Operation Dynamo, May 1940

[GoDeep]

Hello SubSimmers,

I've been gone from Subsim from quite a while, mostly due to busy family life (babies suck up a lot of time!) but also due to other gaming interests. However, I find I always come back to submarines sooner or later. So a few weeks ago I installed SHIII again and loaded GWX Gold. I'm having a blast again! I almost forgot how immersive and beautiful this game really is. Also, hats off to the GWX team for another winner!

I started a new career in 1939 and am having my best career so far, especially because I am being more careful than ever. Doing my best also to play realistically, so no loading externals at night in gale force winds for instance. And it's paying off! During my last patrol I was sent to Norway to support the invasion of German troops. In the waters near Narvik, I stumbled upon the HMS Nelson and sank her! My first capital ship.

In my current patrol, I was sent to patrol the channel. In preparation, I loaded only electric eels because in those shallow waters, I don't want a bubble trail leading the Tommies right back to me!
Upon arriving at my designated grid, I get a radio message that a lot of shipping has been detected to and from Dunkirk, probably the English retreating from French soil. I check the map...it's only 40 km...let's go have a look.

There's a terrible storm blowing, but visibility is excellent, though as I get closer to Dunkirk, the wind drops to almost nothing and the waves drop dramatically. Time to dive, because I can now be seen from miles away!
I dive to PD, cruising at 4 knots, and sure enough the sound man begins picking up contact after contact...mostly warships. As I get closer to Dunkirk, I check the periscope and sure enough, plenty of smoke on the horizon. Mostly destroyers, but a few merchants are detected too.
When a couple of destroyers get to close for comfort, I drop my speed down to 1 knot and order silent running. My estimate is they will cross my path at several hundred meters off the bow. I go quiet and wait, thinking that now it is time to find out how quiet diesel/electric subs really are. The answer, bloody quiet:



This destroyer sailed right over my boat and never knew I was there! Lucky break, or what? Of course I could have taken both destroyers out, but I didn't want to alert the hornets nest before I was good and ready and with something more to shoot at than 2 destroyers.

My patience is rewarded about 30 minutes later. I am still continuing to creep slowly towards Dunkirk. Nobody knows I am here. And now, these guys enter my view:



Two troop transports and an old passenger liner, escorted by a couple DDs and a Fiji class cruiser. Jackpot!

On second thought...they're about 4 kms away...the water here is only 30 meters deep and I found a minefield on my way in. The nearest destroyer is about 1700 meters away. Do I risk the attack and can I get away from the destroyers? There are at least 5 or 6 of them in the vicinity. In such shallow water and that many opponents, do I stand a chance?

So, what would you do?

[Alpha Von Burg]

A risk with great reward...

If I were you I would wait till night and try not to waste your torps on destroyers...

Good find and good luck...

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by GoDeep

Hello SubSimmers,

I've been gone from Subsim from quite a while, mostly due to busy family life (babies suck up a lot of time!) but also due to other gaming interests. However, I find I always come back to submarines sooner or later. So a few weeks ago I installed SHIII again and loaded GWX Gold. I'm having a blast again! I almost forgot how immersive and beautiful this game really is. Also, hats off to the GWX team for another winner!

I started a new career in 1939 and am having my best career so far, especially because I am being more careful than ever. Doing my best also to play realistically, so no loading externals at night in gale force winds for instance. And it's paying off! During my last patrol I was sent to Norway to support the invasion of German troops. In the waters near Narvik, I stumbled upon the HMS Nelson and sank her! My first capital ship.

In my current patrol, I was sent to patrol the channel. In preparation, I loaded only electric eels because in those shallow waters, I don't want a bubble trail leading the Tommies right back to me!
Upon arriving at my designated grid, I get a radio message that a lot of shipping has been detected to and from Dunkirk, probably the English retreating from French soil. I check the map...it's only 40 km...let's go have a look.

There's a terrible storm blowing, but visibility is excellent, though as I get closer to Dunkirk, the wind drops to almost nothing and the waves drop dramatically. Time to dive, because I can now be seen from miles away!
I dive to PD, cruising at 4 knots, and sure enough the sound man begins picking up contact after contact...mostly warships. As I get closer to Dunkirk, I check the periscope and sure enough, plenty of smoke on the horizon. Mostly destroyers, but a few merchants are detected too.
When a couple of destroyers get to close for comfort, I drop my speed down to 1 knot and order silent running. My estimate is they will cross my path at several hundred meters off the bow. I go quiet and wait, thinking that now it is time to find out how quiet diesel/electric subs really are. The answer, bloody quiet:



This destroyer sailed right over my boat and never knew I was there! Lucky break, or what? Of course I could have taken both destroyers out, but I didn't want to alert the hornets nest before I was good and ready and with something more to shoot at than 2 destroyers.

