Narvik: safest place to start?

[desirableroasted]

It's April 5th, 1940, and I am just outside Narvik harbor having a look. Any advice on the safest place to start the campaign? Back down the fjord to the east a few clicks? Or?

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

It's April 5th, 1940, and I am just outside Narvik harbor having a look. Any advice on the safest place to start the campaign? Back down the fjord to the east a few clicks? Or?

Oh, and I am in GWX 3.0.

[Jimbuna]

You want to be where the 'x' is facing north by 10th...and you can expect company on 10th then again on 13th.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

You want to be where the 'x' is facing north by 10th...and you can expect company on 10th then again on 13th.

Ahh, thank you! I had hoped you, especially, would reply.

It is April 6, 0330. We are decks awash in the fjord just north of Narvik harbor. We are eating meatballs with ligonberries on a moonless night.

I assume the Norwegians don't suddenly sack up and find a Navy. I considered whacking that rickety armed trawler on the way in, but since he tossed us the ligonberries...

[Arael]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

It's April 5th, 1940, and I am just outside Narvik harbor having a look. Any advice on the safest place to start the campaign? Back down the fjord to the east a few clicks? Or?

There's a chokepoint about 200 kilometers West of Narvik in the fjord. The water is over 150 meters deep, but the north and south coasts are only 15 kilometers apart. If you are using the 18 kilometer view distance mod, you can sit dead center in the choke point and see the shore North and South of you. It's narrow enough to funnel anything going through into an easy killing zone, and deep enough to make any avenging destroyer's work difficult.

[desirableroasted]

Thanks @jimbuna and @arael.

I think I am going to play this as an innocent, that I was ordered to recon harbor facilities and happened to be there. So I will see how the situation works out.

My first Narvik trip, so I am here to play and learn.

[Jimbuna]

SINK EM ALL!!

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by opeks1

As I remember, Narvik lies in very narrow corridor. So, first of all, to start what? career or single mission? and when? I mean the year. The later the worse 'cause this is very shallow water and where you can't hide from destroyers. Remember about that please, especially when you choose to start your career in later years, for instance 1942 or 1943

I am playing GWX, and seeing how Narvik plays 9-15 April 1940.

I have a great crew and a good boat, and here is one place where I am not going to play DID.

[Tessa]

Originally Posted by opeks1

As I remember, Narvik lies in very narrow corridor. So, first of all, to start what? career or single mission? and when? I mean the year. The later the worse 'cause this is very shallow water and where you can't hide from destroyers. Remember about that please, especially when you choose to start your career in later years, for instance 1942 or 1943

The shallow water does present the usual challenge, sinking a BB in the middle of the channel creates a giant blockship that seriously impedes the escorts ability to maneuver. With large numbers of DD's (5+) passing by the shallow water can backfire on them when you create a traffic jam on the surface. With up to 10 DD's looking for you 1 or 2 can start dropping charges in the shallow water, being unable to accelerate because of another escort being in front of them they'll end up blowing themselves up from their own charges.

[desirableroasted]

One destroyer down on April 10. Hanging out where Jimbuna suggested.

Narvik is proof that friendly AI ships do not hit you (you have to run into them).

I was in the path of the friendly AI ships, stood still, even moved in to their path. Nearly rammed, but they did all sorts of maneuvers to ensure they didn't hit me.

[Jimbuna]

On 13th the destroyers return with their big brother.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

On 13th the destroyers return with their big brother.

Indeed they do.

I managed to sink Warspite (aka Nelson). 8 escorts on me immediately as I backed into the cove. I assumed I was dead (18 meters depth, no chance to bolt). They stayed on me 90 minutes or so, but other than some superficial damage, quickly repaired, U-47 is good to go.

I am pretty sure it is a game exploit... few depth charges dropped, and not a lot of movement. I did not have the external cam on, but the hydrophone hairs were mostly steady and I sure didn't feel pressed,

After about 90 minutes, they left.

My crew tells me they spotted Nelson again, on the high seas, on the way out, but I put a patch to my eye and saw nothing.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

My crew tells me they spotted Nelson again, on the high seas, on the way out, but I put a patch to my eye and saw nothing.

I sank the Warspite doing duty in the Vestfjord as well, but I was lucky enough to catch her much nearer the open Atlantic and had plenty of depth under my keel. Was able to dive deep enough to make any pursuit by the escorts a wasted effort on their part. In fact if the water hadn't been so deep in so much of the fjord I don't know if I would've hung around there too long, even with the possibility of getting a shot at a capital ship.

[Kip336]

I'm hanging around in Narvik aswell in my current campaign, current date is June 3th 1940.

BdU send me some messages about a big campaign against British merchant convoys in this area. After a 48 hour trip through the fjords I found a couple of troop ships sitting still. Add another 56kT

Wondering though, if I did find the Nelson or Warspite, and I would sink it...will they be dead in the rest of the campaign, or will they return to life?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Kip336

I'm hanging around in Narvik aswell in my current campaign, current date is June 3th 1940.

BdU send me some messages about a big campaign against British merchant convoys in this area. After a 48 hour trip through the fjords I found a couple of troop ships sitting still. Add another 56kT

Wondering though, if I did find the Nelson or Warspite, and I would sink it...will they be dead in the rest of the campaign, or will they return to life?

The ship will be rendered again after travelling byond your 'SH3 world' (50km).