Fast TF Approach and Penetration

Doenitz2008 · 03-06-11, 03:42 PM

Penetrating a convoy. I've located a huge CV
TF. Conditions are : 0030, light winds, no
fog, calm seas, and no moon. The TF is
bearing 82, at a distance of 8.2 NM, heading SW, speed 21.
The first contact is the lead DD of a DD picket consisting of
4 on the starboard side of the TF and 4 to port. The interior
of the convoy consists of at least 1 CV and several CA's. I'm
on my 8th patrol of a career which I am basically using for learning
different targeting and approach techniques so I have multiple saves.
I've tried various approaches and have not managed to get into
the interior. The TF is going too fast for me to plot an end around
intercept, plus it is in the Slot so I don't have a huge amount of
distance to play with. I've tried approaching at 90 degrees as deep
as possible. I got almost close enough for a firing solution into the
first row, but I was getting pinged about 3-4 minutes before my
target reached solution. I've tried approaching at a more obtuse
angle, say 45 degrees, but again I was detected and this time
way beyond a firing solution. Probably they detected me on passive
sonar. I'm beginning to think that I might have just detected this
TF at a much less than optimal initial setup and it might just
be impossible to get into it. Seems that a successful attack on a
fast moving TF is just as much a matter of being lucky in detecting
it initially with a more optimal setup as it is with your approach
to it. Any tips welcomed.

03-06-11, 03:42 PM	#1
Doenitz2008 Watch Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 29 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Fast TF Approach and Penetration Penetrating a convoy. I've located a huge CV TF. Conditions are : 0030, light winds, no fog, calm seas, and no moon. The TF is bearing 82, at a distance of 8.2 NM, heading SW, speed 21. The first contact is the lead DD of a DD picket consisting of 4 on the starboard side of the TF and 4 to port. The interior of the convoy consists of at least 1 CV and several CA's. I'm on my 8th patrol of a career which I am basically using for learning different targeting and approach techniques so I have multiple saves. I've tried various approaches and have not managed to get into the interior. The TF is going too fast for me to plot an end around intercept, plus it is in the Slot so I don't have a huge amount of distance to play with. I've tried approaching at 90 degrees as deep as possible. I got almost close enough for a firing solution into the first row, but I was getting pinged about 3-4 minutes before my target reached solution. I've tried approaching at a more obtuse angle, say 45 degrees, but again I was detected and this time way beyond a firing solution. Probably they detected me on passive sonar. I'm beginning to think that I might have just detected this TF at a much less than optimal initial setup and it might just be impossible to get into it. Seems that a successful attack on a fast moving TF is just as much a matter of being lucky in detecting it initially with a more optimal setup as it is with your approach to it. Any tips welcomed.