Convoy attack tactics

[bollockmaster]

Hi all,
I'm sure it's nothing new, but I just thought I'd share my experiences of attacking convoys circa. 1940 in my trusty old Type II-D.
I'm running GWX Gold and at first found it very difficult attacking convoys without being either heavily damaged or sent to a watery grave by the escorts. But I've found that if I sneak inside the destroyer screen submerged, pick a couple of fat juicy merchants to attack, get as close as I dare to them (within a 1000yrds), stop and let fly with my 3 eels (2 into the first target to guarantee a sinking), continue heading towards the first target (i.e follow the eels into the target) once it sinks park myself as deep as possible and as close to the sunken hulk as I dare, then just sit there while the escorts search all over the outskirts of the convoy find nothing and p***off, reload and finish off the other merchant or if it's already gone down surface and catch up with the convoy again. The noise the sunken ship is making seems to mask my presence, and the escorts don't even come anywhere near.

[jimmyjam25]

I have often parked my boat on top of a wreck that's been split in half in shallow waters. The escorts won't come near it. Good if you need repair time. I'm sure anyone who has played the game long enough has done something similar.

[Canovaro]

That is a cool idea be it difficult to perform.
But the sinking ship's sound masking your presence is a cool idea.

[desertstriker]

unforuntely i doubt the sinking ship sounds work becaue the AI sometimes has godlike powers with the hydrophone.

What I normally do is go completely silent no engines, no loading of torpedos nothing and normally that works.

[vanjast]

1) always approach a convoy, headon/rearon to the closest escort at 'silent running'
2) pop scope just above surface for 1 sec max when in the convoy
3) target and fire, then immediately dive to max depth.
4) turn to course +- 45 degs to rear of convoy course. This course determined by rear escort ?
5) Use convoy ships as cover as needed
6) DON'T BE GREEDY - there's plenty of time for another attack ?

All at silent running of course

[CaliEs]

Originally Posted by vanjast

1)
3) ... then immediately dive to max depth.

crashdive, normal dive, silent dive?

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by CaliEs

crashdive, normal dive, silent dive?

I say normal drive, or 2rds. You want to get deep quick. At silent running, or less than 2 knots you'll get nowhere. But no need to alert DDs that haven't spotted you yet either. Unless they are really close or already pointed in your way.

The DD sonar is like a flashlight pointing slanting down. But it also has a blind zone directly beneath it. (cone shaped) At maximum depth the undetectable region is the largest. But as the war gets older, the sonar starts to get better and detects further downwards. So you'll get less room to be undetectable. Atleast, that's what's in the GWX manual.

[Hari123]

Take a look in the GWX3.0 documentation. Start from page 578. There you find a "Convoy Attack Guide".

[GerardPorter]

Originally Posted by Pisces

I say normal drive, or 2rds. You want to get deep quick. At silent running, or less than 2 knots you'll get nowhere. But no need to alert DDs that haven't spotted you yet either. Unless they are really close or already pointed in your way.

The DD sonar is like flashlights pointing slanting down. But it also has a blind zone directly beneath it. (cone shaped) At maximum depth the undetectable region is the largest. But as the war gets older, the sonar starts to get better and detects further downwards. So you'll get less room to be undetectable. Atleast, that's what's in the GWX manual.

I think you have shared some good information about this difficult aspect..I will now try to gain more information about the GWX manual

[Herr_Pete]

I have to admit I have sat beside sinking ships in shallow water quite a few times for repairs

[flag4]

...ive done this myself....then thought, what if they explode and im near them....then its...

but if you can away with it then why not?

[vanjast]

Originally Posted by CaliEs

crashdive, normal dive, silent dive?

Depends where the escorts are, otherwise no rush

[vanjast]

Originally Posted by Herr_Pete

I have to admit I have sat beside sinking ships in shallow water quite a few times for repairs

Even in deep waters.. I've snuck around onto the opposite side (from the attacking escort) of a sinking ship, diving away from it as it sank.

The escort lost me completely.

[KvtKptPriess]

Great info.....