First Convey

Alexdk · 04-02-07, 09:45 AM

Finally it has happened! I have found my first Convoy!

Finnished sweeping my patrol sector with no targets, so heading over to the west of engand and sammed straight into a large convoy! Its December 1939 and I got mysef a new VII boat with old gassed propelle torps.

oes anybody know how well guarded these things are in 1939? Should I got for escorts first or the merchants? The conyoy is about 50km south of me and about 400/500 km west of Ireland. I am still in deepish waters.

My first convoy here so any tips is appreciated.

Playing GWX btw

Thanks

Steel_Tomb · 04-02-07, 09:55 AM

Don't go for the escorts! Especially with the gas powered fish, even if you get a perfect shot at them its most likely they will see the torpedo, take evasive action and increase their speed before dropping nasty stuff on your new ride. Its always best to go for the merchants first IMHO...look up the tonnage in your book to find the juiciest target - then send it down to meet old davey jones!

Foghladh_mhara · 04-02-07, 09:57 AM

My experience with convoys at this stage in the war is that the escorts are not all that good. Definately go for the merchants then go deep and quiet. So long as your quiet you should have no problems.

Alexdk · 04-02-07, 09:58 AM

Ok, this convoy is BIG! Not sure how to approach it, its night and reativy high winds. I think I am gonna try and get in the middle of it, hit so ships and try to avoid the escorts by hideing out amonst the merchants. Think that wil work?

Foghladh_mhara · 04-02-07, 10:16 AM

I suppose everyone has there favourite method of attack but personally I never attack a convoy on the surface regardless of the weather. I track it position and course on the surface, then get well ahead and submerge right in its track and at 90 degrees to it. I then keep a periscope watch until I see the lead escort and then go to 25m(just in case he zigzags over my conning tower by chance) and rig for silent running. As soon as he passes me by I pop back up to periscope depth and look for the merchies. I'll pick out 2 I like and fire 2 eels at each. Then hit full flank, deoth 100m and turn in the direction the convoy is sailing. Soon as I reach about 60m rig for silent running at 1 knot and slowly angle my self away from the convoy. Best button I ever discovered was the one at the sonar station where you can track the nearest warship

I just keep turning away from him at 10 degrees rudder

Alexdk · 04-02-07, 10:23 AM

Erhm...I just spotted the HMS Rodney in the convoy...36000 tons...maybe I shoud go forhim first? What is it, a battleship?

Morts · 04-02-07, 10:26 AM

go for Rodney

Alexdk · 04-02-07, 10:35 AM

Damn, 3 torps aimed at the middle gun didn't destroy it! Set the depth for 3m and impact trigger! Anybody know the ideal torp depth and place for a 3/4 torp sinking?

High Voltage · 04-02-07, 10:39 AM

Is he listing or has he slowed down? If the torps actually went off, you definitely did some damage, so now it's just a question of evading the escorts whil not letting Rodney get away. You may have to pass the convoy and put yourself back in its' path once again for a follow-up attack.
Let us know what happens.
Good luck

Alexdk · 04-02-07, 10:45 AM

Small fire started and he just continued merrily on his way. Hmm have reloade just before I make the attack. His draft is listed as 40m! So maybe trying to blow up his ammonition at 3m is a bit shallow? Maybe I shoud let my torps run at a deeper depth? Maybe 5-7m?

Alexdk · 04-02-07, 11:02 AM

Got the bugger! Sent 3 torps, 5m depth at it. The third hit the ammo and blew the entrie ship apart! Heheheeh :rotfl: My forth missed a medium tanker though!

Now gotta evade the destroyers, try and load me torps and hit em again!

Steel_Tomb · 04-02-07, 11:47 AM

Happy times, you're lucky to get near a convoy in 44/45 lol in GWX even if your at about 30m, silent running engines all stop they just "know" your there just got blown to pieces in a type XXI..had to fire off my acoustic homing torps quickly took out two but the third DD got a perfect drop on my five DC's went off from bow to stern I sank like a brick lol

.

Alexdk · 04-02-07, 11:53 AM

Ouch!

This is turning into a profitable assault.

ships sunk thus far:

HMS Rodney - Nelson Class 36000 tons
2x Medium tankers 2x9500 tons

Total 45000 tons

And I still got fish in the tubes! On my last assault I fire while an escort was virtually on top of me! About 100m behind me :rotfl:Then when the torp hits he races ahead completly clueless

Happy times indeed!

Steel_Tomb · 04-02-07, 12:33 PM

Wow, congrats thats pretty nice for your first convoy contact! I've never come across any major capital ships in my 1941 campaign! You should get a hansom amount of renown from that lot, perhaps even an Iron Cross!

Jimbuna · 04-02-07, 12:51 PM

A great first convoy you got there you lucky kaleun

You were right to go for the BB, but remember, your primary mission is usually to starve the Allies of war materials and supplies by going for the merchants.