My patience is rewarded about 30 minutes later. I am still continuing to creep slowly towards Dunkirk. Nobody knows I am here. And now, these guys enter my view:



Two troop transports and an old passenger liner, escorted by a couple DDs and a Fiji class cruiser. Jackpot!

On second thought...they're about 4 kms away...the water here is only 30 meters deep and I found a minefield on my way in. The nearest destroyer is about 1700 meters away. Do I risk the attack and can I get away from the destroyers? There are at least 5 or 6 of them in the vicinity. In such shallow water and that many opponents, do I stand a chance?

So, what would you do?

I take a chance and send the light crusier and passenger liner in to the sand.but after this,well shallow water is not the best thing, but after the Picture I see,so your are a lucky mate!

[raymond6751]

In your situation I'd consider going after the DD escort, then the Fiji, and then the transport.

If the sheep are unguarded, they can be taken at will.

Fast movers are hard to hit, so you are forced to take them quickly and split your torpedoes between the two DD. I'd send one after the nearest, after getting as close as possible. Immediately send the remaining bow torps after DD #2 and swing the stern. If you miss (assuming stern tubes) the second DD can have some of your ASS farts.

[Alpha Von Burg]

Like I said, this is an oppertunity that is not to be taken lightly. This is a rich find and I advice not to miss such an oppertunity...

" When the sun sets below the line, let you be the Grim Reaper of the seas and send them of to the Locker."

[Paul Riley]

If you are REALLY bent on attacking that convoy a surfaced night attack would probably be your safest bet due to the lack of deep water to evade into!.Personally?,I would probably abort (but not always,it all depends on my mood and patience) such a dangerous engagement,more than 1 destroyer escort + shallow water + vicinity to enemy ports in such a tight area = a very dangerous encounter,certainly not the type of environment UBoats were designed to operate in! If you were in open sea then an attack would almost certainly be carried out!,no matter what the protection was!.
HOWEVER,it all depends on the year and how confident you are.1940 you should be ok as far as inefficient ASW factors are concerned.

Whichever you choose,good luck on this one

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by GoDeep

So, what would you do?

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

[Paul Riley]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

Would make a great epitaph on your headstone Jim

'Here lies Jim,a fine man on land and at sea,some even said he was the reincarnation of Davey Jones himself,who died for simply being too aggressive'

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Paul Riley

Would make a great epitaph on your headstone Jim

'Here lies Jim,a fine man on land and at sea,some even said he was the reincarnation of Davey Jones himself,who died for simply being too aggressive'

You don't know him very well. Actually he encourages people from the rear. It reminds me of Larry Niven's "Piersons Puppeteers". They were a three-legged two-headed alien race who were all cowards. Their leader was the most cowardly, and was affectionately called "The Hindmost".

[Brag]

Stay out of der Kanaal
Stay away from shallow water
Can I have your stereo set snf your girlfriend´s telephone number?

[GoDeep]

Originally Posted by Brag

Stay out of der Kanaal
Stay away from shallow water
Can I have your stereo set snf your girlfriend´s telephone number?

Thank you for the advice and no, you may not!

[Kafka BC]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

It reminds me of Larry Niven's "Piersons Puppeteers". They were a three-legged two-headed alien race who were all cowards. Their leader was the most cowardly, and was affectionately called "The Hindmost".

Gosh, I haven't read Niven in years, one of the last of the great "Old School" SF writers.

Forget the Kzinti, the Pierson's Puppeteers were by far the most interesting and original alien race ever invented. Any that were met in Niven's books were, by their own standards, quite insane...since no "sane" Puppeteer would leave the safety of their home planet and travel offworld.

If I remember correctly you certainly couldn't make them "Be More Aggressive", with the possible exception of Nessus from Ringworld. They were, however, pretty adept at manipulating events behind the scenes and getting others to do their dirty work...all in the interests of their own safety of course.

Do you think Jim appreciates the parallel?

- Kafka BC

[GoDeep]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

I just knew someone would bring that up...

Thanks for the advice everyone. Even though this is a very good opportunity and I am pretty much certain to get a kill on at least one ship, I think I will err on the side of caution on this one. I will hold off until nightfall and hope for a moonless night or some moderate seas to hide my boat in and go for a night time surface attack at long range...

I just hope the area will still have some shipping around, a cruiser of some kind or some passenger liners. I spotted a juicy one inside the harbour...

[ryanglavin]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

I remember a post long ago where I asked y'all if I should attack a convoy in 1945. The 20+ people that responded said no, and said that I would die instantly. Jim said "Be More Aggressive!"

I listened to Jim.

Moral of the story:

When you listen to Jim, you will have your own headstone, pre-made and shipped in a box straight from Jim's house.

[GoDeep]

Originally Posted by ryanglavin

When you listen to Jim, you will have your own headstone, pre-made and shipped in a box straight from Jim's house.

Do you suppose he's found a new side business?