Awesome encounter

GoldenRivet · 02-08-09, 09:51 PM

So there i am in the north sea near lerwick cruising toward my patrol zone when the watch spots 4 destroyers approaching at medium speed.

I fire off a contact report and set periscope depth awaiting to ambush the group.

I let lose of a stern shot which misses the Hunt I destroyer, however my bow shot finds its mark and instantly obliterates the Hunt II Destroyer ahead of me.

So the destroyers go understandably "ape sh*t".

one sets a bee line right at my position and my instincts tell me its time to get the hell out of dodge - so i set ahead flank and order 180 meters.

about this time another warship contact is made, closing fast.

"crap, these guys have called a friend"

WRONG

it is ME who has the friend!!

a commerce raider made the scene and started blasting away relentlessly with all guns firing.

The destroyers were caught completely off guard!!! one took a few shells to the water line mid depth charge run and exploded violently direcly over my head while i was passing about 60-70 meters.

this commerce raider was elite.

soon, my sunken ship marker for the hunt II was joined by two other sunken ship markers... i practically had to dodge the sinking wrecks as they rained down.

I came to periscope depth and watched as the only remaining destroyer limped off to the west at slow speed aflame... the commerce raider came charging in at full speed blasting away as best as he could.

splashes landing all around the final destroyer in the stormy sea...i surfaced behind the commerce raider.

im going to buy that commerce raider's crew an entire damned brewery

doesnt look like they sustained any damage in the engagement, but i heard a lot of shell splashes and gunfire on hydrophones.

pitty i have no screenies - i was playing my DiD 100% career so all of this was true to life... it was experienced by hydrophone, or by periscope, and finally from the bridge

just thought i wouls share.

good hunting

GoldenRivet · 02-08-09, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

doesnt look like they sustained any damage in the engagement

(looks like i spoke too soon

.)

To: BDU
From U-36

Stopping to pick up survivors from sinking Kriegsmarine Commerce Raider Grid AF79, Will deposit them into Bergen, Norway unless otherwise ordered.

~Becker

Laufen zum Ziel · 02-08-09, 10:48 PM

Nice. Very brave even for a raider. On first sighting I would be in need of a change of under clothing.

Galaga Galaxian · 02-08-09, 11:38 PM

What got her? Damage from engaging the destroyers or backup?

GoldenRivet · 02-09-09, 12:15 AM

Would appear to be damage sustained in the fight with the destroyers. She sank 2 and ran the third off with heavy damage. The events took place around 2300 hrs very dark, I didn't notice any obvious damage to the raider but I surfaced nearby and she had developed a list to starboard. She started sinking quite rapidly.

I only had eyes on the last moments of the engagement. Most of the exchange was heard over hydrophones ... Seemed she landed a lot of hits while the destroyers didn't shoot well.

The crew enjoyed exchanging stories with one another in the Bergen beer hall.

We are back under way however... We are expected in our new home of lorient

BasilY · 02-09-09, 12:38 AM

What version is that?

Will a commerce raider in the real world really sink 4 destroyers? After all, the DD are faster and they are made for war.

02-09-09, 01:10 AM

the raider took them by surprises, they where expecting a u boat, but not a raider.

harzfeld · 02-09-09, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BasilY

What version is that?

Will a commerce raider in the real world really sink 4 destroyers? After all, the DD are faster and they are made for war.

Probably if all 4 didn't target raider at same time due to poor weather. Although, destroyers tend to put their heads into water looking for U-boats all the times instead of looking over the horizon. 4 sunk by a raider is probably lucky shot, but raider can still be a serious threat in real world since one did sunk an Australia's light cruiser sending 645 Australia's strong crew to the bottom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...uiser_Kormoran

GoldenRivet · 02-09-09, 01:23 AM

GWX 3.0

Here is the full situation report

2300 hours, no moon, heavy overcast, visibility limited to about 4 or 5 km.

there were 4 destroyers, but i had torpedoed and sunk one of them leaving 3 for the commerce raider to deal with.

Honestly i had no clue it was a commerce raider until i saw it in the scope but the ascent from 180 meters to PD took several minutes.

I observed the situation through hydrophones during the ascent.

it appeard that 2 destroyers were off to the west about 1500 meters commencing depth charge runs against open sea.

the third destroyer had branched off in a search pattern to the east in the vicinity of the approaching commerce raider. I heard exchange of gunfire between these two vessels to the East. it sounded as if there were 3 critical impacts against the destroyer... i only heard several splashes in the vicinity of the yet to be identified commerce raider. it was at this time that i had commenced the ascent to PD

after the three critical hits i heard several secondaries followed by a massive blast and a red sunken ship icon.

at this point it was my assumption that whatever engaged the destroyer neutralized its target quickly... perhaps in a lucky hit?

upon this sinking, the two destroyers toward the West quickly changed course and headed toward the east toward the approaching sound contact.

