Stormy encounter, what would you do?

BasilY · 06-08-09, 10:55 PM

April, 1943, U-129 (IXC) was ordered to patrol off South Africa. While en rout, a large England-bound (heading north) convoy was encountered South East of the Azores in driving rain. Visibility is near zero.

U-129 has 2 type III and 2 type I LAT loaded in front and 2 type I loaded in back. And 4 more tpye I LAT reloads.

Sag75 · 06-08-09, 11:52 PM

visibility near zero and heavy rain? in these conditions there are many probabilities that any attack effort is fruitless..

at least I'm talking from my personal experience!

Pohl · 06-09-09, 12:04 AM

If there are no destroyers in the convoy and you know their speed I suggest following them at the same speed, so you don´t eventually lose them, usually the weather in the morning is better and you can perform your attack perfectly and maybe DG them

sunvalleyslim · 06-09-09, 12:20 AM

Seems sometimes that by the time I can gat a visual they're too close for a shot...........Not to mention being rammed...........

Sgtmonkeynads · 06-09-09, 12:45 AM

Samething happened to me the other day. I followed them for days waiting for weather to let up. My crew was exhausted and had to break off due to no one in condition to man his station.

TigerShark808 · 06-09-09, 01:31 AM

Avoid convoy, continue to patrol area *

I voted this way because there was no option to "AVOID CONVOY AND CONTINUE TO PATROL CAUTIOUSLY"

I try to play this game as realistically as possiable and I dont think risking your crew (ZERO VISIBILITY) would be a good idea or very realistic.

Infact maybe diving down to 60meters and putting some CCR on the gramaphone while sipping on some suds untill the weather improves a bit would be a better plan . Yep

jobezark · 06-09-09, 01:51 AM

What I should do? Ignore them and continue on our way.

What I actually do? Sail into the middle of the convoy looking for a perfect shot and end up colliding with something!

Vipper · 06-09-09, 03:13 AM

heavy storm with heavy fog...i do attack merchants on surface at close range in middle of pack moving between them like a wolf. Usually destroyers do not find me before i do sink some merch...It worked as well on good old Aces Of The Deep, i did sunk 7 transports there in stormy and foggy day (using deck gun in AOD) . Even better when it is nighttime...

Using hydrophone to locate nearby ships of course.

meduza · 06-09-09, 04:17 AM

In this case, I'd track a convoy until the weather improves. It's a long way to England, so you can wait.

Early in the war, when the escorts don't have a radar, maybe I'd try a surface attack. I did it once and it was interesting.

I torpedoed a few ships from very close range, until one escort emerged from the fog, steaming at me. She rammed me as I dived, but fortunately didn't hit me with DC. I got away.

nikbear · 06-09-09, 05:40 AM

Since its 43' and the escorts have radar and can see you whatever the weather

I wouldn't risk it,there are plenty of other targets out there which you can attack in conditions that favour you!

Always attack with the conditions in your favour,not the enemy's,its a devil of a job at the best of times,don't give them the upper hand before you've even fired a shot

d@rk51d3 · 06-09-09, 06:06 AM

I LOVE convoy attacks in bad weather.

Considering the year, you'll have to do it submerged to avoid radar, but at PD the escorts will have a hard time tracking you in the choppy waves.

Quite often you can safely cruise at speeds that would normally call down a hail of depth charges.

Ahead 1 third is often quite safe, and ahead slow is very safe. Only if you get pinged will you need to go silent and start evading.

My last 2 patrols found large convoys in bad weather, and both instances I escaped torpless and completely unscathed, with over 90K per patrol.

Kaleu_Mihoo · 06-09-09, 08:26 AM

"Track and follow convoy, hoping for better visibility" for me.

At my own wave setting of 512 (256 is SH3 default height) you can't attack anything under such conditions. The only thing you can do is dive at 50 meters, or try to stay on touch with the convoy on the surface, hoping for better weather

Hanomag · 06-09-09, 08:59 AM

I would attack once and then leave. Usually dark and stormy attacks are unsuccesful but occassionally you get lucky...

View Poll Results: What would you do with convoy in storm?
Track and follow convoy, hoping for better visibility	16	44.44%
Attack once, and continue to patrol area	2	5.56%
Avoid convoy, continue to patrol area	3	8.33%
Attack repeatly, until all torps are spend, then return	11	30.56%
Attack, but only with LATs	4	11.11%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

06-08-09, 10:55 PM	#1
BasilY Weps Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 359 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Stormy encounter, what would you do? April, 1943, U-129 (IXC) was ordered to patrol off South Africa. While en rout, a large England-bound (heading north) convoy was encountered South East of the Azores in driving rain. Visibility is near zero. U-129 has 2 type III and 2 type I LAT loaded in front and 2 type I loaded in back. And 4 more tpye I LAT reloads.

