Convoy hunting...how far do people go?

Khourieat · 02-21-07, 04:15 PM

So I went after my first convoy this weekend, with a vengence at least, I've picked off a single target and ran away before (it's called flanking, it's a tactical manuever damnit!), but this time I really tried to sink my teeth into it.

As far as I could tell, it was a 12 ship convoy (set up in a 4x3 grid) escorted by 3 destroyers. I came in from the side, let two torpedoes go and played cat and mouse with one of the escorts for a while. The first torpedo hit a small merchant, the second a C2 (not bad for my career my actually!).

Eventually I managed to shake off the escort and went after the convoy again, this time I managed THREE targets in one try: A troop transport, a C3 and a T3 tanker (was complete luck too, I had aimed for the small merchant behind it since I didn't really have time to aim for a weak spot, was about to crash dive to escape).

But after this I was starting to get too damaged to hunt them effectively, I was worried I was going to lose the u-boat to pressure/hull integrity trying to escape the escorts the third time...

So that's 5 out of 12, not amazing or anything, but it did boost my renoun by quite a bite...how do the experts normally fare against a large convoy like this? :hmm:

bigboywooly · 02-21-07, 04:17 PM

Well thats not a bad tally for a convoy attacks
And you live to attack another day

Any convoy attack where you sink something and sail away is a good one

Job done

Khourieat · 02-21-07, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

Well thats not a bad tally for a convoy attacks
And you live to attack another day

Any convoy attack where you sink something and sail away is a good one

Job done

lol so hit and run is pretty normal? I wasn't sure if I was "supposed" to sink them all, or take what I can and run off for easier prey...

And by "supposed" I mean..."good"

Corsair · 02-21-07, 04:28 PM

It depends very much on what year we're in (which means how good/equipped the DDs are) what time of the day (and preferably of the night) and what weather conditions.
But yes if I managed to sink 5 targets every time I get at a convoy, I would be very happy.

Sometimes I've been happy to sink even 1 and get away with it...

bigboywooly · 02-21-07, 04:29 PM

There are no hard and fast rules in convoy attacking
Sometimes you can sink 1 and take an awfull beating and other times sink the lot
Take each one as it comes

As the years go by it gets harder with more escorts and radar

Khourieat · 02-21-07, 04:48 PM

Hmmmm works for me then!! Woohoo, lets celebrate!

Drinks all around.

Hmmmm I seem to have forgotten my wallet in my u-boat though

(One day I'll graduate to a game with a > 0 realism setting, right now though, my u-boat has training wheels.)

bigboywooly · 02-21-07, 04:52 PM

:rotfl:

We all have to start somewhere

danurve · 02-21-07, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

There are no hard and fast rules in convoy attacking
Sometimes you can sink 1 and take an awfull beating and other times sink the lot
Take each one as it comes

As the years go by it gets harder with more escorts and radar

Amen to that.

Why just the other night I attacked a convoy heading West into AM53. Scored 2 C2's, swung around and fished a 3rd. She didn't go down, I'm out of fish and so I thought to follow her under the convoy untill they left her behind or I could sneek between the lines while the escorts were off looking about. Well, she didn't get left behind and the convoy is going slow enough where even wounded she kept up.
Figgured I could surface and finish her off...

I was wrong.

Heibges · 02-21-07, 05:11 PM

If I find a convoy I generally can sink 5 to 7 ships.

I will conduct 3 attacks over the course of 36 hours.

I will usually fire 2 fan shots of 2 eels each, then spin around and fire my aft tube and a target of opportunity.

Then I break off the engagment, move away from the convoy, reload my torpedoes, and start the overhaul maneuver again.

Brag · 02-21-07, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khourieat

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

Well thats not a bad tally for a convoy attacks
And you live to attack another day

Any convoy attack where you sink something and sail away is a good one

Job done

lol so hit and run is pretty normal? I wasn't sure if I was "supposed" to sink them all, or take what I can and run off for easier prey...

And by "supposed" I mean..."good"

Congratz, good tonnage

and it is hit and run --hit and try to get out alive. If you have torpedoes hit 'em the following night. When in doubt pull out, just like you did.

