3rd Patrol using TGW1.1a - NOTHING

[robj250]

Well, I have had two patrols that resulted in %$^&. Being sent to (I had to go all the way over the top of the British Isles) to some stupid grid where there isn't anything. Never received any RA reports on Task Forces or Convoys.

Now on my 3rd patrol and I've came all the way around the top of the British Isles (again) to BE67. The only ship I've spotted so far was a US cargo ship and since the US isn't even in the war yet, I didn't sink it because I didn't want the negative renoun for doing it.

Then almost to my grid (5 grids to go) I get a RA about a task force heading N way below me (3 grids away doing 21 kts), so I plan my intercept, just like I used to do in the vanilla SH3. Now since GW does not update the map, I have to rely on my planned intercept. Guess what, I travel at 17 knts to arrive at the planned intercept. I'm RIGHT ON TARGET and have waited for 3 hours and then the Task Force appears just behind me. I don't know how they got past, I had no contacts during that whole "waiting for intercept".

And, just as I see the Task Force reappear behind me, I receive another RA which gives me information about a convoy going NNE at only 6 kts. Well they arn't too far behind me so I plot another intercept with me going 17 kts. I wait for for a couple hours at the planned intercept; NOTHING. So I travel the recipical of NNE for almost 24 hours heading towards the convoy was reported and NOTHING.

SO, I'm going on to my assigned grid and patrol it for my required 24 hours and then go back to Wilmhelsmshaven and get whatever, for doing nothing except running around the North Atlantic wasting fuel.

Well, I heard all this stuff about TGW1.1a being SO wonderful, all I see is harbour traffic which is a nusiance to get past so I don't ram anyone and get sunk in my own port.

In all the three missions so far I have waited in the convoy lanes and see nothing ( I do this after seeing nothing in my patrol grid). After waiting for a couple days, I go back to base.

Well, I don't see what's so wonderful about TGW1.1a.

And, while I'm at it, why didn't the dev. team put in a mod that would put the Watch Officer back on the bridge when the sub surfaces???? Have they looked after this in the supposed even more wonderful GWX???:hmm:

Fed Up. In my first three patrols using the vanilla, I had sunk quite a few ships.

[AVGWarhawk]

What year are you playing? 1939 it is darn quiet. Later on you will have convoys all around you. I'm in 1943 and over by Novia Scotia. I have three convoys to choose from!! I also attacked a task force on the way. Not all of my patrols are exciting especially in the early years. Give it some time and you will wish you had the lone merchants again.....I agree with the WO not going to the tower automatically. Are you using the map in UZO/periscope view to see were the shipping lanes are?

[Jimbuna]

If it's more of a challenge and excitement your after then trust me rob...your in for a great deal of it with GWX!!!

DD = DEMONIC DESTROYERS

I don't think you'll be too dissapointed mate
May I suggest you check out the 'GWX Status Report' page in the SH3 Mods Workshop section (sorry but you probably already have) because there are lots of hints and a few photos there.

Testing the expansion is 'edge of the seat stuff'...the actual gaming experience should come with a health warning

[thegroo]

In GW the convoys are not running in a straight line, they make course changes all the time but they head in a general direction.

When planning your intercept use the speedchart to draw a distance-circle to indicate the possible area the convoy covers
in the time you need to go to the intercept point.
I make the circle about 2/3 of the distance the convoy could make in a straight line.

Once you get there go to 30m and use the sonar.
If you find nothing you have to guess a bit where the convoy could be and try to make
a new intercept.
In two of tree times, i'm now able to make an intercept.

The hunt is far more interresting this way but sometime i curse like hell when i lie
ahead of the convoy in a perfect position and the convoy changes course

As for not to find anything in your assigned grid, thats not specific to GW.
You get it in a plain installation too.
After spending the 24 hours in the patrol grid go to a better hunting ground like BF13, BF15

All in all, i find GW much better than the stock game.

Regards
Dieter

[Faamecanic]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

What year are you playing? 1939 it is darn quiet. Later on you will have convoys all around you. I'm in 1943 and over by Novia Scotia. I have three convoys to choose from!! I also attacked a task force on the way. Not all of my patrols are exciting especially in the early years. Give it some time and you will wish you had the lone merchants again.....I agree with the WO not going to the tower automatically. Are you using the map in UZO/periscope view to see were the shipping lanes are?

I just did my first patrol (kept my old career from vanilla and updated to GW so Im in June 1942) to AM78 (just West of S Ireland)...did get 1 RA of a convoy in the shallow waters just S of Ireland. Didnt persue as they were 2 grids away, and didnt feel like dodging DDs in 50m of water.

