Attacking Convoy While Getting DC'ed

[Otto Heinzmeir]

I have to say my 2nd convoy attack in NYGM was a blast. First attack I was able to get out front and wait, taking out an ore carrier. Then I laid low for awhile. The convoy was escorted by 1 DD and 2 flower corvettes, but they never located me. I wanted to get on the left side of the convoy where I had seen a 7 ton target earlier. Not using nav map updates, I ended up locating the convoy from behind as it had turned again. So I tried to get over to the left side and was spotted in the dark at 2300m,(There was a half moon out) by the other flower class who fired at me but missed. Thus began a 3 hour period where the flower classes DC'ed me.

Now the fun part. One of the flower classes was going slowly back the the convoy. So I followed it staying 6000m off its starboard. I flanked ahead and by this time it was daylight. When I first spotted the convoy it was at 9000m in light fog. Enemy ships have decent visibility in NYGM during the day. So I tried to steer away so as not to get any closer and run slightly away to get ahead of the convoy. By the time I turned I was about 8300m from the convoy and shortly after that I notice the lead DD coming directly at me from about 7600m. So I dived and knew what was next. DC attacks, Yea!
Well I really wanted to attack because I need to get a save so I could quit as it was getting late. First I went to my routine of 2 kts and waited to see if the DD would find me. Of course he did so I went to flank at a depth of 50 to 60 meters. I had been able to get a quick plot of the convoys track and I set an intercept about 9000m away and dodged DC's the entire way, changing depth each time and steering left or right a few degrees but I never dropped speed. Set my TDC for a 90 AOB Portside attack. I had estimated speed by timing the lead merchant along the track by hydrophone. When I got about 1200m from what i figured would be the outer edge of the convoy another DC attack came. This time I went to periscope depth, changing course slightly to starboard to get 90 degrees off the convoy track. I raised the scope scanned right, opened tubes 3 and 4 as I only had 2 bow torps left. Found the closest target of about 6 to 7 tons and fired. Then dove deep and changed course. Only one of the torps hit but it was a bow shot and sunk a large cargo. hehe that was fun. Going 9000m at flank had drained my battery from 50 to 35. Not sure I'd try it much after 1940 though.