The story of a shocked uboat commander

Subwolf · 10-25-06, 04:42 PM

I got a copy of SH3 a few days ago, and went to sea in my little type IIA in September 1939. I was ordered to patrol AF87, outside the coast of Norway somewhere. What kind of a place is this to patrol, but I sailed up there and for a about a week I didn't see a single ship except a couple of Norwegian fishing boats, just as I guessed. So I decided to head for the eastern coast of England to hope for more action.

There I got a lot more action than I hoped for, it was impossible to stay surfaced during daylight since I was constantly attacked by aircraft. And suddenly I found myself surrounded by two destroyers and an armed trawler. The depth was 45m so I had nowhere to hide. They kicked my butt before I had time to spit.

So my question, is it really this hard to survive in this game, or was it just a very unlucky start for this poor uboat commander?

Deimos01 · 10-25-06, 04:48 PM

Well, the difficulty depends on what mods you are running. The stock version isnt too bad. Sounds like you caught an unlucky break there however. Never fun getting jumped by DDs in shallow water.

Subwolf · 10-25-06, 05:10 PM

I installed a few mods but they shouldn't have anything to do with the gameplay, run it at around 50% realism.

I'll give it another try and figure out the right tactics, and hopefully get a better area to patrol. But I learned that you don't mess with warships in shallow waters as you say...

There is a lot to read here about how to become a successful captain, a great webpage for the sub community

Warmonger · 10-26-06, 12:06 AM

Well, when you cruise around in enemy's frontyard you have to expect continuous attacks. Look for some quieter areas with frequent shipping lanes (memorize the locations of contact reports of single ships on the nav map) and hunt there in relative quietness.

mookiemookie · 10-26-06, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warmonger

Well, when you cruise around in enemy's frontyard you have to expect continuous attacks.

Quoted for truth. You brought it on yourself.

Try shipping lanes instead of the coast itself, and I think you'll have a much better time.

Tijn · 10-26-06, 08:21 AM

It depends on the area around England. Near Scapa Flow is crowded with DD's, but also some merchants. Better is to hunt lower near the Channel. Near Holland. I always hunt there when i'm using a Type II.

Grtz Martijn

AVGWarhawk · 10-26-06, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warmonger

Well, when you cruise around in enemy's frontyard you have to expect continuous attacks. Look for some quieter areas with frequent shipping lanes (memorize the locations of contact reports of single ships on the nav map) and hunt there in relative quietness.

Yep, if you come to lift your leg on the enemies bushes, he is bound to chase you. Sounds like you need to learn your boat and what it can and can't do!!! Chaulk it up as a live and learn experience! Now go back to Kiel and get another boat....there's plenty back there!!!

Welcome aboard Swab!

Subwolf · 10-26-06, 04:57 PM

Thanks for the advice! I'll go hunting in that area near the Channel and stay away from the British coastline. But I guess I should complete the mission objectives and patrol this one first.

Well I can only learn from my mistakes, but I understand that it's not gonna be easy to survive one career until war's end. If any of you did that with some degree of realism you can truly call yourself a uboat commander

But SH3 looks like a great subsim worth the money.

10-25-06, 04:42 PM	#1
Subwolf Sonar Guy Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA/Norway Posts: 394 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	The story of a shocked uboat commander I got a copy of SH3 a few days ago, and went to sea in my little type IIA in September 1939. I was ordered to patrol AF87, outside the coast of Norway somewhere. What kind of a place is this to patrol, but I sailed up there and for a about a week I didn't see a single ship except a couple of Norwegian fishing boats, just as I guessed. So I decided to head for the eastern coast of England to hope for more action. There I got a lot more action than I hoped for, it was impossible to stay surfaced during daylight since I was constantly attacked by aircraft. And suddenly I found myself surrounded by two destroyers and an armed trawler. The depth was 45m so I had nowhere to hide. They kicked my butt before I had time to spit. So my question, is it really this hard to survive in this game, or was it just a very unlucky start for this poor uboat commander?

10-25-06, 04:48 PM	#2
Deimos01 Frogman Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St louis Posts: 304 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	Well, the difficulty depends on what mods you are running. The stock version isnt too bad. Sounds like you caught an unlucky break there however. Never fun getting jumped by DDs in shallow water.

10-25-06, 05:10 PM	#3
Subwolf Sonar Guy Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA/Norway Posts: 394 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	I installed a few mods but they shouldn't have anything to do with the gameplay, run it at around 50% realism. I'll give it another try and figure out the right tactics, and hopefully get a better area to patrol. But I learned that you don't mess with warships in shallow waters as you say... There is a lot to read here about how to become a successful captain, a great webpage for the sub community

10-26-06, 12:06 AM	#4
Warmonger Lieutenant Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 266 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Well, when you cruise around in enemy's frontyard you have to expect continuous attacks. Look for some quieter areas with frequent shipping lanes (memorize the locations of contact reports of single ships on the nav map) and hunt there in relative quietness.

10-26-06, 08:21 AM	#6
Tijn Loader Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nijmegen Posts: 83 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	It depends on the area around England. Near Scapa Flow is crowded with DD's, but also some merchants. Better is to hunt lower near the Channel. Near Holland. I always hunt there when i'm using a Type II. Grtz Martijn

10-26-06, 04:57 PM	#8
Subwolf Sonar Guy Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA/Norway Posts: 394 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the advice! I'll go hunting in that area near the Channel and stay away from the British coastline. But I guess I should complete the mission objectives and patrol this one first. Well I can only learn from my mistakes, but I understand that it's not gonna be easy to survive one career until war's end. If any of you did that with some degree of realism you can truly call yourself a uboat commander But SH3 looks like a great subsim worth the money.