underwater mines approaching scapa

applesthecat · 05-12-09, 07:14 PM

Just a note, I am currently trying to get into scapa flow from the west. I am hugging the coast. So far, so good. However, in external view, I noticed several submerged tethered mines that I just managed to avoid by luck. These were just northwest of Stromness in 12 meters of water.

What a shock to see this big round pointy ball right on my screen.

For all you hardcore guys who don't use external view. This is some of the fun you are missing.

Jimbuna · 05-13-09, 03:56 AM

It is never a good experience to see death approaching

Paul Riley · 05-13-09, 04:05 AM

Are mines just featured in GWX? I am sure they arent in the stock game

I think I made one foray into scapa flow,and that was back in 1939 hehe

applesthecat · 05-13-09, 05:52 AM

Paul, I'm running stock and those mines were quite a shock. Hey, that rhymes.

Bronzewing · 05-13-09, 07:51 AM

I run stock and have gotten into scapa more than once. Those mines are not there in 1939, but appear from spring 1940 onwards.

Paul Riley · 05-13-09, 08:07 AM

Nice,I think I may take time off for some sight seeing some day in scapa

applesthecat,you ought to be a poet,funny ryhme :rotfl:

Bent Periscope · 05-13-09, 11:19 AM

So if you are playing without external view, is there any way to tell if you are in a mine field or near a mine other than through an explosion?
BP

Paul Riley · 05-13-09, 11:35 AM

I've never experienced mines yet,but I reckon there is one certain way to tell you are in a minefield,when the game stops and your UBoat has just disappeared from the sea

Sorry mate,just in a joking mood at the moment.
I think just being very cautious and slow in such areas is the only sensible defence.What else can you do?,when you realise you are in a minefield

I wonder if modern subs employ an EMP device to knock out/detonate nearby mines?

Bent Periscope · 05-13-09, 12:17 PM

Has anyone ever bumped a mine but not set it off? I'm wondering if there is a certain speed to be maintained in those areas?

Again, if you don't have external view, how do you know you are in a mine field prior to a detonation?

BP

Paul Riley · 05-13-09, 12:28 PM

I don't want to sound patronizing,but you could use the observation scope when in areas you suspect may be a minefield?,and make sure you keep it very low,in order not to catch the mines going over the top.
Wish I could help more,but I have no exp with mines

Paul Riley · 05-13-09, 12:29 PM

You may be right also,speed could be a factor,the slower the better...maybe

Bent Periscope · 05-13-09, 12:40 PM

Paul,
Your answers sound very reasonable

, I'll try them if I get lost or have to cross a mine field.
Now, how do you recommend I attack a convoy with 8 destroyer escorts while not being detected?

Thanks,
BP

Paul Riley · 05-13-09, 12:56 PM

Personally? I would probably not attack it,that is a very well defended convoy,perfectly capable of annihilating a UBoat in a millisecond.However...and I stress however,it all depends on the player's skill and level of courage.I am a more cautious player that likes to work out carefully my chances.
Don't forget,some of the greatest generals knew when to retreat.
Just a thought,if you are adamant to engage this convoy,how about setting off Bold decoys away from your position,in order to try and pull away some of that muscle from the convoy?
Really though,i'd leave it,extremely hazardous to pull off

karamazovnew · 05-31-09, 12:58 AM

On the east coast of Britain I run into lots of minefields. They're usually in water deeper than 50m. I've seen most at 20m deep but also some as deep as 50-60 m. They made me change my tactic when dealing with convoys. I run as little as I can underwater and dive only when I must. However this raised a morality issue. Did the real skippers look through the periscope underwater to dodge mines and sub nets, or to see how far they are from the sea floor? Or even to dodge that pesky DD? Sure, at night that's impossible to do but during daylight, the water seems to be too clear. Didn't they have a maximum depth at which they could raise the perisope without the lens cracking from the pressure?

Leandros · 05-31-09, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karamazovnew

Sure, at night that's impossible to do but during daylight, the water seems to be too clear. Didn't they have a maximum depth at which they could raise the perisope without the lens cracking from the pressure?

This is of interest to know. Does anybody know...? I have run into mines on the East coast in the early war. They are obviously contact mines - not magnetic since they are not going off when passing them. They are also positioned such that when on PD you shall just pass over them.

