First war patrol in LSH2015 - wow!

[K-61]

I started my first career in LSH 2015 [after doing the naval academy] pre-war at the Erpro flotilla. I enabled malfunctions and sabotage [though I wonder if the game models sabotage in German bases] and just about every realism setting I could enhance. Did my training patrol in IIA 'duck' and was surprised by the variety of new ships in the game. On my way to the training area where I had to sink the two target ships, I saw several Soviet military vessels at sea!

On my return, I transferred to 2nd Flotilla and took a duck to war. My patrol grid was off the northwest coast of the U.K. but I wondered if I was every going to get there. I played around with the speeds and navigator reports until I got a speed that would allow me enough fuel to traverse out and in plus allow me some cruise time in my patrol zone.

It didn't take long until the weather soured, slowing down my boat. Increasing the telegraph I noticed also led to worse fuel economy, so I reluctantly throttled back to five knots. On the way out I received a convoy report; yes, it is fun hunting for a convoy with a duck in bad weather. I made several sound checks by diving and eventually worked my way to within sight of a small convoy. Reluctantly, I had to let the convoy go as its speed was just high enough that I would be burning so much fuel trying to get into place, and that I would not be able to do it before daylight. The speed difference caused by the sea state decided me that the risk to reward was not worth it, so I veered off to get out of sight before daylight and returned to my outward course.

Off the north coast of the U.K. near the Orkneys, I encountered several single vessels and was able to maneuver into attack position. Over three attacks I expended all five torpedoes. One missed just to aft, the other four were accurate, but to my chagrin sailed way under the vessels without detonating. I set impact triggers on all of them, due to the sea state and set them to run about two to four metres, due to sea state and vessel draft. Arrrgghhh! One miss and four deep runners.

I am assuming this was due either to "malfunctions and sabotage" and/or the "torpedo scandal" modeled into the game, as well as the diminished accuracy of the weapons officer [I am using auto targeting]. On the one hand, I am disappointed that I had to report to Onkel Karl that I had wasted five valuable eels and a load of diesel to come back skunked. On the other hand, I am very much enjoying the uncertainty factor and it feels more historical to me. I am not a fan of an arcade experience, even when using auto-target. I have always imposed on myself my own "reality rules" so as to make my careers conform more to historical score levels. Without these, I could easily have "100K" patrols, but it never felt realistic. With these new settings, I can still use the Weapons Officer but still not feel as if I am cheating. I've tried in the past do do manual, but the math makes my head hurt. I really suck at estimating angles and speeds. I figure that if I use realism rules and procedures, I can "pretend" that I am the one giving the WO the inputs.

Anyhow, just wanted to say that I am very much enjoying being back at sea and my hats off to all of you modders who generously share your work with the community.

[K-61]

Oh, one question. I think I know the answer is "yes" but it would be nice to have it confirmed.

I gather from what I have read that if I wish to upgrade to a newer boat, I first have to transfer to Erpro to get it? I know in the old game you simply had to buy it with renown points. Am I correct in assuming that no longer works, and that if you wish to get a new boat you first have to transfer to Erpro? What about upgrades, like new guns and turrets, etc.?

[K-61]

Just finished my second war patrol. Better luck this time, but it didn't seem so at first. My first three torpedoes did the deep dive again. I am sure this is related to stormy sea states, at least in part.

After the weather calmed down to 6 or 7 winds, I found a small unescorted convoy in the North Sea. I lined up the fattest ship [C2] and let it have an electic eel, followed by a steam torp. Both torpedoes hit and detonated, but after hours of waiting, the ship did not sink.

I even tried [for fun and experimental purposes, testing the new game, not for reality's sake] to approach and rake the ship with my 20mm AA gun. I raked over the gun positions and knocked out two of the three searchlights. Some secondary explosions on deck occurred, but then I began to take fire from the guns. I thought I had suppressed several of them, but when I began to take damage I crash dived away, repaired damage and set sail for home.

Before leaving, I marked the ship's position and came back the next day, carefully approaching in the dark. It still had not sunk, just sat there listing to port. I returned to base; never did get a "ship sunk" message and my logbook showed no victory.

Well, at least I know I can get my fish to explode on target.