At this point i heard more gunfire exchanged between the contacts.

again i heard a massive secondary which resulted in a sinking ship icon.

it was about this time i was able to poke up my periscope for a look at the situation.

in the darkness i could only see the faint outline of a destroyer in flames which had reversed course toward the West - his situation seemed quite undesirable.

behind him, i saw muzzle flashes from the now identifiable commerce raider's port side. but the commerce raider landed no additional hits, and the third and final destroyer seemed to retreat to the northwest disappearing into the fog.

At this point the commerce raider seemed to slow rapidly as if to give up his pursuit of the third target.

I surfaced about 900 meters off his port bow noting no damage to the commerce raider.

amazed by the event, i alt tabbed out of the game and made the first post in this thread and returned to the game.

by the time i had returned to the game i had looped around in a shallow left turn and paralleled the raiders course establishing a position about 500 meters off the starboard bow now.

it was then that i noticed a small fire on the deck, and an ever so slight listing to starboard. the angle of the list favored the starboard bow more and more aggressively and within only a few minutes the boat was sinking quite fast.

As the bow slipped under, i noticed two small life boats with rowers.

it was then that i felt the good and decent thing to do (* even if just for pretend) would be to swing by in the rough sea and pluck them out of the cold water and deliver them to the nearest friendly dirt... Bergen, Norway.

polynike · 02-09-09, 06:11 AM

WOW exciting stuff!

Do these things only happen at 100% realism?

Kapt Z · 02-09-09, 10:05 AM

I've only come across a commerce raider(outside of base) once. It was in the Med and my lookouts reported a ship. We closed to investigate and it was a German commerce raider, already awash to the decking. You could hear the bulkheads creaking even on the surface. We pulled in close and 'pretended' to take off survivors and made a trip to Salamis to 'drop' them off.

Don't know who sunk her, but since we were in range of Allied airbases I figure the RAF. I was suprised that a commerce raider would even be sent to the Med. Not too many places to hide there if you cannot submerge.

Sailor Steve · 02-09-09, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polynike

WOW exciting stuff!

Do these things only happen at 100% realism?

No. Realism level has no effect on ship scripting or random encounters.

Good report GR.

GoldenRivet · 02-09-09, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Good report GR.

Thanks

mookiemookie · 02-09-09, 12:24 PM

Very nice! No way would I have even considered taking a swipe at the DD's in the first place though. When I see DD task forces, I just leave them be.

Faamecanic · 02-09-09, 12:25 PM

Damn...that is sweet. I have tried many times to see ANY friendlies engaging the enemy. I have even died once sending a convoy contact report just off the east coast of England... Hung around and didnt see any of my planes or ships for over a day, then I got too close and had to run and hide as the Convoy escorts came after me.

02-08-09, 09:51 PM	#1
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Awesome encounter So there i am in the north sea near lerwick cruising toward my patrol zone when the watch spots 4 destroyers approaching at medium speed. I fire off a contact report and set periscope depth awaiting to ambush the group. I let lose of a stern shot which misses the Hunt I destroyer, however my bow shot finds its mark and instantly obliterates the Hunt II Destroyer ahead of me. So the destroyers go understandably "ape sht". one sets a bee line right at my position and my instincts tell me its time to get the hell out of dodge - so i set ahead flank and order 180 meters. about this time another warship contact is made, closing fast. "crap, these guys have called a friend" WRONG it is ME who has the friend!! a commerce raider made the scene and started blasting away relentlessly with all guns firing. The destroyers were caught completely off guard!!! one took a few shells to the water line mid depth charge run and exploded violently direcly over my head while i was passing about 60-70 meters. this commerce raider was elite. soon, my sunken ship marker for the hunt II was joined by two other sunken ship markers... i practically had to dodge the sinking wrecks as they rained down. I came to periscope depth and watched as the only remaining destroyer limped off to the west at slow speed aflame... the commerce raider came charging in at full speed blasting away as best as he could. splashes landing all around the final destroyer in the stormy sea...i surfaced behind the commerce raider. im going to buy that commerce raider's crew an entire damned brewery* doesnt look like they sustained any damage in the engagement, but i heard a lot of shell splashes and gunfire on hydrophones. pitty i have no screenies - i was playing my DiD 100% career so all of this was true to life... it was experienced by hydrophone, or by periscope, and finally from the bridge just thought i wouls share. good hunting __________________

02-08-09, 10:48 PM	#3
Laufen zum Ziel Eternal Patrol Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hiding on the bottom Posts: 1,783 Downloads: 853 Uploads: 457	Nice. Very brave even for a raider. On first sighting I would be in need of a change of under clothing. __________________ RIP Laufen zum Ziel

