Convoy approach

[B.N.R.T.]

I just wanted to get some tactics on approaching a convoy, since this will be my first time. Here is the situation:

Got a radio contact of a convoy within range, so saved the game and went looking. Unfortunately, I had to leave not much thereafter, so I left to computer to pack some things. When I came back, we were in visual range of the convoy and I (or rather my WO) started to identify ships. Some freighters, an ammunition ship and behind that the HMS Nelson. I apparently spent too much time on the surface then, because I got shelled by a destroyer coming right at me. So I quit the game, knowing that I can revert to the earlier save I made. The sea is flat, almost no wind and it's early morning. I'm using GWX 2.0 and have WO assistance off but use manual targeting.

I want to ask what a real Kaleun would do in this situation. I've got two TII eels in my forward tubes, the rest is TI. I was thinking to fire two steams at the Ammo ship, which represents a big target. And IF I survive that, follow the convoy and attack them at night, hoping to get at least one more attack in before they reach the English coast.

Any ideas/hints/tips for this situation?

[Jimbuna]

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!! SINK EM ALL!!

[meduza]

Shadow the convoy at the edge of visual range (15km unlimited visibility, 10 km moderate, 5km reduced) and determine its course and speed. Overtake it and take position ahead and to the flank of it, 1-2 km from the track of closest column). Beware of the flanking destroyer. If it's early in the war you can attack surfaced at night.

It's not very helpfull to have different speed torpedoes in your tubes. You have to carefuly calculate time for each impact, in order to achieve all impacts more-less simultaneously. If not, the ships zig-zag and you miss.

Fire two torpedoes at two biggest ships, and dive. Once (if ) you escape destroyers, move away from the convoy to a safe distance, surface, and start all over again.
Remember that the convoy changes course for about 45-90 degrees each 50-100 km.

Good hunting

[Graf Paper]

I'd use the electric torpedoes during the daylight attack.

Steamers leave a very noticeable wake that gives away the direction you fired from and an escort will make a beeline back along that wake right to you, not to mention giving your target an opportunity to spot your eel and maneuver out of the way.

That's why I save steam torps for night attacks or bad weather, whenever possible.

[Chisum]

Surface and engage the HMS Nelson with the AA guns !

Seriously, you can fire against the Nelson from long range and right after that crash dive and escape.

But a real Kaleun have some orders from BDU and knows that he must sunk the merchants at first...

[Schöneboom]

Every Kaleun should have his Handbook, it is very helpful for the early years (pre-radar):

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/uboat/index.htm

Copies are also in print (Amazon sells them). If the escorts have no radar and you attack at night, you could escape on the surface. Gute Jagd!

[Paul_IronCoffin]

Excellent handbook. Thanks for the link. I've just turned it into a PDF for ease of use.

cheers
Paul

[ppk]

So far I've spent most of my time in early war, and I find that the night surface attack is easiest to perform. When moving at ahead slow with the decks awash you can come to within 1500 m of enemy ships without being sighted. Just be ready to dive when the torpedoes leave the tubes when shooting from within the convoy because as soon as your fish are detected they will turn on their spotlights and fire star shells. And if you're on the surface inside the convoy when that happens you're definitely going to take a few hits before you can crash dive.

Don't move fast if you're at close range though, because your conning tower will leave a pretty big wake and you'll be spotted.

[B.N.R.T.]

Thank you all for your help!

I've got some unexpected free time tonight, I will let you know how it went!