you also with his gun?

They all calm down a bit after 20 or so minutes usually.

Yes, the S Class will engage you with direct fire from the deck gun.

[bigboywooly]

The longer you spend in render range before sighting the convoy will determine how far back the sub is
All AI subs in SH3 run 1-2 kts slower than the speed set so when in render range the sub will start to lag
As its part of the RND group its governed by the speed of the rest of the group
Never could figure out why they always ran slower than the speed set
In SH5 tis opposite they run a LOT faster than speed set for some reason

Most odd

[PappyCain]

Here is a good link on the S-Class:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...ine_%281931%29

I was unaware of them until this encounter. She held back from the pack guarding the rear. Sometimes she would move into the the pack but then drop back. Very hard to see her sail ...

[Brag]

Steve!

Good to see you back in the water.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by PappyCain

Here is a good link on the S-Class:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...ine_%281931%29

I was unaware of them until this encounter. She held back from the pack guarding the rear. Sometimes she would move into the the pack but then drop back. Very hard to see her sail ...

I would respectfully suggest a better link:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~gchalcraft/sm/page10.html

[PappyCain]

Yes indeed, thanks!

The E-class sub was working the convoy flank in a heavy sea.

As you say if she could only fire her deck guns I would think I could approach closely on the surface for a bit as she would be pitching wildly and her aim off. I imagine she would turn to me.

There was no way I could hope to put a deck gun in action due to the sea state.

The S-Class would alert the escorts which would close in on me. Conditions would have to good to take her out.

I did take out a Flower class escort and a medium freighter but as we were near the coast of Ireland, another escort came charging in a couple of hours later to take up a gap on the picket. So I had to move off. The sea was indeed wild and my eels could not have been as effective ... I am interested in keeping my boat and crew in good shape and not racking up kills at high risk to both.

I look forward to another time when I could engage the S-class (I think).

[Jimbuna]

Better to live.....and fight another day

[PappyCain]

"I always do a quick turnaround in the harbor so I can add stuff right away."

Well I call that a shakedown cruise - one must check to see if all yard modifications are working to spec. as well as test the crew's performance!!
I usually do a few emergency dives, a deck gun drill and damage control drill (I move the crew about manually). We then head back in the harbor for a night out on the town (save) and then we finalize and accept the boat refits and head out for our patrol. Upon arriving at our designated patrol area, I run a few emergency dives to kill the 24 hr. requirement and then we hunt! I try to limit patrols to 40 days.

[PappyCain]

Side bar note. The young Kaleun, his U-59 boat and all hands lost when returning to base. Last message received said he was taking heavy shelling at night on the surface and could not dive ... 4 escorts were reported in the area by U-53 in the last 12 hrs.

A memorial service is planned tonight at the Hoseofillreput on Schitick near the Biggunfrigmemorial.

S'
PC

[Sailor Steve]

We'll all miss him, especially his young widow. I'll drop by and make sure she's alright.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

We'll all miss him, especially his young widow. I'll drop by and make sure she's alright.

Just go to the memorial, but get there early. I understand she'll be handing out applications beforehand and then reviewing them during the service.

Reception to follow with open bar and swimsuit competition.