The Med or not?

Foghladh_mhara · 03-01-08, 07:27 AM

Its a place I've never taken my boat but I'm giving it a bit of thought now.

I'm in Nov '41 in my career driving a VIIC and for some reason BdU has seen fit to send me to grid DH33 for the third patrol in a row. Now I generally wouldn't dream of deviating from my orders but during my last patrols south I spent about 80% of my time peering through fog and narrowly avoiding diplomatic incidents with the Argentinians and the Japanese.

War with the Americans is on the horizon but given the fuel capacity of the Type VII the prospect of plodding across the Atlantic at 8 knots for 3 weeks doesnt quite appeal and I dont have the renown to change flotillas and upgrade to a Type IX. I need a change of scenery though before I develop SAD!

As a result I've been looking east to the Med. The word has come through that a new flotilla has been established in Salamis. On the plus side I'm envisioning blue skies and short patrols. On the down side I'm guessing clear seas and a high British military presence.

Whats the general feeling here? Madness or worth it?

Torplexed · 03-01-08, 08:02 AM

Yeah....the Med is crawling with well-screened British task forces. More as time goes on. Being more compact than the Atlantic it's well-covered by air too. Fun if you want a challenge tho.

Jimbuna · 03-01-08, 08:22 AM

Torplexed sums it up most accurately.....the pressure cooker goes up a few notches in the Med.
The one positive being...the convoy routes are much more predictable

Foghladh_mhara · 03-01-08, 08:25 AM

I'll give it a go I guess. Carry out my orders and patrol my grid. Then try to get through the Gibraltar Straits and head for Salamis. If I make it I'll apply for a transfer to the 23rd Flotilla.

Mind you I hate airplanes.

And destroyers.

KeptinCranky · 03-01-08, 08:28 AM

Oh the Med is good fun, but get there early, and be prepared for nasty airplanes where you'd not really expect them

it's also worth noting that the biggest tonnage you'll encounter is most likely going to be Italian

But, if you've ever felt like sinking multiple cruisers and a possibly a Battleship, it's the place to be

Fusek · 03-01-08, 09:27 AM

Its my favorite theatre! I encounter a taskforce with capital ships every other patrol, weather is nice, and short patrols. The drawbacks are lots or aircraft after 42/43, and small conviys (2 or 3 ships, with an escort).

Foghladh_mhara · 03-01-08, 01:02 PM

This doesn't bode well.

I carried out a successful submerged passage through the straits and encountered no problems. Hugged the African coast and kept it nice and slow. As day broke I was about 50 km east of Gibraltar and the air inside the boat was starting to get fetid. I should probably stayed on the surface a bit longer at the start of my breakthrough attempt but being cautious I had done the whole trip underwater. The CO2 situation was starting to get a bit serious so as soon as the opportunity arose I decided I had to surface.

The hydrophone operator reported that there were no warships within range and I ordered the observation scope raised. A quick sweep of the horizon showed no ships or aircraft so we surfaced. Within 10 seconds the cry of 'Aircraft spotted' rang out! WTF!! Crash dive! A Sunderland. The bloody thing was so close it was strafing me before the deck watch had cleared the bridge. Luckily his aim was crap and the bombs landed well to port.

Vital lesson learned: Scan the skies properly in the Med

Torplexed · 03-01-08, 01:08 PM

Welcome to the sunny Mediterranean.

I'm not sure if it's simulated in SH3 or GWX, but one of the curses of being in a submarine in the Med was that due to water and sunlight conditions they were often visible from the air even when submerged as a sort of shadow up to 200 feet down.

Jimbuna · 03-01-08, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foghladh_mhara

This doesn't bode well.

I carried out a successful submerged passage through the straits and encountered no problems. Hugged the African coast and kept it nice and slow. As day broke I was about 50 km east of Gibraltar and the air inside the boat was starting to get fetid. I should probably stayed on the surface a bit longer at the start of my breakthrough attempt but being cautious I had done the whole trip underwater. The CO2 situation was starting to get a bit serious so as soon as the opportunity arose I decided I had to surface.

