[STORY] attack on a little convoy May'43

[Grayson02sept1980]

while getting to my asigned grid I got a sighting message of a small convoy

off I went.

I serached it and did some intel to get the exact course and speed and calculated an ideal spot to intercept at 16:30

when I was there all I had to do is wait

The "convoy" was nothing more than a DD with three merchants:
a big freighter with 9000
an empire with 7000
and a medium freighter with 5500

I didn't bother about the medium... it was the last and at that moment I would have shot the big and the empire I would have the DD on my tail would be running..

when the big one was in ideal position I shot first a T3 underhis keel and the same moment a FaT2 on impact (ideal pattern running etc) just in case the first torp would miss etc... I usually shoot targets this big with two torps.

so the torps were on their way

I then switched to all ahead flank towards the empire as the DD picked me up (hell of a noise )

then after 40sec the first impact of the T3.... and......

a keel buster:

in bigger: http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/al...3033666535.jpg


only a second later the FaT3 ran into the front part of the already broken apart target... wasted? no! who knows if one torp is enough

ok... still hat a T3 and a FaT3 in my front tubes... so I aimed the empire freighter.

the AOB was the same as it was zigzaging I thought I speed towards a good position and shoot a double shot T3 and a FaT2 as I did already for the big one:
T3 - los!
FaT pattern set to 1600m to make sure it will hit and aimed a bit on the stern of the target.
I also set the speed a bit lower in the TDC
LOS!

this all happend while the DD was turning towards me

35 seconds later while watching the DD and planning and evasion route I hear an impact sound
checking the torps I see the T3 has hit....



ANOTHER KEELBUSTER:

bigger: http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/al...3531653738.jpg


the FaT missed... the speed was set too slow and the aiming for the stern was also too much...

What results!

I then shot a T3 from my stern tube towards the DD - more of because I was trying to get it to deal with the medium... and a bit about those good old "ARGH"

then I dived... the long pattern of the still running FaT2 was big enough to make the torp hit me

the T3 for the DD missed... so I used a T4-Falcon on it... (don't ask how I have got this one )

missed, too...

why?

cause it turned already... and ran into...
THE medium that was just passing me...
But as you know... those mediums are hard to kill sometimes... just then I was deeper than my scopes allowed me to see.


while I was playing cat'n'mouse with the DD I hear another impact sound...


huh?

What now?

the FaT ran into the medium...

what a day..... what a day....



three hours of evading DCs and getting away
21000t 6 torps fired with only one miss

the patrol is still running... will maybe report back later with more results.
'43 it's getting hard... but there are those moments when you just get what you need......

[bigboywooly]

Nice one
BUT
If you didnt increase speed but just switched targets for the 2nd ship the DD may not have found you anyway

I try to make no speed increases and am usually at silent running
Los and creep away

Still nice shooting and a bit of luck with the last sinking
But we all need a bit of luck now and then eh
Especially in 43

[Brag]

Congratz, Grayson!

Good engagement

[Grayson02sept1980]

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

Nice one
BUT
If you didnt increase speed but just switched targets for the 2nd ship the DD may not have found you anyway

I try to make no speed increases and am usually at silent running
Los and creep away

Still nice shooting and a bit of luck with the last sinking
But we all need a bit of luck now and then eh
Especially in 43

I wanted to get into a better position for the second target as they were already starting zigzagin

from the present point of vie I should have waited till both were at the same distance and shoot the "slightly" farer and then the other and then sneak away...

on the other hand I wanted to use impacts so the AOB/angle should have been around 90° .. dunno why the sea was calm enough for magnets
well...
I still have to learn to be more patient

[bigboywooly]

We all need to learn that sometimes
At least you survived
AND came back with tonnage

[Grayson02sept1980]

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

We all need to learn that sometimes
At least you survived
AND came back with tonnage

survived... ha!

when I loaded the savegame I had major problems with
Flak guns (the quad was not working)
engines (only 30% power...)
batteries (after 20% of the normal time running down to 20% power)
(SH3 commander )

and for the sake of god was under the air umbrella.... and was attacked all 4 hours as they searched for me... and with this slow boat... found me...

when I finally reached Lorient the boat was down to 41%
my LI dead (the good officier with all the specials in repairs etc. )
three crewman dead
my Medci dead (a bomb impact into the front compartment....

Luckly all stations were manned except for four man... the medic... and a crewman were killed in the front compartment... the other one was getting away heavily wounded... and atm my officer was doing repairs at this deck and was blown into the sea as well as two other seamen




well gotte be happy we made it back after all