On several occasions when leaving Bergen in the late war I have been mined. These were obviously magnetic. When following in the track of the VP-boat out the fjord I was never mined.

05-12-09, 07:14 PM	#1
applesthecat Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 135 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	underwater mines approaching scapa Just a note, I am currently trying to get into scapa flow from the west. I am hugging the coast. So far, so good. However, in external view, I noticed several submerged tethered mines that I just managed to avoid by luck. These were just northwest of Stromness in 12 meters of water. What a shock to see this big round pointy ball right on my screen. For all you hardcore guys who don't use external view. This is some of the fun you are missing.

05-13-09, 03:56 AM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,478 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	It is never a good experience to see death approaching __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-13-09, 04:05 AM	#3
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	Are mines just featured in GWX? I am sure they arent in the stock game I think I made one foray into scapa flow,and that was back in 1939 hehe __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

05-13-09, 07:51 AM	#5
Bronzewing Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Leicester Posts: 104 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	I run stock and have gotten into scapa more than once. Those mines are not there in 1939, but appear from spring 1940 onwards. __________________ "I say Number one, my end is diving. What the hell is your end doing?"

05-13-09, 08:07 AM	#6
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	Nice,I think I may take time off for some sight seeing some day in scapa applesthecat,you ought to be a poet,funny ryhme :rotfl: __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

05-13-09, 05:52 AM	#4
applesthecat Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 135 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Paul, I'm running stock and those mines were quite a shock. Hey, that rhymes.

05-13-09, 11:19 AM	#7
Bent Periscope Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dry docks of Los Angeles, CA Posts: 250 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	So if you are playing without external view, is there any way to tell if you are in a mine field or near a mine other than through an explosion? BP

05-13-09, 11:35 AM	#8
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	I've never experienced mines yet,but I reckon there is one certain way to tell you are in a minefield,when the game stops and your UBoat has just disappeared from the sea Sorry mate,just in a joking mood at the moment. I think just being very cautious and slow in such areas is the only sensible defence.What else can you do?,when you realise you are in a minefield I wonder if modern subs employ an EMP device to knock out/detonate nearby mines? __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

05-13-09, 12:17 PM	#9
Bent Periscope Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dry docks of Los Angeles, CA Posts: 250 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	Has anyone ever bumped a mine but not set it off? I'm wondering if there is a certain speed to be maintained in those areas? Again, if you don't have external view, how do you know you are in a mine field prior to a detonation? BP

05-13-09, 12:28 PM	#10
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	I don't want to sound patronizing,but you could use the observation scope when in areas you suspect may be a minefield?,and make sure you keep it very low,in order not to catch the mines going over the top. Wish I could help more,but I have no exp with mines __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

05-13-09, 12:29 PM	#11
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	You may be right also,speed could be a factor,the slower the better...maybe __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

05-13-09, 12:40 PM	#12
Bent Periscope Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dry docks of Los Angeles, CA Posts: 250 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	Paul, Your answers sound very reasonable, I'll try them if I get lost or have to cross a mine field. Now, how do you recommend I attack a convoy with 8 destroyer escorts while not being detected? Thanks, BP

05-13-09, 12:56 PM	#13
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	Personally? I would probably not attack it,that is a very well defended convoy,perfectly capable of annihilating a UBoat in a millisecond.However...and I stress however,it all depends on the player's skill and level of courage.I am a more cautious player that likes to work out carefully my chances. Don't forget,some of the greatest generals knew when to retreat. Just a thought,if you are adamant to engage this convoy,how about setting off Bold decoys away from your position,in order to try and pull away some of that muscle from the convoy? Really though,i'd leave it,extremely hazardous to pull off __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

05-31-09, 12:58 AM	#14
karamazovnew The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,403 Downloads: 151 Uploads: 0	On the east coast of Britain I run into lots of minefields. They're usually in water deeper than 50m. I've seen most at 20m deep but also some as deep as 50-60 m. They made me change my tactic when dealing with convoys. I run as little as I can underwater and dive only when I must. However this raised a morality issue. Did the real skippers look through the periscope underwater to dodge mines and sub nets, or to see how far they are from the sea floor? Or even to dodge that pesky DD? Sure, at night that's impossible to do but during daylight, the water seems to be too clear. Didn't they have a maximum depth at which they could raise the perisope without the lens cracking from the pressure?