06-08-09, 11:52 PM	#2
Sag75 XO Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 424 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 0	visibility near zero and heavy rain? in these conditions there are many probabilities that any attack effort is fruitless.. at least I'm talking from my personal experience! __________________ Betasom - XI Gruppo Sommergibili Atlantici http://www.betasom.it/forum/index.php

06-09-09, 12:04 AM	#3
Pohl Sparky Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 157 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	If there are no destroyers in the convoy and you know their speed I suggest following them at the same speed, so you don´t eventually lose them, usually the weather in the morning is better and you can perform your attack perfectly and maybe DG them __________________ Current Careers: U-177 Type IXD2, 10th Flotilla March 13, 1943 U-3502 Type XXI, 7th/13th Flotilla April 14, 1942 100% realism, GWX 3.0, SH3 Commander 3.2

06-09-09, 12:20 AM	#4
sunvalleyslim Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 1,142 Downloads: 267 Uploads: 0	Seems sometimes that by the time I can gat a visual they're too close for a shot...........Not to mention being rammed........... __________________ Crew member/ decommission member TM2(SS)(SD) 3/68-7/70 DIESEL BOATS FOREVER USS SEGUNDO (SS398)

06-09-09, 12:45 AM	#5
Sgtmonkeynads Ships Secretary Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MilesCity Montana Posts: 583 Downloads: 614 Uploads: 0	Samething happened to me the other day. I followed them for days waiting for weather to let up. My crew was exhausted and had to break off due to no one in condition to man his station. __________________ Just help someone.....it makes a difference

06-09-09, 01:31 AM	#6
TigerShark808 Engineer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 2074 nautical miles south west of San Francisco! Posts: 212 Downloads: 71 Uploads: 0	Avoid convoy, continue to patrol area * I voted this way because there was no option to "AVOID CONVOY AND CONTINUE TO PATROL CAUTIOUSLY" I try to play this game as realistically as possiable and I dont think risking your crew (ZERO VISIBILITY) would be a good idea or very realistic. Infact maybe diving down to 60meters and putting some CCR on the gramaphone while sipping on some suds untill the weather improves a bit would be a better plan . Yep __________________ GWX3GOLD OLC "Gold" MkIId SH3 Commander D.I.D 100% Realism ! SWCs-AtlanticReaper Skin <---because it is badass!

06-09-09, 01:51 AM	#7
jobezark Swabbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What I should do? Ignore them and continue on our way. What I actually do? Sail into the middle of the convoy looking for a perfect shot and end up colliding with something!

06-09-09, 03:13 AM	#8
Vipper Machinist's Mate Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 122 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	heavy storm with heavy fog...i do attack merchants on surface at close range in middle of pack moving between them like a wolf. Usually destroyers do not find me before i do sink some merch...It worked as well on good old Aces Of The Deep, i did sunk 7 transports there in stormy and foggy day (using deck gun in AOD) . Even better when it is nighttime... Using hydrophone to locate nearby ships of course.

06-09-09, 04:17 AM	#9
meduza Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: on patrol Posts: 1,035 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	In this case, I'd track a convoy until the weather improves. It's a long way to England, so you can wait. Early in the war, when the escorts don't have a radar, maybe I'd try a surface attack. I did it once and it was interesting. I torpedoed a few ships from very close range, until one escort emerged from the fog, steaming at me. She rammed me as I dived, but fortunately didn't hit me with DC. I got away. __________________

06-09-09, 05:40 AM	#10
nikbear Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northampton,UK Posts: 1,859 Downloads: 86 Uploads: 0	Since its 43' and the escorts have radar and can see you whatever the weather I wouldn't risk it,there are plenty of other targets out there which you can attack in conditions that favour you! Always attack with the conditions in your favour,not the enemy's,its a devil of a job at the best of times,don't give them the upper hand before you've even fired a shot __________________ 'It is not surely known when the grey wolf shall come upon the seat of the gods' Ericksmal.

06-09-09, 06:06 AM	#11
d@rk51d3 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,951 Downloads: 207 Uploads: 0	I LOVE convoy attacks in bad weather. Considering the year, you'll have to do it submerged to avoid radar, but at PD the escorts will have a hard time tracking you in the choppy waves. Quite often you can safely cruise at speeds that would normally call down a hail of depth charges. Ahead 1 third is often quite safe, and ahead slow is very safe. Only if you get pinged will you need to go silent and start evading. My last 2 patrols found large convoys in bad weather, and both instances I escaped torpless and completely unscathed, with over 90K per patrol.

06-09-09, 08:26 AM	#12
Kaleu_Mihoo Medic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Poland/Germany Posts: 159 Downloads: 66 Uploads: 0	"Track and follow convoy, hoping for better visibility" for me. At my own wave setting of 512 (256 is SH3 default height) you can't attack anything under such conditions. The only thing you can do is dive at 50 meters, or try to stay on touch with the convoy on the surface, hoping for better weather __________________ Beide Maschinen AK voraus, hart backbord, auf 107 Grad gehen! Anlauf beginnt!...NYGM 3.0

06-09-09, 08:59 AM	#13
Hanomag Grey Wolf Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: LI NY Posts: 964 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	I would attack once and then leave. Usually dark and stormy attacks are unsuccesful but occassionally you get lucky... __________________ "Only if I can save first..."