Cornerred by 6 DD with no torp left... HELP

[BasilY]

My type VIIB is currently trapped. After spending my last 5 torps in this convoy, I am cornerred by two DD's. So I take refuge under a Buckley class (which has been immobilized by my last torp). Hoping the noise of the wounded ship will hide me and the other 2 DD will lost sight of me and leave before my oxigen went out.

They didn't. And to make matters worse, after 2 hours in this predicament, and other convoy passed by the location (what are the chances...) and 4 DD from that convoy join in the siege.

Now my oxigen and battery is at 2/3. Sea is rough. 6 DD circle me like sharks. All radio equipment/code books are destroyed. I would love to just surface now and book my trip to Canada, (or Montana, which ever) Anyone with an idea how to get out of here?

And in the mean time, 2 convoys are travelling without escort, Kaluns, avenge my (almost inevitable) destruction.

[Letum]

Well, the fact is sometimes you have already lost just by getting in a bad situation.

If you have used SH3 Commander there might be a thermal layer deep down. If you are
lucky it won't be deeper than you can dive too.

If not, your options are limited.
There will always be more than one DD listening for you.
There will always be a DD with a good sonar solution on you.

Tactics at your disposal?
You could try to make a run for it whilst you still have battery power for top-speed.
Perhaps changeing your depth rapidly at the same time.

You could try to stay dead in the water, but you will need to do this until the DD's
get bored or it will be wasted. I go up to 80m and then cut the engines for 30mins
whilst hopeing I don't sink to far down.

Ramming might take a destroyer down with you if your "lucky".

I would not like to be in your boots or your boot.

[gimpy117]

I say dive as deep as possible and go slow....

[GoldenRivet]

set 220 meters, silent running, set 2kts or slower, steer 20 degrees left of coursethen right every few minutes

[headcase]

Set the electric motors for one knot. Set rudder for 5 deg away from the biggest batch of DD's. Dive planes down. if you get a bit too close to crush depth, set ahead slow, come up to 190m, and repeat the process. It don't look good, but as long as your pressure hull is cool you might make it through. Try to stay between 205 and 230m and you may lose them.

[richardphat]

I thought the max depth a VIIB could bear is around 180 m.... Im not sure but if he do a 220 m depth it would be risky

[Letum]

Originally Posted by richardphat

I thought the max depth a VIIB could bear is around 180 m.... Im not sure but if he do a 220 m depth it would be risky

180m is only the depth the factory gaurentee.
It can go beyond that before it has problems.

[BasilY]

Thanks to all your help. But my current situation might need another solution, give me your opinion whether it might work.

Diving is out of the question. I had prior battle damage in the patrol before this convoy. I have no idea the state of my hull at this point.

Without the external camera, I don't have up to the second knowledge of the DDs.

So I think I need a way to trick the DD into wasting their fuel and DC. And (hopefully, move on)

I manuver my boat to be perpendicular under the wounded buckley. I will then head forward 1/3 for 45 seconds (I need to also figure out what will be a good length of time - to get the DD's commited to an attack run), and back full until my boat pass under the buckley entirely again. Then I will move forward again. I should repeat this until they ran out of ammo (if that's possible).

Feasible? any suggestions?

[Letum]

Bear in mind that even with no depthcharges the DDs will stick around
forever as long as they can still detect you once every ~30mins.

[richardphat]

Originally Posted by Letum

180m is only the depth the factory gaurentee.
It can go beyond that before it has problems.

So letum if i get you, with my viic i can go deeper than the info from the museum:hmm: Sweet i never dive to 150:hmm: I will try and test, I hope my VIIB will be able to dive and move in that condition!

[Sag75]

Hi, bad situation, BUT... you wrote about bad weather too..

sonar could not work properly in heavy seas just below waves.. It's true because i was able to escape from three DD in '40, just cruising at 12 meters from keel, just above periscope depth, 2 knots in silent running...

but 6 DD is too much a challenge..... and you're finishing your batteries...

There is no chance, in SH3+GWX DDs can ping you or can stay immobile for long time iven if they finish their DC ammonutions!!

[UnderseaLcpl]

I ran into an identical situation a couple weeks ago in the channel. Spent hours both in tc prowling close to a V&W I split in two that was still making a nice V-shape above the surface after it sank. Had about 12 escorts of various classes in the area that would not go near the hulk.
If the DD's do not have K-guns your best bet is to outmaneuver them at periscope depth, keeping at right angles to approaching destroyers and hitting flank when they close to 2-400yds with full rudder in their direction. Then immediately reduce speed to slow and try to slip out of their circular search patterns.
If they do have K-guns, or worse, hedgehogs, I would bottom out under that buckley or go as deep as possible and just wait it out. Tedious but ultimately effective.
Finally you can just cruise away at slow speed and use the O-periscope at about 80m deep in conjunction with the attack map bearing lines to escape. It's unrealistic so I hate to do it but remember the AI cheats too. It will pick you up on asdic at high speeds and immediately after DC explosions.

edit: I should probably clarify that last one. You use the O-pericope to watch dd's as they pass over you and dodge accordingly before the charges reach you, giving you several seconds of maneuvering time.

[headcase]

Even if you do run them out of DC's they will not leave. You will run out of O2 long before they run out of fuel. As long as they can fix your position that well they are gonna keep the party going. At best they will force you to the surface. Hate to say it man, but the Fat Lady is singin' as we speak. If you can't get depth it is over.

[Mittelwaechter]

Check the positions of the DDs by hydrophone. With six of them around some often stop and wait - find them on the hydroscreen.
Head towards one of the sitting ducks and go to PD. The six DDs do some strange kind of ballet - they try to avoid collision and go forward and backward until they manage to pass. Go flank to attract all of them and pass under the sitting duck , then rig for silent at 1 knot and show your six to the pack. You may be lucky and cause some chaos - enough to make it away.
In my eyes the only 0.5% chance to get out there.

Heavy fog would be a friend too. Low visibility covers you to surface and run at insane speed. It saved my bucket the other day. Assuming you're in 1940 and the DDs have no RADAR.

I'd prepare Bernards once white t-shirt to wave - just in case...

[Letum]

Originally Posted by richardphat

So letum if i get you, with my viic i can go deeper than the info from the museum:hmm: Sweet i never dive to 150:hmm: I will try and test, I hope my VIIB will be able to dive and move in that condition!

The depth you can get ingame depends on what mods you are running.

SH3 Commander randomises the crush depth. You can usualy get to 230m, without major problems.

If you start getting small leaks it is time to blow the balast.