I raided Scapa Flow again...in a Type XXI!

maillemaker · 02-19-12, 12:17 AM

So BdU sends me off in October 1944 to patrol AN16. I hate shallow water, but I take my still-new Type XXI and cruise around a bit between Scapa and Lerwick, and I take out 4 unawares destroyers puttering around.

Then, since I'm on Scapa's front door anyway, I decide to raid it again.

I take the same approach that Prien took, navigating myself between the wrecked barrier ships, only to find a dang sub net!

But it's pitch dark out, so I surface and go flank speed to get over it.

Well I get over it, dragging my boat across the top of the net, taking my hull integrity down to 37%!

But no one notices me. I pass a Fiji cruiser at anchor and head on over to the harbor. Lots of juicy targets including another Fiji, a Modern Tanker, and a troop ship. I got them all, plus a destroyer, and nailed the first Fiji on the way out.

Took out a too-inquisitive DD on my way out the front door of Scapa, using my wonderful Type V homing torpedoes. Those things are just magical. Most of the time now if I have homers to spare I purposefully go to flank speed to get spotted, and as they gun their engines to come get me I send a homing torpedo their way and BOOM, no more destroyer.

I did have a close call on the way out of Scapa with my snorkle up - got DC'd pretty bad by an aircraft.

Made it home with 14% HI and 50,000 tons to my credit.

Prein should have had a Type XXI!

Steve

Hinrich Schwab · 02-19-12, 12:45 AM

I do not want to sound like a party pooper, but that 50,000 tons would not have felt good to me knowing I had to nearly sink myself bulldozing u-nets in a next generation, irreplaceable Type XXI boat. I would have been much more cautious and done what I could to find a hole, even if it meant steaming all the way to the other side of Scapa Flow. I am all for taking risks, but putting a boat through an oversized french fry cutter is not one of them. Now, if that tonnage would have come without tearing the boat up, I would certainly salute that. I have taken a XXI boat into Scapa Flow only in the historical mission and know how tricky it can be.

What mods were you running, by the way? It would be curious to know to see exactly what you were dealing with.

maillemaker · 02-19-12, 08:13 AM

LOL. Yeah, I was actually "done" playing for the night and saved my game before going in in case I died - I did not expect to come out of it.

In hindsight, with 8 or so homing torpedoes you can pretty much take out any localized force of escorts anywhere.

I did not expect to actually hit the net, which is why I surfaced. I thought the submarine net was for submarines and that I would sail over it. I guess the tide wasn't right.

Here are my mods:

Steve

Hinrich Schwab · 02-19-12, 04:35 PM

Looking at your mod list, the fact you survived is impressive enough. You should have sunk your own boat, considering the GWX damage models.

02-19-12, 12:17 AM	#1
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	I raided Scapa Flow again...in a Type XXI! So BdU sends me off in October 1944 to patrol AN16. I hate shallow water, but I take my still-new Type XXI and cruise around a bit between Scapa and Lerwick, and I take out 4 unawares destroyers puttering around. Then, since I'm on Scapa's front door anyway, I decide to raid it again. I take the same approach that Prien took, navigating myself between the wrecked barrier ships, only to find a dang sub net! But it's pitch dark out, so I surface and go flank speed to get over it. Well I get over it, dragging my boat across the top of the net, taking my hull integrity down to 37%! But no one notices me. I pass a Fiji cruiser at anchor and head on over to the harbor. Lots of juicy targets including another Fiji, a Modern Tanker, and a troop ship. I got them all, plus a destroyer, and nailed the first Fiji on the way out. Took out a too-inquisitive DD on my way out the front door of Scapa, using my wonderful Type V homing torpedoes. Those things are just magical. Most of the time now if I have homers to spare I purposefully go to flank speed to get spotted, and as they gun their engines to come get me I send a homing torpedo their way and BOOM, no more destroyer. I did have a close call on the way out of Scapa with my snorkle up - got DC'd pretty bad by an aircraft. Made it home with 14% HI and 50,000 tons to my credit. Prein should have had a Type XXI! Steve

02-19-12, 12:45 AM	#2
Hinrich Schwab Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 908 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 0	I do not want to sound like a party pooper, but that 50,000 tons would not have felt good to me knowing I had to nearly sink myself bulldozing u-nets in a next generation, irreplaceable Type XXI boat. I would have been much more cautious and done what I could to find a hole, even if it meant steaming all the way to the other side of Scapa Flow. I am all for taking risks, but putting a boat through an oversized french fry cutter is not one of them. Now, if that tonnage would have come without tearing the boat up, I would certainly salute that. I have taken a XXI boat into Scapa Flow only in the historical mission and know how tricky it can be. What mods were you running, by the way? It would be curious to know to see exactly what you were dealing with.

02-19-12, 08:13 AM	#3
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	LOL. Yeah, I was actually "done" playing for the night and saved my game before going in in case I died - I did not expect to come out of it. In hindsight, with 8 or so homing torpedoes you can pretty much take out any localized force of escorts anywhere. I did not expect to actually hit the net, which is why I surfaced. I thought the submarine net was for submarines and that I would sail over it. I guess the tide wasn't right. Here are my mods: Steve

02-19-12, 04:35 PM	#4
Hinrich Schwab Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 908 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 0	Looking at your mod list, the fact you survived is impressive enough. You should have sunk your own boat, considering the GWX damage models.