Advices in dealing with convoys

[Ula Jolly]

Some commanders around here sure are experienced. Could anyone provide the newbies (me..) with good tactics on dealing with convoys?
Thinking about how to avoid or single out the escorts, what targets to prioritise, perhaps something special about the torps, such things?

[SmokinTep]

I usually try and get ahead of the convoy and lay in wait for it to pass by me. I try and single out the big ships first. Once I unload on them, I make it for the middle of the convoy while reloading tubes. Once inside it, I'll try and line up some more ships. Usually by this time, the escorts are on me and is time to beat feet. Only time I 'll mess with an escort first, is if he presents himself as a good target before I go after the convoy. I have found that if you mess with them first, they seem to get all over you before you can get any good shots off on the merchants.

[btaft]

I like to lie in wait as well. Then I will scan the rows to find a row that has two big targets (C3 and bigger) back to back. I then send the first to the bottom, wait for the second to pass the same poitn and send it to the bottom.

After that I have usually attracted a little bit of attention. The heat is not on but it is coming my way. To avoid this I will dive deep under the convoy and evade towards the direction the convoy was coming from until cleared.

Re-intercept and repeat. I find staying around for more than two targets usually allows the DDs to get close enough to pick you up and attack. Although this is certainly more interesting and challenging

[Duli]

That depends on a year, you are in. From 39 to late 41 you are able to attack conwoys on the surface, from their flank, at night ofcorse. Thats what I do, and I am pretty succesfull at this. In 42, when the escorts get radar, the best strategy is the one, described btaft.

Priority targets are definately T3 and T2 tankers, the next ones are C3 or Liberty and Victory ships (all have about the same tonnage). Also, if you see a passanger liner in the conwoy, thats the priority, at least for me (it has 24.000 tons). Otherwise, big tankers are the main ones.

[scrapser]

From early 1944 on, you will find it very difficult with some convoys. So far the hardest seem to be those protected by American escorts. The instant your scope breaks the surface, they will start heading for you at top speed. They also are much better at detecting your boat as you lie in wait, so you need to stand off at a greater distance.

I attack the heavies and try to use the convoy as way to make it difficult for them to get on top of me so I can dive deep. This means heading into the convoy and running in the same direction for a bit. Funny things can happen at this point. I've seen aircraft sink merchants and escorts while trying to get to me, then the other escorts will shoot down the aircraft. I think this is a bug.

Another thing to remember...it seems the tankers are harder to sink heading west than east. My guess is the developers modeled the tankers being empty on their westbound trips, making them more buoyant.

scrapser

[jasonb885]

Originally Posted by scrapser

...
Another thing to remember...it seems the tankers are harder to sink heading west than east. My guess is the developers modeled the tankers being empty on their westbound trips, making them more buoyant.

scrapser

Indeed. You can control whether a tanker has fuel or is empty in the RND layer of the campaign. In IC I have 95% of tankers in west bound convoys empty.

[Ula Jolly]

Wow, I guess it gets hard to idenfity neutrals after 42/43 too?

[Cpl Carrot]

Originally Posted by jasonb885

Indeed. You can control whether a tanker has fuel or is empty in the RND layer of the campaign. In IC I have 95% of tankers in west bound convoys empty.

And just how do you manage that? Looking at the the tankers properties I can set the interanal cargo to Freight, Ammo or Fuel, but there is no 'Empty' option.

[b kirkwood]

hi my way is to go in from behind then to look and pick the bigger ships out from the convoy find were they are then plan the best side to attack from left or right because i have in the past sit my fish flying for a big Target to hit a small one in front of it and the escort looking for me makes it harder to got my sub were i wont it to be so i will move to the side i need first pick my targets firer one fish at the biggest target this will not all ways not sink it on its own but will slow it down some all the rest of the fish will go in at the same time on ofter targets to sink them then i will head strait for the escort at the front of the convoy diving down order silent running letting the convoy go past me and hoping the escort will not detect my sub if all is well the covey will soon pass and all will go back to normal they will stop zigzaging and the escort will go back to it station too then i will get in front again and do it all over again hitting my first Target to sink it in the last salvo of fish and sneaking of into the night for the next convey

this got me over 75000 tons with one convoy in my first petrol using gwx mod hitting a battle ship for 31000 ton and living to tell the story in the bar with my new prmosion

the convoy was in bf 17 or 14 1939

but it dos get harder later on and i do change it somewhat good hunting

[Grayson02sept1980]

lazy guy I have not read the above post that well...

well... here goes:
my tactic is as follows.

