Wolfpacks, radar and shadowing?

sublynx · 09-05-13, 06:52 AM

Has anyone been able to shadow a convoy after the advent of radar?

If so, how did you do it?

And does anyone know if:

1. do the escorts always check radar signals or do they turn back to the convoy if they lose radar contact when the U-boat dives?
2. do the escorts start checking radar contacts immediately or do they need to have the signal on for a fixed time before they start investigating?
3. would approaching the convoy from a particular direction be helpful?
4. Is weather a factor in the way the escorts' radar functions?

RConch · 09-05-13, 08:04 AM

Yes, but its nerve wracking.
I scale the chart down to 5000m and lock on to the nearest escort and stay just out of radar range and watch his movements. A lot of moving in and moving back out depending on his movements. As far as weather, I see no loss in radar. I have been attacked in very foul conditions.
The biggest problem for me is, getting past the front sweeper escort, as I like to approach from the front side either starboard or port. Either way, you will probably have to shoot from 4000 to 3000m.
If you can sink the front escort, your job is easier.

Sometimes you just have to go down to scope depth and silent running and just trust you can get by him and get inside the convoy. Silence is golden.

I carry several "steamers" so I can set the running speed to medium and they will go 7500m, if I miss hopefully they will continue and hit something else. It is very hard on the surface to use the electrics as they only travel 5000m, and this can and will put you in radar range most times.

Sometimes I just got to pass and try my luck on the next one.

RConch · 09-06-13, 09:24 AM

I should add that all this is done at night at 7m depth. During the day I stay as much out of sight as possible. It does take a few minutes for them to react with radar. You can tell when they have spotted you.

sublynx · 09-06-13, 01:56 PM

Thanks Rconch! This helps a lot. I would also like to specify my problem a little bit more. The problem is not just attacking the convoy but also the need to follow it for many hours in order to send contact reports of it. I use H.Sie's V16 mod, which incorporates wolfpacks and in order to see a wolfpack one must first follow the convoy until night time and send regular contact reports.

09-05-13, 06:52 AM	#1
sublynx Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: In the conning tower of my VIIC scanning the sea through the periscope Posts: 1,698 Downloads: 173 Uploads: 7	Wolfpacks, radar and shadowing? Has anyone been able to shadow a convoy after the advent of radar? If so, how did you do it? And does anyone know if: 1. do the escorts always check radar signals or do they turn back to the convoy if they lose radar contact when the U-boat dives? 2. do the escorts start checking radar contacts immediately or do they need to have the signal on for a fixed time before they start investigating? 3. would approaching the convoy from a particular direction be helpful? 4. Is weather a factor in the way the escorts' radar functions?

09-05-13, 08:04 AM	#2
RConch Captain Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: No. Virginia Posts: 619 Downloads: 518 Uploads: 0	Yes, but its nerve wracking. I scale the chart down to 5000m and lock on to the nearest escort and stay just out of radar range and watch his movements. A lot of moving in and moving back out depending on his movements. As far as weather, I see no loss in radar. I have been attacked in very foul conditions. The biggest problem for me is, getting past the front sweeper escort, as I like to approach from the front side either starboard or port. Either way, you will probably have to shoot from 4000 to 3000m. If you can sink the front escort, your job is easier. Sometimes you just have to go down to scope depth and silent running and just trust you can get by him and get inside the convoy. Silence is golden. I carry several "steamers" so I can set the running speed to medium and they will go 7500m, if I miss hopefully they will continue and hit something else. It is very hard on the surface to use the electrics as they only travel 5000m, and this can and will put you in radar range most times. Sometimes I just got to pass and try my luck on the next one. __________________ "Noch und Noch" Prowling the Nord Atlantik with GWX 3.0.

09-06-13, 09:24 AM	#3
RConch Captain Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: No. Virginia Posts: 619 Downloads: 518 Uploads: 0	I should add that all this is done at night at 7m depth. During the day I stay as much out of sight as possible. It does take a few minutes for them to react with radar. You can tell when they have spotted you. __________________ "Noch und Noch" Prowling the Nord Atlantik with GWX 3.0.

09-06-13, 01:56 PM	#4
sublynx Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: In the conning tower of my VIIC scanning the sea through the periscope Posts: 1,698 Downloads: 173 Uploads: 7	Thanks Rconch! This helps a lot. I would also like to specify my problem a little bit more. The problem is not just attacking the convoy but also the need to follow it for many hours in order to send contact reports of it. I use H.Sie's V16 mod, which incorporates wolfpacks and in order to see a wolfpack one must first follow the convoy until night time and send regular contact reports.