Since then I have encountered 1 task force (2 Black Swan Frigates and a Hunt I DD). Sunk the two Black Swans as I was bored with not encountering anything.

Question:

1) What is this UZO/periscope view map you speak of??

2) How do you guys hunt down the enemy???? Without my Vanilla Radio contact reports I have no idea how to find them!!

Thanks...and I do love all the added special effects/sounds with GW 1.1!!

[Corsair]

I find 75% of my targets through routine hydrophone checks around 20m deep, all stopped and myself behind the wheel. I don't count the times when I picked up sound contacts and going back to the command room and asking for a report my sonarman would reply "no sound contact". By good weather you can find them at very long distance... I go for a straight bearing first, then checking every 5/10 mns I get an idea if it is moving left or right of me and adjust my bearing always some degrees ahead. After that it's up to you to decide if you just wait for him when you think you are on its path, or surface and speed up to catch up... depends if it's day or night, if plane threat or not, etc... Since they don't just go circling around, depending where you are, you can also figure out what their destination is or the other way around where they come from... they have a logical route.
If you check in the community online manual, there is I think a link to a nice tutorial called "The Hunt" which helped me in the beginning.

[fredbass]

High TC can lower the amount of contacts you make. 256TC or lower is best IMO. Going slow when submerged will allow you to stay down longer. If weather is rough, I usually stay at 25m for a smoother ride thus giving you a bit more time while being submerged. Like others have said, sabotage is off by default. If you don't want it, don't change, delete or move any files.

Oh, almost forgot. It will be a whole new ballgame when GWX arrives, so you all will be discussing a complete new strategy on where to go, what to do and how to do it when released.

[Faamecanic]

Originally Posted by fredbass

Oh, almost forgot. It will be a whole new ballgame when GWX arrives, so you all will be discussing a complete new strategy on where to go, what to do and how to do it when released.

Oh thats just spiffy! I have a hard enough time with GW 1.1a

[Faamecanic]

Originally Posted by Corsair

If you check in the community online manual, there is I think a link to a nice tutorial called "The Hunt" which helped me in the beginning.

I found the convoy map stuffed in the upper Left corner...nice addtion.

I have been chasing a convoy for 3 game days... following your adivce Corsair. I can hear them in the distance (at least for 2 of the 3 days), but I can never catch them. Now they reappear in the next grid over heading to N Ireland Any other tips? Weather has been poor to down right crappy... my best day was Medium Fog with 15 m/s winds...to rain and heavy fog with 15 m/s winds.

[bigboywooly]

Speed up and make use of the weather
Close in till you spot the last ship or escort
Without being spotted lol

Then overhaul along one flank of the convoy till you are ahead
Then you can turn and close from a 90 degree angle

Thats great weather for a convoy attack

[mr chris]

Hey Rob im sorry to hear that you have not had a great first experiance with the GW.
When waiting for these convoys and Task forces were you using you Hyderphone? Or just the lookout crew up on the bridge?
The harbour traffic might not be everyones cup of tea but it does bring a sence of realism to the ports
If you are stuggleing to find tagets in the convoy lanes why not try raiding a port? With GW you can be sure the are going to be some targets in them unlike stock SH3.
Im sure the is a way of getting your map to update the contacts with GW i know my map updates the contacts, when you are heading into indercept them.
Keep at it Rob the big sinkings will come.
Good hunting mate

[AVGWarhawk]

Trust me man, when I started a career in 39 I sunk singletons all over the place. Soon I had convoy after convoy. I was so battered and ripped up by destroyers/flowers/planes I was begging for the slow singleton happy times of the u-boat!!!!! Give it some time man. GW attempts to make it as real as possible. The U-boat did not come out of the gate sinking everything in its path until later in the war. Then the tables turned and the U-boats were getting their butts handed to them. That is were I am right now.

[robj250]

Okay guys, As I mentioned, I am disappointed so far, BUT I will continue to carry on in 1939 and on into 1940.

I want to get out of Wilmhelshaven (2nd Flotilla) and get transfered to St. Nazaire. Then I will not have to travel so far to get to the Atlantic.

Here's hoping.

Regarding the Convoy routes in the map that is in the upper left corner, to pull down. I have done that, but It doesn't do much for me, Is it different when pulled down using the UZO or periscope?

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by robj250

Okay guys, As I mentioned, I am disappointed so far, BUT I will continue to carry on in 1939 and on into 1940.

I want to get out of Wilmhelshaven (2nd Flotilla) and get transfered to St. Nazaire. Then I will not have to travel so far to get to the Atlantic.

Here's hoping.

Man, stay away from Kiel...talk about a long haul!!!

[mr chris]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Man, stay away from Kiel...talk about a long haul!!!

Something tells me you wont mind so much being based in kiel in GWX