U-94 at Convoy Waypoint

sharkbit · 05-01-12, 09:19 PM

I've seen it a couple of times when a convoy reaches a waypoint and changes course, it turns into mass confusion. Ships changing speeds, going different directions, etc. Madness and confusion!

....and not very realistic. Extremely difficult to attack. I've usually just broke of the attack, shadowed, and attacked when things have gotten back to normal.
I've always tried to keep the fact that it can happen at any time when approaching convoys for an attack in the back of mind and look at the map and see if I can guess if it might happen soon.

Got caught yesterday.....
12/3/1940, around 18:30- I was pursuing a convoy I had previously attacked when I ran into another convoy. I was in excellent position so I decided to attack the new convoy with my last 4 eels. Excellent visibility, no wind, and flat seas south of Ireland(BE12 IIRC).

I figured a night surface attack was not an option due to the excellent visibility conditions so I was hoping to make a submerged attack. A great opportunity opened up when the wing escort made a sweep out from the convoy. It gave me an opportunity to stay surfaced and slip into position. I got into perfect position so I submerged. I poke the scope up and the convoy was starting to break apart and change course.

I decided to hang tight. It appeared to be changing course torward me. The convoy seemed to be settling on a SSW course so I started to manuever to put myself into position in the hopes of picking off a ship.

The next time I poke the scope up, all I see is a wall of death and a whirling propeller magnified 6x and I'm getting rammed by a cargo ship. The next thing I know, I'm getting damge reports so I dive down to 25 meters, Luckily, it was only minor damage. I pop back up to periscope depth.

I take a snap shot with my stern tube at a freighter which misses. I look forward and probably 500 meters away is a 12000 ton whale factory ship. I guestimate the speed, range, and AOB, say a quick prayer and fire my last 3 bow torpedoes.

2 of the 3 hit and down she goes.

Pure luck..I mean skill.

The escorts tried to pound me for a couple of hours afterwards but I got away without a scratch from them.

These convoy course changes can make things exciting, to say the least.

andwii · 05-01-12, 10:20 PM

at one point I fired all my bow torps and right when the last one left the tube they changed course. All either miss or dud. I hate this game/sim sometimes lol.

Captain Nemo · 05-02-12, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharkbit

I've seen it a couple of times when a convoy reaches a waypoint and changes course, it turns into mass confusion. Ships changing speeds, going different directions, etc. Madness and confusion!

....and not very realistic.

It doesn't happen often and I put it down to the convoy being spooked by something and all hell breaks lose with ships going in all directions. It can also happen soon after an attack on the convoy. I've also seen one ship in a convoy being out of position and moving in and out of the convoy lanes at a higher speed than the rest trying to slot in somewhere.

Nemo

P_Funk · 05-02-12, 09:19 AM

Well it isn't totally unrealistic. If a convoy did make a significant enough course change right as you fired even if they didn't know you were there its conceivable that you shots could all miss even if they hit provided the angle became sufficiently sharp that they'd not detonate.

05-01-12, 09:19 PM	#1
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	U-94 at Convoy Waypoint I've seen it a couple of times when a convoy reaches a waypoint and changes course, it turns into mass confusion. Ships changing speeds, going different directions, etc. Madness and confusion! ....and not very realistic. Extremely difficult to attack. I've usually just broke of the attack, shadowed, and attacked when things have gotten back to normal. I've always tried to keep the fact that it can happen at any time when approaching convoys for an attack in the back of mind and look at the map and see if I can guess if it might happen soon. Got caught yesterday..... 12/3/1940, around 18:30- I was pursuing a convoy I had previously attacked when I ran into another convoy. I was in excellent position so I decided to attack the new convoy with my last 4 eels. Excellent visibility, no wind, and flat seas south of Ireland(BE12 IIRC). I figured a night surface attack was not an option due to the excellent visibility conditions so I was hoping to make a submerged attack. A great opportunity opened up when the wing escort made a sweep out from the convoy. It gave me an opportunity to stay surfaced and slip into position. I got into perfect position so I submerged. I poke the scope up and the convoy was starting to break apart and change course. I decided to hang tight. It appeared to be changing course torward me. The convoy seemed to be settling on a SSW course so I started to manuever to put myself into position in the hopes of picking off a ship. The next time I poke the scope up, all I see is a wall of death and a whirling propeller magnified 6x and I'm getting rammed by a cargo ship. The next thing I know, I'm getting damge reports so I dive down to 25 meters, Luckily, it was only minor damage. I pop back up to periscope depth. I take a snap shot with my stern tube at a freighter which misses. I look forward and probably 500 meters away is a 12000 ton whale factory ship. I guestimate the speed, range, and AOB, say a quick prayer and fire my last 3 bow torpedoes. 2 of the 3 hit and down she goes. Pure luck..I mean skill. The escorts tried to pound me for a couple of hours afterwards but I got away without a scratch from them. These convoy course changes can make things exciting, to say the least. __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

05-02-12, 09:19 AM	#4
P_Funk Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 2,537 Downloads: 129 Uploads: 0	Well it isn't totally unrealistic. If a convoy did make a significant enough course change right as you fired even if they didn't know you were there its conceivable that you shots could all miss even if they hit provided the angle became sufficiently sharp that they'd not detonate. __________________

05-01-12, 10:20 PM	#2
andwii Frogman Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Bridge of U-123 Posts: 300 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	at one point I fired all my bow torps and right when the last one left the tube they changed course. All either miss or dud. I hate this game/sim sometimes lol.