[THEBERBSTER]

Hi K-61

You could have started with a VIIB.
Equipment upgrades are all date related.
U-boat upgrades you will be informed by radio when different types are available.
When you dock you need to transfer i.e. in your case VIIA to VIIB.
You then go on a test mission as you did with your VIIA.
The problem with your VIIA is you will still be sent to the same places as if you had a VIIB and you will struggle with fuel.
You will also notice that the weather changes quite frequently.
You will also notice the frequent high wind speed that makes the guns un-operable.
The one thing I do not quite understand is the Flak Gun in the winter garden I would have thought it would be usable at more moderate wind speeds.
You will also be informed by radio of bases you can end your patrol in.
These are mainly on the French coast and Bergen in Norway.
I have a type IXB and it is really awesome. (21 torpedoes)
Completed 9 patrols including 2 test missions (VIIB Stralsund - IXB Kaseburg)
Really enjoying this game which comes with a big choice of merchants.

Peter

[K-61]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I start each game using SH3 Commander. When I choose a different flotilla than Erpro, to try getting a VIIB, SH3 Cmdr does not show any other boats being available.

Also, I think you misread my post, I did my first patrols with a IIA [2A] not a VIIB [7B.] I know the Roman numeral system can confuse the eye.

I was offered command of a newer boat at the end of my second war patrol, but I was farting around in my saved game list and accidentally wiped out a vital save file and lost my captain. It has been years since I did something like that, but I am relearning to be careful.

I am now putting out to sea again with a new Kaleun in 1939 after having done my first Erpro training run. This time I did not sink the two target ships, as the tonnage for them keeps showing up in my war career as tonnage sunk. I merely went out to my my training zone for 24 hours and RTB'd.

[THEBERBSTER]

Hi K-61

Sorry, I meant IIA.

I also made a big error and wiped out 6 patrols and had to start a new career.
Will not do that again.
With all the game saves building up in the menu, is it important or not to delete old ones?
I assume it would have to be done from the V15 folder in documents.

Yes, you always start with SH3 Commander.

What a difference it is having a base on the French coast and not having to use Wilhelmshaven each time.
The game reminds you however before its final load that your home German base is still Wilhelmshaven.

I wish the recognition manual was split in to categories like SH5.
It takes such a long time to find each target and even if you use the Officer for the solution you still need to know the ships draft.
If you have to pause the game each time to find the ship the pause band covers part of the ship type.

I have sunk 44 different ship types so far I now keep on a spreadsheet showing tonnage and draft for easy reference.
I sank my first warship HMS CL Dido 5600 tons on the last patrol that was in a large convoy by mistake when it took a torpedo that was meant for a merchant.
Biggest targets to date.
2 x T3 Tankers (e) 18000 tons
2 x Passenger Liners 21,000 tons.
I use the G7e in the day and G7a at night.
The slower speed gives you a little extra time to get deep.
And you need it as it so painfully slow getting the boat down quietly without drawing attention to your position.

You were talking about equipment upgrades.
With the VIIB this will most likely be the hydrophone.
On patrol 8 IXB I was able to upgrade my winter garden flak gun to a twin.
I have the larger 3.7cm on the deck.
To date with the type IXB I have not used them.
I always start with the Flak gun/s manned when coming into and out of port as well as Shift+F for the flag.
In Wilhemshaven VIIB I was just leaving the dock at the start of a new patrol and of course there is no bunker and immediately got caught up in an air raid.

With my type VIIB my flak gunner was killed on patrol 5 after taking out 3 Fairy Swordfish with his pop gun.
One came down and nearly took the back of the boat off, a real near miss that one and I was able to repair the damage.
That was a wake up call and now I give aircraft a little more respect rather than trying to take them on.

When you end your patrol and give out your promotions and medals you should be able use the telephone on the desk and transfer to Eprobungstelle.
At this point you need to exit the game.
When the game loads next time you should then see any boat upgrades available.

Each time you upgrade your boat you need to do a test mission give out promotions etc, as you take your existing crew with you and then transfer again as before.

Testing mission with the type IXB in Kaseburg.
What a nightmare that place is to get out of.
So many channel buoys etc had to take the boat out manually as the way point positions did not make sense.

Patrol 8 ended in Lorient, not easy navigating in that one to find the bunker.
Patrol 9 ended in Brest, easier to navigate in and much bigger bunker complex.
Waiting to start patrol 10 tonight from Brest, and now have quite an experienced crew with over 13000 points.
Will probably need that experience if I get sent to the English south coast.

