Irish Sea

robj250 · 01-11-07, 08:56 AM

I'm still on my first patrol (Oct 1939) and have 7 torpedoes left and was think of returning to base by going up through the sea between Scotland and Ireland, then going around Scapa and down to my base.

Has anyone done that?

What are my chances of getting through?

Rob

EDIT: The torpedoes are G7a and I have a VIIB (no upgrades, green crew)

LeafsFan · 01-11-07, 09:02 AM

Never even thought of doing it. The Northern entrance is very narrow, and should be heavily patrolled, The southern entrance is much wider, but was heavily mined, at least historically.

HB

melnibonian · 01-11-07, 09:03 AM

In 1939 you can get away with such a course. You have to be careful as there are loads of DDs in the area and a lot of minefields. My suggestion would be to run decks awash to minimise your profile. There are loads of ships in the area as well and you can hit them with the deck gun as well. If you're a bit careful and lucky you can get away with a huge tonnage.

Good Luck

LeafsFan · 01-11-07, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melnibonian

In 1939 you can get away with such a course. You have to be careful as there are loads of DDs in the area and a lot of minefields. My suggestion would be to run decks awash to minimise your profile. There are loads of ships in the area as well and you can hit them with the deck gun as well. If you're a bit careful and lucky you can get away with a huge tonnage.

Good Luck

Takes a lot of Cojones to do this.

HB

melnibonian · 01-11-07, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeafsFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by melnibonian

In 1939 you can get away with such a course. You have to be careful as there are loads of DDs in the area and a lot of minefields. My suggestion would be to run decks awash to minimise your profile. There are loads of ships in the area as well and you can hit them with the deck gun as well. If you're a bit careful and lucky you can get away with a huge tonnage.

Good Luck

Takes a lot of Cojones to do this.

HB

I have done it in 1939 and early 1940 but it was mighty scary. Loads of tonnage though.

robj250 · 01-11-07, 10:10 AM

Gee, I never even thought about minefields. Thanks for that info. When you did it mel, how was it getting through that very narrow spot near the top?

With respect to the minefields, did you stay put at night (like, not move), because they would be very difficult to see at night.

I wouldn't even know what to look for (minefields) as I've never seen one. I guess I'd have to stay on the bridge while running decks awash.

Would you dive and let the DDs go by and just look for the merchants?

melnibonian · 01-11-07, 10:33 AM

The minefields are almost everywhere on that area but the mines are under the surface. So if you go to periscope depth and further down you run the risk to hit them. If you're on the surface you don't need to worry about mines, but you need to be careful about DDs and planes. That's the reason why I'm suggesting to run decks awash. If you are attacked you can dive quickly, and you can minimise the chances of being spotted by DDs.

When I did it I was on the move all the time. I was running decks awash and I was trying to set up ambushes to lone merchants. At night I was attacking from the surface and I was finishing up the target with the deck gun. During day time the attacks were done at periscope depth but with all engines stop (that way you avoid being hit by a mine). The conning tower was a bit exposed but if you raise the scope just a bit you can still see and fire a shot. Don't forget the merchants and the DDs are not too good in spotting you early in the war, so you can use it to your advantage and be a bit more aggressive. Because of your small profile you will most probably see the ships before they see you. If it's a merchant you can plan your attack without any problem. If it's a warship you're still running decks awash. You don't need to submerge straight away. Depending on the time of day and the weather you can always position your boat far away from the warship and still keep moving on the surface. If you're spotted or if you need to dive, then you have to pray you're not inside a minefield. If that's the case I would suggest you either go to the bottom and stay there until the danger passes or if you need to be moving try to do it at small speeds and for short periods of time.

As I said before it's tricky and dangerous but it can yield a lot of tonnage, and early in the war it's a unique oportunity.

Good Luck

(and trust me you will need it

)

Jimbuna · 01-11-07, 10:40 AM

I beg to differ Rob...the minefields esecially in the narrow section can be too intense

Consider going north up the west coast of Ireland and around the tip of Scotland

mookiemookie · 01-11-07, 10:46 AM

Wow, I never knew it was that heavily mined. I guess I've been very lucky. I know the northern entrance to the Irish Sea has a minefield on kind of the northeastern section of it over by the Hebrides, so I always hugged the coast of Northern Ireland when travelling through that part.

Metric craploads (yes, that's a scientific measurement....the "Metric Crapload":rotfl: ) of tonnage going in and out of the Bristol Channel though. I'd say it's worth it. Why not? Yeah, you WILL get attacked by DD's, Elcos and the occasional airplane. But it's early in the war and they should be relatively easy to avoid. Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk.

melnibonian · 01-11-07, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk.

Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun

:rotfl: :rotfl:

Abd_von_Mumit · 01-11-07, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melnibonian

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk.

Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun

:rotfl: :rotfl:

What the hell?! How you say ”You don't loose much”?! It's a life risk, and life is not something that you can order twice paying by PayPal!

melnibonian · 01-11-07, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abd_von_Mumit

Quote:

Originally Posted by melnibonian

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk.

Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun

:rotfl: :rotfl:

What the hell?! How you say ”You don't loose much”?! It's a life risk, and life is not something that you can order twice paying by PayPal!

