Scapa Flow Strategies

Rykaird · 02-05-07, 05:17 PM

Well, I was on my second patrol (yes, all time ever lifetime second patrol) and, having sunk a trawler or two, feeling pretty cocky, so I thought I would go into Scapa Flow and take out the battleship that is supposed to be stationed there in early October 1939.

I tried coming in through the shallow passages immediately to the east of Scapa past the maze of sunken boats they use as a fence. Came in at night but the depth was only 11m and I got picked up and rather thoroughly sunk.

So I tried coming in from the other side, traveling west and well below Scapa, and found a little trench at about 70m to hide in while waiting for darkness. At night I popped up for air for a bit and then submerged and started to head slowly towards the main south entrance when I picked up HMS Hood docked on the other side of a small island, reachable through some tiny inlets. Pleased was I to detect no destroyers stationed in these inlets between me and the Hood.

But you know what? Those tricky enemy English types had built an actual underwater metal fence to guard these shallow approaches, as I discovered when I bonked my poor bow on it. By surfacing and going flank I got over it but did some serious damage (I have realistic damage turned on). I did manage to sink the HMS Hood - took me four torps, unlike you experts - and scraped some more barnacles (and hydrophones, and bow planes) off hopping back over the fence in my escape.

I survived but it was about as ugly a way to do it imaginable. Even now, you are undoubtedly cringing at the idea of shoving a lovely Type VII over a metal fence while yelling "Chief! I need more power, damn you!" Ah, the hideous grinding sound as the hull screamed at this undeserved abuse, and the hiss of incoming water as the boat began to flood.

Anyway, I'm curious what strategies you all use to get into Scapa Flow, given how shallow it is and all the destroyers just loafing about. Must be a better way than mine.

Also, is their a Revenge in their too, or just the Hood? This was first week of October, 1939.

02-05-07, 05:17 PM	#1
Rykaird Weps Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 356 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Scapa Flow Strategies Well, I was on my second patrol (yes, all time ever lifetime second patrol) and, having sunk a trawler or two, feeling pretty cocky, so I thought I would go into Scapa Flow and take out the battleship that is supposed to be stationed there in early October 1939. I tried coming in through the shallow passages immediately to the east of Scapa past the maze of sunken boats they use as a fence. Came in at night but the depth was only 11m and I got picked up and rather thoroughly sunk. So I tried coming in from the other side, traveling west and well below Scapa, and found a little trench at about 70m to hide in while waiting for darkness. At night I popped up for air for a bit and then submerged and started to head slowly towards the main south entrance when I picked up HMS Hood docked on the other side of a small island, reachable through some tiny inlets. Pleased was I to detect no destroyers stationed in these inlets between me and the Hood. But you know what? Those tricky enemy English types had built an actual underwater metal fence to guard these shallow approaches, as I discovered when I bonked my poor bow on it. By surfacing and going flank I got over it but did some serious damage (I have realistic damage turned on). I did manage to sink the HMS Hood - took me four torps, unlike you experts - and scraped some more barnacles (and hydrophones, and bow planes) off hopping back over the fence in my escape. I survived but it was about as ugly a way to do it imaginable. Even now, you are undoubtedly cringing at the idea of shoving a lovely Type VII over a metal fence while yelling "Chief! I need more power, damn you!" Ah, the hideous grinding sound as the hull screamed at this undeserved abuse, and the hiss of incoming water as the boat began to flood. Anyway, I'm curious what strategies you all use to get into Scapa Flow, given how shallow it is and all the destroyers just loafing about. Must be a better way than mine. Also, is their a Revenge in their too, or just the Hood? This was first week of October, 1939.