The only crew difference between the VIIB and IXB is 2 additional sailors I presume for the Flak slots.
I have a dedicated Flak Crew of 3 with 2 qualified.
I only have 1 dedicated Deck Gunner who is qualified and I use 2 from the bridge crew which is useful as these are easy to move around.

I think I may do a spread sheet and keep a record of what the most prolific patrol grid is.

Peter

[THEBERBSTER]

Hi K61

Docked in Brest was a big mistake.
Should have docked in my new home base Lorient.
Refitted but no external torpedoes replaced.

I did however find a bit of a cheat mode.
When I loaded the game I exited the game to dock in Brest.
This had 3 actions.
Each crew member gained 1 point.
A crew qualification also became available.
No patrol grid reference.
I did not cheat and use the qualification.
I deleted this last save.
So my patrol 10 with no patrol area has still become quite lucrative with 8 small vessels to date.

Hope your game is going ok?

Peter

[THEBERBSTER]

Hi K-61

In my last post I said that I did not have any external torpedoes.
When I loaded the game tonight they mysteriously appeared.

CTRL+F11 is correct for the screen shot, it is just annoying that the WO wants the flak gun to fire.

I have a mod that Magic put me on to that you mentioned about in an earlier post that you might be interested in.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...&postcount=198

Peter

[K-61]

Thanks, Pete. I believe I have that one in my mods archive, but I was hesitant to try it in LSH, in case it might be incompatible. Has anyone tried it yet with LSH?

[THEBERBSTER]

Hi K-61
I tested both versions of the mod and neither worked.

Patrol 11 Lorient to patrol grid EH92
25% fuel used at Ahead 1/3rd
Some rich pickings off Freetown.
Heavy amount of fuel used to reach 2 convoys at Ahead full.

Peter

[K-61]

Returning to base from my first career patrol in a VIIB out of Kiel. Was assigned to AM39. Rounding the top of the British Isles, cutting close to the Orkneys, I pounced on a single freighter. I gave it one eel and surfaced to finish it off with the deck gun. While I am in this engagement, my watch crew calls out multiple contacts coming down on us from the north.

This was weird, but LSH is proving to be an interesting mod... a small fishing fleet consisting of two large trawlers and three or four crab cutters. What could I do? They had already seen me, and aside of that, they were flying the British flag. We must be hard in this war... if the British have to be starved into peace, then so be it. No seafood in Scotland tonight, I am afraid.

I decided to take a shortcut to my patrol zone by going through the channel of the Hebrides. What a target-rich environment and lightly guarded. The only ASW vessel I saw was a trawler, which I evaded in time to avoid. Unusually for me, the sea was glassy calm and visibility was excellent. Rather than waste an eel on such a paltry target, I dove and proceeded for several hours to the southwest. While under, my hydrophones picked up a merchantman coming up the channel. When far enough away from the trawler, I surfaced and closed the distance. One eel into a freighter then finish with the deck gun... but running as fast as it can [but not faster than me] comes that trawler.

I was making a clean get away, but in the meantime, visibility began to be reduced by a light fog. But heavy enough for a plane to make a run on me. Broke a few things and forced me down... which allowed the trawler to get close enough to sniff around for a bit. No permanent damage to subsystems but knocked my hull integrity down to 76%. Had to be more careful after that.

Towards nightfall we surface and complete repairs. Several more targets and I am out of torpedoes, and running low on deck gun ammo. I was even firing star shells at small stuff. My last HE and most of my remaining rounds of AP were used to engage a large merchant, successfully. Exiting the Hebrides I decided to take the 24 hours through my patrol zone, around the top of the British Isles [no way am I going back up that channel with empty tubes and deck gun] and am now in the North Sea getting close to the Heimat. Thought I would inform my fellow Kaleunen before returning to base and give them a tip about this juicy hunting ground. One word of caution: it is not very deep through there in many spots. Mind your depth under keel in case of the need to crash dive. It is all too easy to hit the bottom at speed in a moment of panic. Keep asking the nav for the depth and study your charts. There are deeper parts; just look for the darker shades of blue on your charts. Although Loch Ewe is close to the eastern entrance to the channel, ASW patrols early-war are light. You should be alright as long as you are prudent. I would not try this area later in the war. I can't say from experience, but I would imagine being that close to land your odds of being jumped from the air go up.