What do I do - an interesting dilemma . . .

GJO · 07-30-16, 07:45 AM

I am playing SHIII with GWX and it is late 1944. My Type IXb boat (probably the last of this type still on active service) is returning to Lorient after a very successful patrol in the Caribbean Sea (just NW of Trinidad & Tobago) - more than 70,000 tons of shipping sunk that were mostly tankers and, so far, I have evaded enemy warships so I still have three acoustic torpedoes left. The crew are all in good spirits and we have enough fuel to get back to one of the European bases that are still available.

The Radio operator has just reported:
"The base was changed to Penang"

There is no way that I can reach Penang with the fuel that I have left and there are no longer any refuelling options at sea. What are my options?

My current plan is to dock at the nearest French Port and then sail for Penang at the most economical speed. This would be possible but I do not relish the idea of a 20,000 mile voyage that will take the best part of three months. Also this option means that because I will not be docking at my home port I will be loaded with new torpedoes and will not have the option of keeping or choosing acoustic torpedoes which are a necessary defence against warships.

Of course, after docking in France, I could just use SH3 Commander to switch bases to my home base but would this be realistic? In November 1944, could a captain and crew be transported to Penang by air to take over a boat that was already there? Doubtful!

RConch · 07-30-16, 08:16 AM

You do have a problem-You don't have a chance of getting there with the fuel remaining.

I would return to France-fuel and load out with what torps are available and head to Asia.

I would take a route that would minimize any encounters with warships( perhaps hugging the coast of Afrika), avoid any contact with convoys if possible. Solo merchants would be my only targets.

The important thing, for me, would be just get there.

Look forward to how you will proceed.

Aktungbby · 07-30-16, 12:27 PM

Is there not a mod for refit at Vigo Bay and is Dakar North a of Freetown not a German post as in SHV? I use Dakar when raiding Cape Town & Freetown (not sure of the dates) in a Type VII and Fifi once PM'd me a mod for Vigo as in Das BOOT. Either would shorten the trip considerably and save a trip across 'the zone of death' to the French Biscay ports!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dakar

Mittelwaechter · 07-30-16, 01:34 PM

3 options

- redo the patrol - SH3 command you a grid at Capetown - follow radio orders and sail to Penang.

- dock in France - mod your Basic.cfg default torpedo loadout to your liking - and sail to Penang.

- dock in France and retire.

and of course you could take a small Swedish fast steamer and transport some canned fish to Shanghai - and close to Penang you would radio for help...

GJO · 07-30-16, 01:34 PM

Realistically, by 1944, there was no chance of refuelling a boat in Spanish waters or at sea - and most African ports were, by this time controlled by the Allies.

I have docked and refuelled at St. Nazaire and have been allowed one acoustic torpedo in a stern tube so my best chance is to follow orders and try for a quiet trip to Penang . . .

bstanko6 · 07-30-16, 05:27 PM

I like mittels idea. Retire. You are using an old boat at that time frame. That is probably why you were transferred out to Asia in the first place. Retire and get a better boat!

Aktungbby · 07-30-16, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJO

Realistically, by 1944, there was no chance of refuelling a boat in Spanish waters or at sea - and most African ports were, by this time controlled by the Allies.

I have docked and refuelled at St. Nazaire and have been allowed one acoustic torpedo in a stern tube so my best chance is to follow orders and try for a quiet trip to Penang . . .

I doubt it

Quote:

The Germans sent 45 U-boats at various times to operate in the Indian Ocean. Of these, 34 boats were lost; 4 were interned by the Japanese; 3 surrendered and only 4 returned to their home ports

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsun_Gruppe! http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Germany/KM/IndianOcean/index.html The fatherland thanks U in advance for your devotion and a letter... with postmortem customary promotion to KorvettenKapitän is on file in der GrossAdmiral Dönitz's HQ.

GJO · 07-31-16, 12:06 PM

Well I tried but it would appear that I inadvertently got too close to a fast convoy out of Freetown, I was detected by the escorts before I knew anything was out there and although I submerged and tried to get away as quietly as possible, I soon had four or five of them alternately listening and depth charging me. At first the damage wasn't too bad but then I lost both electric motors and, although I tried to blow the ballast in an attempt to avoid plummeting to the bottom, the end came at a depth of 320 Metres - if the sharks don't get them first, their will be bits of me and the crew floating to the surface . . .