Keelbuster · 02-21-07, 09:04 PM

Nice work - i'd be happy with a Troop Transport, a C3, and a T3. That's got to be >20k right?

Generally I keep coming back till I run out of torpedoes or sustain damage that prevents me to dive.

You did the right thing.

Kb

Mooncatt · 02-22-07, 03:11 AM

it depends for me. i will make my attack and fire all 4 fish 2fish to 1 target. that usually puts em down. i will then sneak away but by then i have at least 2 dds on me. eventually they will leave and head back to the convoy which by then are quite a long way off. if i feel lucky and conditions permitting i might make another pass at the convoy.

02-21-07, 04:15 PM	#1
Khourieat Helmsman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NYC, USA Posts: 110 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Convoy hunting...how far do people go? So I went after my first convoy this weekend, with a vengence at least, I've picked off a single target and ran away before (it's called flanking, it's a tactical manuever damnit!), but this time I really tried to sink my teeth into it. As far as I could tell, it was a 12 ship convoy (set up in a 4x3 grid) escorted by 3 destroyers. I came in from the side, let two torpedoes go and played cat and mouse with one of the escorts for a while. The first torpedo hit a small merchant, the second a C2 (not bad for my career my actually!). Eventually I managed to shake off the escort and went after the convoy again, this time I managed THREE targets in one try: A troop transport, a C3 and a T3 tanker (was complete luck too, I had aimed for the small merchant behind it since I didn't really have time to aim for a weak spot, was about to crash dive to escape). But after this I was starting to get too damaged to hunt them effectively, I was worried I was going to lose the u-boat to pressure/hull integrity trying to escape the escorts the third time... So that's 5 out of 12, not amazing or anything, but it did boost my renoun by quite a bite...how do the experts normally fare against a large convoy like this? :hmm:

02-21-07, 04:17 PM	#2
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Well thats not a bad tally for a convoy attacks And you live to attack another day Any convoy attack where you sink something and sail away is a good one Job done __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

02-21-07, 04:28 PM	#4
Corsair Ace of the Deep Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toulouse France Posts: 1,140 Downloads: 51 Uploads: 0	It depends very much on what year we're in (which means how good/equipped the DDs are) what time of the day (and preferably of the night) and what weather conditions. But yes if I managed to sink 5 targets every time I get at a convoy, I would be very happy. Sometimes I've been happy to sink even 1 and get away with it... __________________ NYGM 3.4A / Living SH3 V5.1 + SH3 Commander

02-21-07, 04:29 PM	#5
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	There are no hard and fast rules in convoy attacking Sometimes you can sink 1 and take an awfull beating and other times sink the lot Take each one as it comes As the years go by it gets harder with more escorts and radar __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

02-21-07, 04:52 PM	#7
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	:rotfl: We all have to start somewhere __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

02-21-07, 04:48 PM	#6
Khourieat Helmsman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NYC, USA Posts: 110 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hmmmm works for me then!! Woohoo, lets celebrate! Drinks all around. Hmmmm I seem to have forgotten my wallet in my u-boat though (One day I'll graduate to a game with a > 0 realism setting, right now though, my u-boat has training wheels.)

02-21-07, 05:11 PM	#9
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	If I find a convoy I generally can sink 5 to 7 ships. I will conduct 3 attacks over the course of 36 hours. I will usually fire 2 fan shots of 2 eels each, then spin around and fire my aft tube and a target of opportunity. Then I break off the engagment, move away from the convoy, reload my torpedoes, and start the overhaul maneuver again. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

02-21-07, 09:04 PM	#11
Keelbuster Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: BA 72 Posts: 1,092 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Nice work - i'd be happy with a Troop Transport, a C3, and a T3. That's got to be >20k right? Generally I keep coming back till I run out of torpedoes or sustain damage that prevents me to dive. You did the right thing. Kb __________________

02-22-07, 03:11 AM	#12
Mooncatt Grey Wolf Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Keighley UK Posts: 938 Downloads: 78 Uploads: 0	it depends for me. i will make my attack and fire all 4 fish 2fish to 1 target. that usually puts em down. i will then sneak away but by then i have at least 2 dds on me. eventually they will leave and head back to the convoy which by then are quite a long way off. if i feel lucky and conditions permitting i might make another pass at the convoy. __________________