First patrol in GWX..

[Flying Fish]

Greetings, Kaleuns..

I started my first GWX campaign after playing the stock SHIII for a couple of weeks. During that time I wasn't sunk by any sort of enemy action, but only saw limited action against convoys.

So here we are in GWX, commanding U-34, a type VIIB out of Wilhlemshaven. I get my first assignment to patrol an area near Rockall Banks. Did my requisite 24 there, and moved on down southwest of Ireland. My first GWX kill was an ammunition ship (holy explosions, batman). I lingered in the general vicinity and picked up two mechants running abreast towards Bristol. Thought it was the making of a convoy when the swab on the hydrophones picked them up. Anyways, sunk them both....a medium cargo, and a passenger cargo.

We're almost getting to the point where it's time to think about heading for home, but I still have some gas left to patrol the area. We're running on the surface at night, 6kts, in heavy seas. I *MAY* have been a little too heavy on TC, within 100KN of the coast of Ireland, and low and behold there is a destroyer 45 degrees off my port bow, on me like a humpin' dog. (Had a watch officer up there with a WO and three swabs...nice going! ) Crash dive, and turn 10 degrees into the oncoming destoyer. Down, down down....at 40 meters we switch to silent running and we're on our way to 100 meters (had 150 or so beneath the keel before diving). I mananged to avoid his first DC attack...made a slight course change to see if I couldn't get away from him.....still running silent at 100 meters. I thought I lost him but he lined up for another pass, and this time, he got me. It wasn't pretty, and my beautiful U-34 hit rock bottom and flooded before I could get the damage fixed.

So....to de-brief, I'm wondering what I did wrong. Was it my initial maneuvers after crash diving, or a bad move after I avoided the first DC attack? I know I should have notched back on TC, but being as it was, with him almost on top of me, what could I have done better? What's the best way to handle this situation in GWX?

Awesome mod by the way, GWX team! And to the folks who made SH3 commander, nice job! It's made this sim so much more immersive!!

-FF

[TarJak]

First off Wilkommen sum Subsim Herr Kaleun!

The first mistake was to go into shallow water. 150m is not deep enough for safe operations. Evading in shallow water is very difficult and increases the risk of damaging your submarine on the bottom.

Second what speed where you actually travelling when silent? Silent running must be 2kt or under this makes it harder but not impossible for them to find you. You can go silent then hit flank and still be in silent. What this means is your men will keep quiet but your engines won't.

When diving always keep an awareness of the depth under you. If necessary use the Echolot to work out whether you should dive or not. Remember even going up is an option when being hunted. You are operating in a 3D space so not only can you vary your course but varying your depth up as well as down can make it harder for them to locate and kill you. e.g. If they pick you up at 100m and then set their charges at this depth you have a small window of opportunity to change depth up or down and/or in another direction to avoid the deadly cans.

Near land and shipping lanes keep TC 128x or under. Don't try to hurry things as this almost always gets you into trouble.

[Steel_Tomb]

Welcome to the GWX experiance...I got the same kind of nasty shock...I think most peoples experiances with escorts when going from stock to GWX is a bit like this:



And if you haven't seen das boot...do so! Get the full uncut version though its the only one worth watching.

[SmokinTep]

Yup, GWX made me change my tactics from stock version.

[fredbass]

As Tarjak said, TC is the key. 128 or maybe 256 at the most would have given you a little more distance upon contact.

[drussxx]

agreed. if you have been playing the stock version of sh3. then convert to GWX with the update patch. you will be in for a nasty supprise. things have now become more realistic.also it is preferable if you can to stay out of shallow water.you need to be deep enough to stay out of sonar range of the escorts.

[nikbear]

Also remember,your crew is as green as you,they need time to get experiance,as they do they will improve,you might want to download Rubini's stay awake/improved sensors mod as well.much more realistic vision from your watch crew and a decent improvment on sonar contacts as well

[Heffalump]

I too have had some problems with being surprised by enemy destroyers while using TC. In my current patrol I've been surprised twice while under 64 TC ... the watch literally don't seem to notice them despite good visibility until they come down and calmly report that we're taking fire from the enemy!!

I've heard others comment that this happens less with the 16km mod and am planning on activating this when next in port.

[Brag]

To add to what Tarjack said: If the DD comes right on top of you, go to ahead flank for 15-30 seconds, 5 degrees rudder, then back to 2 knots. Keep doing it until the bugger loses you.
Take a peek at my website, use the wiggle-waggle maneuver and other tactics discussed there.

And, welcome to the GWX hell

[Flying Fish]

Thanks for all of the feedback, fellas. That's a great point about my crew being green (like me!). I have the makings of a great crew in my new campaign and we'll see how long I can keep them alive.

TarJak -- I was travelling at Ahead Slow (2 kts, I think) and rigged silent. I thought the 150 or so meters under keel was safe, but I guess not! Thanks for the advice.

Brag -- Great info on your site. I'll have to try that wiggle waggle!

-FF

[Dowly]

150m under keel safe?

When I'm under attack, I go all the way down to 200m if there's room.

[antikristuseke]

I am most comfortable at 220m nad i like to have as much as possible under the keel. Better to die fast when the pressure hull implodes than to drown if flooding can not be controlled.