No no. That was a joke for Rob as he was complaining about his deck gun crew in another post

mookiemookie · 01-11-07, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abd_von_Mumit

Quote:

Originally Posted by melnibonian

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk.

Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun

:rotfl: :rotfl:

What the hell?! How you say ”You don't loose much”?! It's a life risk, and life is not something that you can order twice paying by PayPal!

:rotfl: Don't worry. My advice to him would have been very different if he were going to try it in real life. The beauty of SH3 is that you can be reincarnated as many times as you like!

Abd_von_Mumit · 01-11-07, 11:50 AM

Oh men… <rotfl> I was joking too, really…

melnibonian · 01-11-07, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abd_von_Mumit

Oh men… <rotfl> I was joking too, really…

I know that. No worries

01-11-07, 08:56 AM	#1
robj250 Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Port Hardy, BC, Canada 75 yo with M.S. & C.O.P.D. & heart problems Posts: 1,930 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Irish Sea I'm still on my first patrol (Oct 1939) and have 7 torpedoes left and was think of returning to base by going up through the sea between Scotland and Ireland, then going around Scapa and down to my base. Has anyone done that? What are my chances of getting through? Rob EDIT: The torpedoes are G7a and I have a VIIB (no upgrades, green crew)

01-11-07, 09:03 AM	#3
melnibonian Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Reading UK Posts: 3,473 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	In 1939 you can get away with such a course. You have to be careful as there are loads of DDs in the area and a lot of minefields. My suggestion would be to run decks awash to minimise your profile. There are loads of ships in the area as well and you can hit them with the deck gun as well. If you're a bit careful and lucky you can get away with a huge tonnage. Good Luck __________________ http://www.thegreywolves.com/ http://wolvesatwar.com/ Download GWX and other goodies: http://hosted.filefront.com/melnibonian

01-11-07, 10:10 AM	#6
robj250 Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Port Hardy, BC, Canada 75 yo with M.S. & C.O.P.D. & heart problems Posts: 1,930 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Gee, I never even thought about minefields. Thanks for that info. When you did it mel, how was it getting through that very narrow spot near the top? With respect to the minefields, did you stay put at night (like, not move), because they would be very difficult to see at night. I wouldn't even know what to look for (minefields) as I've never seen one. I guess I'd have to stay on the bridge while running decks awash. Would you dive and let the DDs go by and just look for the merchants? Last edited by robj250; 01-11-07 at 10:30 AM.

01-11-07, 10:33 AM	#7
melnibonian Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Reading UK Posts: 3,473 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	The minefields are almost everywhere on that area but the mines are under the surface. So if you go to periscope depth and further down you run the risk to hit them. If you're on the surface you don't need to worry about mines, but you need to be careful about DDs and planes. That's the reason why I'm suggesting to run decks awash. If you are attacked you can dive quickly, and you can minimise the chances of being spotted by DDs. When I did it I was on the move all the time. I was running decks awash and I was trying to set up ambushes to lone merchants. At night I was attacking from the surface and I was finishing up the target with the deck gun. During day time the attacks were done at periscope depth but with all engines stop (that way you avoid being hit by a mine). The conning tower was a bit exposed but if you raise the scope just a bit you can still see and fire a shot. Don't forget the merchants and the DDs are not too good in spotting you early in the war, so you can use it to your advantage and be a bit more aggressive. Because of your small profile you will most probably see the ships before they see you. If it's a merchant you can plan your attack without any problem. If it's a warship you're still running decks awash. You don't need to submerge straight away. Depending on the time of day and the weather you can always position your boat far away from the warship and still keep moving on the surface. If you're spotted or if you need to dive, then you have to pray you're not inside a minefield. If that's the case I would suggest you either go to the bottom and stay there until the danger passes or if you need to be moving try to do it at small speeds and for short periods of time. As I said before it's tricky and dangerous but it can yield a lot of tonnage, and early in the war it's a unique oportunity. Good Luck (and trust me you will need it ) __________________ http://www.thegreywolves.com/ http://wolvesatwar.com/ Download GWX and other goodies: http://hosted.filefront.com/melnibonian

01-11-07, 10:40 AM	#8
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,478 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I beg to differ Rob...the minefields esecially in the narrow section can be too intense Consider going north up the west coast of Ireland and around the tip of Scotland __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

01-11-07, 09:02 AM	#2
LeafsFan Watch Officer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 332 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Never even thought of doing it. The Northern entrance is very narrow, and should be heavily patrolled, The southern entrance is much wider, but was heavily mined, at least historically. HB

01-11-07, 10:46 AM	#9
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	Wow, I never knew it was that heavily mined. I guess I've been very lucky. I know the northern entrance to the Irish Sea has a minefield on kind of the northeastern section of it over by the Hebrides, so I always hugged the coast of Northern Ireland when travelling through that part. Metric craploads (yes, that's a scientific measurement....the "Metric Crapload":rotfl: ) of tonnage going in and out of the Bristol Channel though. I'd say it's worth it. Why not? Yeah, you WILL get attacked by DD's, Elcos and the occasional airplane. But it's early in the war and they should be relatively easy to avoid. Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

01-11-07, 11:50 AM	#14
Abd_von_Mumit The Old Man Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warszawa, Polska Posts: 1,453 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 4	Oh men… <rotfl> I was joking too, really…