07-30-16, 07:45 AM	#1
GJO Engineer Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: On the Oxford Canal in England Posts: 202 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	What do I do - an interesting dilemma . . . I am playing SHIII with GWX and it is late 1944. My Type IXb boat (probably the last of this type still on active service) is returning to Lorient after a very successful patrol in the Caribbean Sea (just NW of Trinidad & Tobago) - more than 70,000 tons of shipping sunk that were mostly tankers and, so far, I have evaded enemy warships so I still have three acoustic torpedoes left. The crew are all in good spirits and we have enough fuel to get back to one of the European bases that are still available. The Radio operator has just reported: "The base was changed to Penang" There is no way that I can reach Penang with the fuel that I have left and there are no longer any refuelling options at sea. What are my options? My current plan is to dock at the nearest French Port and then sail for Penang at the most economical speed. This would be possible but I do not relish the idea of a 20,000 mile voyage that will take the best part of three months. Also this option means that because I will not be docking at my home port I will be loaded with new torpedoes and will not have the option of keeping or choosing acoustic torpedoes which are a necessary defence against warships. Of course, after docking in France, I could just use SH3 Commander to switch bases to my home base but would this be realistic? In November 1944, could a captain and crew be transported to Penang by air to take over a boat that was already there? Doubtful!

07-30-16, 08:16 AM	#2
RConch Captain Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: No. Virginia Posts: 619 Downloads: 518 Uploads: 0	You do have a problem-You don't have a chance of getting there with the fuel remaining. I would return to France-fuel and load out with what torps are available and head to Asia. I would take a route that would minimize any encounters with warships( perhaps hugging the coast of Afrika), avoid any contact with convoys if possible. Solo merchants would be my only targets. The important thing, for me, would be just get there. Look forward to how you will proceed. __________________ "Noch und Noch" Prowling the Nord Atlantik with GWX 3.0.

07-30-16, 12:27 PM	#3
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 29,997 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Is there not a mod for refit at Vigo Bay and is Dakar North a of Freetown not a German post as in SHV? I use Dakar when raiding Cape Town & Freetown (not sure of the dates) in a Type VII and Fifi once PM'd me a mod for Vigo as in Das BOOT. Either would shorten the trip considerably and save a trip across 'the zone of death' to the French Biscay ports! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dakar __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!! Last edited by Aktungbby; 07-30-16 at 12:36 PM.

07-30-16, 01:34 PM	#4
Mittelwaechter The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,304 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	3 options - redo the patrol - SH3 command you a grid at Capetown - follow radio orders and sail to Penang. - dock in France - mod your Basic.cfg default torpedo loadout to your liking - and sail to Penang. - dock in France and retire. and of course you could take a small Swedish fast steamer and transport some canned fish to Shanghai - and close to Penang you would radio for help... __________________ 10 happy wolves rear 90 blinded, ensnared sheep. 90 happy sheep banish the wolves. Arrest the 1% - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ6hg1oNeGE

07-30-16, 05:27 PM	#6
bstanko6 Admiral Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Murwik Naval Academy Posts: 2,130 Downloads: 390 Uploads: 13	I like mittels idea. Retire. You are using an old boat at that time frame. That is probably why you were transferred out to Asia in the first place. Retire and get a better boat! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] BSTANKO6'S SH5 NAVAL ACADEMY http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPbe...W2NArCA/videos DISCORD https://discord.gg/6tFeTSUmVc

07-31-16, 12:06 PM	#8
GJO Engineer Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: On the Oxford Canal in England Posts: 202 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	Well I tried but it would appear that I inadvertently got too close to a fast convoy out of Freetown, I was detected by the escorts before I knew anything was out there and although I submerged and tried to get away as quietly as possible, I soon had four or five of them alternately listening and depth charging me. At first the damage wasn't too bad but then I lost both electric motors and, although I tried to blow the ballast in an attempt to avoid plummeting to the bottom, the end came at a depth of 320 Metres - if the sharks don't get them first, their will be bits of me and the crew floating to the surface . . .