Changing my play style for survival

[Zedwardson]

By being LESS aggressive...

GWX can be a killer, one bad move and your starting a new commander in SH3 Commander. My last three commanders didn't make it out of 1939, so I am changing some tactics...

1. If it is shallow water and escorted, unless you have a ideal shot, just radio it into command and shadow it to see if it exits shallow water. Angry escort + Shallow water = Death

2. Don't be a cowboy, so no more sneaking into Loch Ewe to try to sink HMS Hood.

3. Aircraft are the bane of your existence, enjoy the empty 1939 skys as much as you can.

4. If your sneaking up to a ship, seemily undetected, and you hear charges go off while you have to scope up, say hello to the RN air wing or the RAF.

5. if you find a ship sailing by itself, hang around, many times you will find a shipping lane and make a death zone.

6. Three ships and 9000 tons might not seem alot, but its not bad for early in the war when you don't have convoys to poach, and it is better to sink a few ships and get home then go for great sinking, only to get deep sixed.

So far, Hans Friedrich who followed this philosophy has with two war patrols (and a pre-war shakedown patrol) sunk nine ships for 30,000 tons, not spectacular, but he is bringing his boys home and his crew is getting better trained by the day. (Now if SH3 commander would just transfer out my non-qualified crew and not my new guy who just came out of repair school, it would be appreciated!

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Zedwardson

By being LESS aggressive...

GWX can be a killer, one bad move and your starting a new commander in SH3 Commander. My last three commanders didn't make it out of 1939, so I am changing some tactics...

1. If it is shallow water and escorted, unless you have a ideal shot, just radio it into command and shadow it to see if it exits shallow water. Angry escort + Shallow water = Death

2. Don't be a cowboy, so no more sneaking into Loch Ewe to try to sink HMS Hood.

3. Aircraft are the bane of your existence, enjoy the empty 1939 skys as much as you can.

4. If your sneaking up to a ship, seemily undetected, and you hear charges go off while you have to scope up, say hello to the RN air wing or the RAF.

5. if you find a ship sailing by itself, hang around, many times you will find a shipping lane and make a death zone.

6. Three ships and 9000 tons might not seem alot, but its not bad for early in the war when you don't have convoys to poach, and it is better to sink a few ships and get home then go for great sinking, only to get deep sixed.

So far, Hans Friedrich who followed this philosophy has with two war patrols (and a pre-war shakedown patrol) sunk nine ships for 30,000 tons, not spectacular, but he is bringing his boys home and his crew is getting better trained by the day. (Now if SH3 commander would just transfer out my non-qualified crew and not my new guy who just came out of repair school, it would be appreciated!

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=173753

[Sailor Steve]

Sounds like you're starting to think less like a gamer and more like a kaleun. Good for you!

[Alpha Von Burg]

The makings of a good Captain...


Good Hunting...

[HW3]

Your starting to think like a real Kaleun now. When you start weighing the risk verses the reward, you gain a deeper understanding of what the real Kaleun's went through.

[U777]

Good tip, I'll give that a shot.

5. if you find a ship sailing by itself, hang around, many times you will find a shipping lane and make a death zone.

[Capt. Morgan]

Originally Posted by Zedwardson

...
5. if you find a ship sailing by itself, hang around, many times you will find a shipping lane and make a death zone. ...

Thanks, I'm going to give that a try.

6. Three ships and 9000 tons might not seem alot, but its not bad for early in the war when you don't have convoys to poach,...

It's much better than "not bad". Historically, only a very small group of sub commanders in WWII - from all of the navies involved - ever managed to average 9000t per patrol. Any one who could was an ace.

Unless a target is worth vastly more than your sub, nothing justifies unnecessarily risking the boat, and especially the crew. What you've said all sounds like good judgment to me.


Here are some other things things I've tried:

If I encounter a convoy with all the escorts up front, then I know that they'll be deaf once they've passed me, and I've got at least until the first torp. hits (and up to 20 seconds more) to use flank speed, before they can turn themselves around enough to hear me.

I use slow speed torps on escorted merchants if possible - gives me even more time to clear the firing point.

If I have to turn after firing, I try to use as little rudder as possible. Full rudder (the default) will keep me at the firing point until the boat finishes its turn.