04-02-07, 09:45 AM	#1
Alexdk Seaman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 31 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	First Convey Finally it has happened! I have found my first Convoy! Finnished sweeping my patrol sector with no targets, so heading over to the west of engand and sammed straight into a large convoy! Its December 1939 and I got mysef a new VII boat with old gassed propelle torps. oes anybody know how well guarded these things are in 1939? Should I got for escorts first or the merchants? The conyoy is about 50km south of me and about 400/500 km west of Ireland. I am still in deepish waters. My first convoy here so any tips is appreciated. Playing GWX btw Thanks

04-02-07, 09:57 AM	#3
Foghladh_mhara Commander Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kent Posts: 473 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	My experience with convoys at this stage in the war is that the escorts are not all that good. Definately go for the merchants then go deep and quiet. So long as your quiet you should have no problems. __________________ The beauty of not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise without any of the stress that might normally precede such a venture

04-02-07, 10:16 AM	#5
Foghladh_mhara Commander Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kent Posts: 473 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I suppose everyone has there favourite method of attack but personally I never attack a convoy on the surface regardless of the weather. I track it position and course on the surface, then get well ahead and submerge right in its track and at 90 degrees to it. I then keep a periscope watch until I see the lead escort and then go to 25m(just in case he zigzags over my conning tower by chance) and rig for silent running. As soon as he passes me by I pop back up to periscope depth and look for the merchies. I'll pick out 2 I like and fire 2 eels at each. Then hit full flank, deoth 100m and turn in the direction the convoy is sailing. Soon as I reach about 60m rig for silent running at 1 knot and slowly angle my self away from the convoy. Best button I ever discovered was the one at the sonar station where you can track the nearest warship I just keep turning away from him at 10 degrees rudder __________________ The beauty of not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise without any of the stress that might normally precede such a venture

04-02-07, 10:39 AM	#9
High Voltage Chief Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: U-33. Depth Charges...sinking.. Posts: 325 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Is he listing or has he slowed down? If the torps actually went off, you definitely did some damage, so now it's just a question of evading the escorts whil not letting Rodney get away. You may have to pass the convoy and put yourself back in its' path once again for a follow-up attack. Let us know what happens. Good luck __________________ The new-moon night is black as ink. Off Hatteras the tankers sink. While sadly Roosevelt counts the score-- Some fifty thousand tons--by MOHR

04-02-07, 12:51 PM	#15
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	A great first convoy you got there you lucky kaleun You were right to go for the BB, but remember, your primary mission is usually to starve the Allies of war materials and supplies by going for the merchants. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-02-07, 09:55 AM	#2
Steel_Tomb Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cambridgeshire - UK Posts: 1,128 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Don't go for the escorts! Especially with the gas powered fish, even if you get a perfect shot at them its most likely they will see the torpedo, take evasive action and increase their speed before dropping nasty stuff on your new ride. Its always best to go for the merchants first IMHO...look up the tonnage in your book to find the juiciest target - then send it down to meet old davey jones!

04-02-07, 09:58 AM	#4
Alexdk Seaman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 31 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ok, this convoy is BIG! Not sure how to approach it, its night and reativy high winds. I think I am gonna try and get in the middle of it, hit so ships and try to avoid the escorts by hideing out amonst the merchants. Think that wil work?

04-02-07, 10:23 AM	#6
Alexdk Seaman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 31 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Erhm...I just spotted the HMS Rodney in the convoy...36000 tons...maybe I shoud go forhim first? What is it, a battleship?

04-02-07, 10:26 AM	#7
Morts Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,395 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 0	go for Rodney

04-02-07, 10:35 AM	#8
Alexdk Seaman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 31 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Damn, 3 torps aimed at the middle gun didn't destroy it! Set the depth for 3m and impact trigger! Anybody know the ideal torp depth and place for a 3/4 torp sinking?

04-02-07, 10:45 AM	#10
Alexdk Seaman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 31 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Small fire started and he just continued merrily on his way. Hmm have reloade just before I make the attack. His draft is listed as 40m! So maybe trying to blow up his ammonition at 3m is a bit shallow? Maybe I shoud let my torps run at a deeper depth? Maybe 5-7m?

04-02-07, 11:02 AM	#11
Alexdk Seaman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 31 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Got the bugger! Sent 3 torps, 5m depth at it. The third hit the ammo and blew the entrie ship apart! Heheheeh :rotfl: My forth missed a medium tanker though! Now gotta evade the destroyers, try and load me torps and hit em again!

04-02-07, 11:47 AM	#12
Steel_Tomb Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cambridgeshire - UK Posts: 1,128 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Happy times, you're lucky to get near a convoy in 44/45 lol in GWX even if your at about 30m, silent running engines all stop they just "know" your there just got blown to pieces in a type XXI..had to fire off my acoustic homing torps quickly took out two but the third DD got a perfect drop on my five DC's went off from bow to stern I sank like a brick lol .

04-02-07, 11:53 AM	#13
Alexdk Seaman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 31 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ouch! This is turning into a profitable assault. ships sunk thus far: HMS Rodney - Nelson Class 36000 tons 2x Medium tankers 2x9500 tons Total 45000 tons And I still got fish in the tubes! On my last assault I fire while an escort was virtually on top of me! About 100m behind me :rotfl:Then when the torp hits he races ahead completly clueless Happy times indeed!

04-02-07, 12:33 PM	#14
Steel_Tomb Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cambridgeshire - UK Posts: 1,128 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Wow, congrats thats pretty nice for your first convoy contact! I've never come across any major capital ships in my 1941 campaign! You should get a hansom amount of renown from that lot, perhaps even an Iron Cross!