I try to slip in between the front and on of the flank escorts at peridepth and silent running or let them steam by fully stopped (this is tricky I know but works well)
till now this has always worked (march '42)except for a few cases and then it was my fault not going fll stop soon enough and they heard me and started a pin-search

while that moment I am between the escorts I estimate the speed of the convoy in general (OLC GUI) and pick my targets looking out for the big ones...
I always try to get at least one of the big fish and pick others to unload all my torps then I dive and see that I get myself out of there or if luck is a lady and the escorts start to go woozy-loozy (not knowing where I am and start freaking out)
then I reload and pick me other targets.

to avoid depth charges dropped on my boat (the DDs can't be stupid forever and will soon enough figure out where I am) I usually go very close to one merchent using it as cover as the DDs and DEs then can't get in range for the depth charges - it's a dance with the devil but also is fun

If you ever get into the situation a DD is heading straight for you (position I mean) - having found you! - in shallow water... don't dive - don't panic!
Go all ahead flank and wait till he is at around 300-500m and then make a very sharp turn away (meaning if you were heading to the left go all rudder fully left) and watch him pass you in your back and just when he is passing your back go all right (the other direction). In 80% of all cases I was not hit... the other 20 get tricky... I have seen everything from light damage to fully destroyed compartment and hull to 50% by one charge once - very bad luck (hit my boat right on the deck - the DDs shoot some off their sides)
This is when you are already moving away from the DD
If you are moving towards it... you have to make the turn sooner but in general the same idea.
Try to get into the "safe" zone between his back and the point he shoots his sideward charges.

Others will say crashdive... I say play cat and mouse once and then crash dive (well not in shallow water) or shoot him after he passed you cause ...
When the DD has passed you he will make a turn for a second attempt and usually slows down to ~10kts at around 400m ... and shows his full broadside - easy target!

If the escort is just searching you can also try to get away from the spot he thinks he saw you at silent running and at 600m stop the enginees - hoping he will not ping you... if he pings... He will find you!
If he does not the chance you get away is great! He will drop his load where he thinks you were while you can sneak away.

or you shoot him if he really heads straight at you set the torp to magnetic and 0-5-1m under his keel. - But good kaleuns don't waste torps on little DDs, no?

If there is more than one of the and time is not enough to shoot one or you just don't want to waste y torp... get out crashdiving the moment you make your "counterturn" - go to depth quick;
I go to 100m set silent running on and make a 90°turn lft or right away from the convoy... then the dance starts. I try to go to 160m till 42 this is a save depth imho for not being detected too easily.

I also attack at night when possible
Keep your periscope as close to the watersurface as possible to avoid detection...
anything else... dunno... just try around... there are many ways

[Brag]

You will find several articles on convoy attack on my kielman website.

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by Cpl Carrot

And just how do you manage that? Looking at the the tankers properties I can set the interanal cargo to Freight, Ammo or Fuel, but there is no 'Empty' option.

You use the "Freight" setting to represent an empty tanker. Sometimes I use this setting on eastbound tankers too, to represent tankers with non-explosive cargoes.

[CybaGirl]

This is the method I use if the convoy is protected by destroyers.

I usually try to get ahead of the convoy s previously mentioned by other people. Then once I am in position, which tends to be under 1000m from the centre of the actual convoy. I then figure out what ships are in the actual convoy and what ships I will be targeting. From here I then pick out one target that will act as my hidey hole or cover . This ship is usually a C2, C3 or something similar in size. Then when this particular ship comes into range I fire one torpedo and try to take out is engine without sinking it.

Immediately after doing this I then launch my other torpedoes at the major targets. Once all of my torpedoes are launched I then head for the ship that I disabled it's engine on. Then once I am at this ship I then sit right underneath it so that the destroyers cannot get me .

This works rather well and if my torpedoes don't turn out to be duds then I tend to sink all of the targets that I intended to.

Then eventually when the destroyers give up trying to get me and sail off back to the rest of the convoy. I come out of hiding sink the ship that was protecting me and try to meet up with the convoy again, so I can do it all over again .

[Siegeswimpel]

I set up ahead of the convoy at silent running or on stop. After taking a quick look at the shipping line lanes (?), I decide what ships are my targets.
Usually my first torpedo fired (if day time attack) will be an electric slow one on mag', at a small mearchant at around 800m distance.
While this is nicely on its way, after a little wait I fire the stern tube, set to impact 3m depth at a target 400m. Immediatley, torpedoes 3 & 4 are for my main target. Hopefully a C3 or a tanker.
I know this is a bit sad but I use pencil & paper to note pistols, depths & in which tube order etc. In the middle of the convoy when the attack starts, to achieve impacts that are fairly close- time wise, takes a bit of planning. I realise i'm not good enough, without a little plan sorted.
With regards to evasion I find going deep helps alot.

[Brag]

Originally Posted by Siegeswimpel

I set up ahead of the convoy at silent running or on stop. After taking a quick look at the shipping line lanes (?), I decide what ships are my targets.
Usually my first torpedo fired (if day time attack) will be an electric slow one on mag', at a small mearchant at around 800m distance.
While this is nicely on its way, after a little wait I fire the stern tube, set to impact 3m depth at a target 400m. Immediatley, torpedoes 3 & 4 are for my main target. Hopefully a C3 or a tanker.
I know this is a bit sad but I use pencil & paper to note pistols, depths & in which tube order etc. In the middle of the convoy when the attack starts, to achieve impacts that are fairly close- time wise, takes a bit of planning. I realise i'm not good enough, without a little plan sorted.
With regards to evasion I find going deep helps alot.

Yes! Go deep and do the wiggle-waggle. Main thing is to get away as far away from datum as possible before escorts arrive. I go at flank speed to about 50 meters, then reduce to two knots and change course 20 degrees.