02-09-09, 12:15 AM	#5
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Would appear to be damage sustained in the fight with the destroyers. She sank 2 and ran the third off with heavy damage. The events took place around 2300 hrs very dark, I didn't notice any obvious damage to the raider but I surfaced nearby and she had developed a list to starboard. She started sinking quite rapidly. I only had eyes on the last moments of the engagement. Most of the exchange was heard over hydrophones ... Seemed she landed a lot of hits while the destroyers didn't shoot well. The crew enjoyed exchanging stories with one another in the Bergen beer hall. We are back under way however... We are expected in our new home of lorient __________________

02-09-09, 01:23 AM	#9
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	GWX 3.0 Here is the full situation report 2300 hours, no moon, heavy overcast, visibility limited to about 4 or 5 km. there were 4 destroyers, but i had torpedoed and sunk one of them leaving 3 for the commerce raider to deal with. Honestly i had no clue it was a commerce raider until i saw it in the scope but the ascent from 180 meters to PD took several minutes. I observed the situation through hydrophones during the ascent. it appeard that 2 destroyers were off to the west about 1500 meters commencing depth charge runs against open sea. the third destroyer had branched off in a search pattern to the east in the vicinity of the approaching commerce raider. I heard exchange of gunfire between these two vessels to the East. it sounded as if there were 3 critical impacts against the destroyer... i only heard several splashes in the vicinity of the yet to be identified commerce raider. it was at this time that i had commenced the ascent to PD after the three critical hits i heard several secondaries followed by a massive blast and a red sunken ship icon. at this point it was my assumption that whatever engaged the destroyer neutralized its target quickly... perhaps in a lucky hit? upon this sinking, the two destroyers toward the West quickly changed course and headed toward the east toward the approaching sound contact. At this point i heard more gunfire exchanged between the contacts. again i heard a massive secondary which resulted in a sinking ship icon. it was about this time i was able to poke up my periscope for a look at the situation. in the darkness i could only see the faint outline of a destroyer in flames which had reversed course toward the West - his situation seemed quite undesirable. behind him, i saw muzzle flashes from the now identifiable commerce raider's port side. but the commerce raider landed no additional hits, and the third and final destroyer seemed to retreat to the northwest disappearing into the fog. At this point the commerce raider seemed to slow rapidly as if to give up his pursuit of the third target. I surfaced about 900 meters off his port bow noting no damage to the commerce raider. amazed by the event, i alt tabbed out of the game and made the first post in this thread and returned to the game. by the time i had returned to the game i had looped around in a shallow left turn and paralleled the raiders course establishing a position about 500 meters off the starboard bow now. it was then that i noticed a small fire on the deck, and an ever so slight listing to starboard. the angle of the list favored the starboard bow more and more aggressively and within only a few minutes the boat was sinking quite fast. As the bow slipped under, i noticed two small life boats with rowers. it was then that i felt the good and decent thing to do (* even if just for pretend) would be to swing by in the rough sea and pluck them out of the cold water and deliver them to the nearest friendly dirt... Bergen, Norway. __________________

02-09-09, 12:24 PM	#14
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	Very nice! No way would I have even considered taking a swipe at the DD's in the first place though. When I see DD task forces, I just leave them be. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

02-08-09, 11:38 PM	#4
Galaga Galaxian Watch Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 25 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	What got her? Damage from engaging the destroyers or backup?

02-09-09, 12:38 AM	#6
BasilY Weps Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 359 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	What version is that? Will a commerce raider in the real world really sink 4 destroyers? After all, the DD are faster and they are made for war.

02-09-09, 01:10 AM	#7
magicsub2 Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	the raider took them by surprises, they where expecting a u boat, but not a raider.

02-09-09, 06:11 AM	#10
polynike Sailor man Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Gibraltar Posts: 43 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	WOW exciting stuff! Do these things only happen at 100% realism?

02-09-09, 10:05 AM	#11
Kapt Z Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ...somewhere in the swamps of Jersey. Posts: 909 Downloads: 157 Uploads: 0	I've only come across a commerce raider(outside of base) once. It was in the Med and my lookouts reported a ship. We closed to investigate and it was a German commerce raider, already awash to the decking. You could hear the bulkheads creaking even on the surface. We pulled in close and 'pretended' to take off survivors and made a trip to Salamis to 'drop' them off. Don't know who sunk her, but since we were in range of Allied airbases I figure the RAF. I was suprised that a commerce raider would even be sent to the Med. Not too many places to hide there if you cannot submerge.

02-09-09, 12:25 PM	#15
Faamecanic Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Location: Off your Stb side with good solution Posts: 1,065 Downloads: 44 Uploads: 0	Damn...that is sweet. I have tried many times to see ANY friendlies engaging the enemy. I have even died once sending a convoy contact report just off the east coast of England... Hung around and didnt see any of my planes or ships for over a day, then I got too close and had to run and hide as the Convoy escorts came after me.