The hydrophone operator reported that there were no warships within range and I ordered the observation scope raised. A quick sweep of the horizon showed no ships or aircraft so we surfaced. Within 10 seconds the cry of 'Aircraft spotted' rang out! WTF!! Crash dive! A Sunderland. The bloody thing was so close it was strafing me before the deck watch had cleared the bridge. Luckily his aim was crap and the bombs landed well to port.

Vital lesson learned: Scan the skies properly in the Med

Do ya think that might be why them subs were fitted with 'observation' scopes

03-01-08, 07:27 AM	#1
Foghladh_mhara Commander Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kent Posts: 473 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The Med or not? Its a place I've never taken my boat but I'm giving it a bit of thought now. I'm in Nov '41 in my career driving a VIIC and for some reason BdU has seen fit to send me to grid DH33 for the third patrol in a row. Now I generally wouldn't dream of deviating from my orders but during my last patrols south I spent about 80% of my time peering through fog and narrowly avoiding diplomatic incidents with the Argentinians and the Japanese. War with the Americans is on the horizon but given the fuel capacity of the Type VII the prospect of plodding across the Atlantic at 8 knots for 3 weeks doesnt quite appeal and I dont have the renown to change flotillas and upgrade to a Type IX. I need a change of scenery though before I develop SAD! As a result I've been looking east to the Med. The word has come through that a new flotilla has been established in Salamis. On the plus side I'm envisioning blue skies and short patrols. On the down side I'm guessing clear seas and a high British military presence. Whats the general feeling here? Madness or worth it? __________________ 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

03-01-08, 08:22 AM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Torplexed sums it up most accurately.....the pressure cooker goes up a few notches in the Med. The one positive being...the convoy routes are much more predictable __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

03-01-08, 08:25 AM	#4
Foghladh_mhara Commander Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kent Posts: 473 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I'll give it a go I guess. Carry out my orders and patrol my grid. Then try to get through the Gibraltar Straits and head for Salamis. If I make it I'll apply for a transfer to the 23rd Flotilla. Mind you I hate airplanes. And destroyers. __________________ 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

03-01-08, 01:02 PM	#7
Foghladh_mhara Commander Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kent Posts: 473 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	This doesn't bode well. I carried out a successful submerged passage through the straits and encountered no problems. Hugged the African coast and kept it nice and slow. As day broke I was about 50 km east of Gibraltar and the air inside the boat was starting to get fetid. I should probably stayed on the surface a bit longer at the start of my breakthrough attempt but being cautious I had done the whole trip underwater. The CO2 situation was starting to get a bit serious so as soon as the opportunity arose I decided I had to surface. The hydrophone operator reported that there were no warships within range and I ordered the observation scope raised. A quick sweep of the horizon showed no ships or aircraft so we surfaced. Within 10 seconds the cry of 'Aircraft spotted' rang out! WTF!! Crash dive! A Sunderland. The bloody thing was so close it was strafing me before the deck watch had cleared the bridge. Luckily his aim was crap and the bombs landed well to port. Vital lesson learned: Scan the skies properly in the Med __________________ 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

03-01-08, 08:02 AM	#2
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Yeah....the Med is crawling with well-screened British task forces. More as time goes on. Being more compact than the Atlantic it's well-covered by air too. Fun if you want a challenge tho.

03-01-08, 08:28 AM	#5
KeptinCranky Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,050 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Oh the Med is good fun, but get there early, and be prepared for nasty airplanes where you'd not really expect them it's also worth noting that the biggest tonnage you'll encounter is most likely going to be Italian But, if you've ever felt like sinking multiple cruisers and a possibly a Battleship, it's the place to be

03-01-08, 09:27 AM	#6
Fusek Bosun Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 65 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	Its my favorite theatre! I encounter a taskforce with capital ships every other patrol, weather is nice, and short patrols. The drawbacks are lots or aircraft after 42/43, and small conviys (2 or 3 ships, with an escort).

03-01-08, 01:08 PM	#8
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Welcome to the sunny Mediterranean. I'm not sure if it's simulated in SH3 or GWX, but one of the curses of being in a submarine in the Med was that due to water and sunlight conditions they were often visible from the air even when submerged as a sort of shadow up to 200 feet down.