Scapa Flow Raid

kishmeth · 09-27-15, 11:27 PM

October 1939 . U40 , a type IXA, and her captain were getting annoyed with the slim picking on the eastern coastal aproaches to England.

After 19 days of patrol and 7 torpedoes loosed , U40 only had 6,000 tonnes sent to the bottom of the sea - including a 90 ton fishing boat that got in the way of a torpedo .

Desperate for some blood , we went towards Scapa Flow , heading at 14 knots , decks awash on a foggy afternoon .

It was decided that Holm Sound was the best path for the infiltration , so , around 2030 we managed to dodge the last escort - after encountering 3 roving escorts at the entrance and one stationary about 500 m further inside.

An underwater net inflicted some minor damage to us , but nothing that would endanger the raid. Being dark and still somewhat foggy , we moved at full speed , decks awash until at last we were in Scapa proper.

Selecting targets for our six remaining fishes took a long time . But after spotting a BC anchored behind the lone battleship in the port , we decided to go with two torpedoes for each of them , and a single one for an anchored freighter .

By 2:20 AM we were in position. Quick solution , flood tubes , fire . The battleship was hit with both torpedoes , one in the stern , one underneath the first bow turret - which promptly blew up . The ship started listing to port right away , but it would take it more than 3 hours until it sank.

The battlecruiser was luckier - one of the torpedoes was a dud , the second hit a fuel bunker and set it on fire. We knew it wouldn't be enough to sink her , so we turned our bow to it and fired the last torpedo .

3min 30s later we hear a massive explosion . The torpedo sank lower than intended , but the magnetic detonator did its job and detonated right under the main magazine - breaking the ship in one go . She sank in less than 30 seconds - no lifeboats were seen .

The escape was anticlimactic - we weren't followed by any escort , though we hear the sound of destroyer screws buzzing about when we were about 30 miles out.

All in one , a successful raid . 70.000 tones of warships sent to the bottom , with another 12000 of shipping.

Edit : Running WoS 1.04 , Real Navigation. Boat is a VIIA modified to the same stats as a IXA . Loadout was 8 T1e , 8 steamers. No deck gun .

THEBERBSTER · 09-28-15, 08:39 AM

Hi kishmeth

And that is the problem with BTF.
The unrealistic response by the DD's.
Personally I now give BTF a miss and spend more time on the East Coast using the extra time to add ships and tonnage to the mission total.

Peter

kishmeth · 09-28-15, 10:25 AM

I didn't do it as part of BTF though - would have required ending patrol and I didn't want to spend that time in dry dock. As is I did ~75000 tons out of 6 torpedoes - got 4 more loaded now to sink a cruise ship/troop ship and a liberty freighter that were heading towards Scapa.

Was it my imagination that the outer escort ring froze after I took down the two capitals ? They didn't seem to roam around anymore when I got out of the harbor.

Anyway , I like to think that the escorts were befuddled by the sinking of the two in the port - after all , it was considered impenetrable to the layman.

09-27-15, 11:27 PM	#1
kishmeth Nub Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 4 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Scapa Flow Raid October 1939 . U40 , a type IXA, and her captain were getting annoyed with the slim picking on the eastern coastal aproaches to England. After 19 days of patrol and 7 torpedoes loosed , U40 only had 6,000 tonnes sent to the bottom of the sea - including a 90 ton fishing boat that got in the way of a torpedo . Desperate for some blood , we went towards Scapa Flow , heading at 14 knots , decks awash on a foggy afternoon . It was decided that Holm Sound was the best path for the infiltration , so , around 2030 we managed to dodge the last escort - after encountering 3 roving escorts at the entrance and one stationary about 500 m further inside. An underwater net inflicted some minor damage to us , but nothing that would endanger the raid. Being dark and still somewhat foggy , we moved at full speed , decks awash until at last we were in Scapa proper. Selecting targets for our six remaining fishes took a long time . But after spotting a BC anchored behind the lone battleship in the port , we decided to go with two torpedoes for each of them , and a single one for an anchored freighter . By 2:20 AM we were in position. Quick solution , flood tubes , fire . The battleship was hit with both torpedoes , one in the stern , one underneath the first bow turret - which promptly blew up . The ship started listing to port right away , but it would take it more than 3 hours until it sank. The battlecruiser was luckier - one of the torpedoes was a dud , the second hit a fuel bunker and set it on fire. We knew it wouldn't be enough to sink her , so we turned our bow to it and fired the last torpedo . 3min 30s later we hear a massive explosion . The torpedo sank lower than intended , but the magnetic detonator did its job and detonated right under the main magazine - breaking the ship in one go . She sank in less than 30 seconds - no lifeboats were seen . The escape was anticlimactic - we weren't followed by any escort , though we hear the sound of destroyer screws buzzing about when we were about 30 miles out. All in one , a successful raid . 70.000 tones of warships sent to the bottom , with another 12000 of shipping. Edit : Running WoS 1.04 , Real Navigation. Boat is a VIIA modified to the same stats as a IXA . Loadout was 8 T1e , 8 steamers. No deck gun .

09-28-15, 08:39 AM	#2
THEBERBSTER Growing Old Disgracefully Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Hythe - Southampton Posts: 9,609 Downloads: 1133 Uploads: 0	Hi kishmeth And that is the problem with BTF. The unrealistic response by the DD's. Personally I now give BTF a miss and spend more time on the East Coast using the extra time to add ships and tonnage to the mission total. Peter __________________ LSH3-2015 <> TUTORIALS <> ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW <> ALL IN ONE PLACE SH4 <> TUTORIALS <> HOW TO DO IT <> INFORMATION <> DOWNLOAD LINKS SH5 <> TUTORIALS <> HOW TO DO IT <> INFORMATION <> DOWNLOAD LINKS Always Here To Help A Fellow 'Subber' \| Need An Answer to A Question Just Send Me A PM

09-28-15, 10:25 AM	#3
kishmeth Nub Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 4 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	I didn't do it as part of BTF though - would have required ending patrol and I didn't want to spend that time in dry dock. As is I did ~75000 tons out of 6 torpedoes - got 4 more loaded now to sink a cruise ship/troop ship and a liberty freighter that were heading towards Scapa. Was it my imagination that the outer escort ring froze after I took down the two capitals ? They didn't seem to roam around anymore when I got out of the harbor. Anyway , I like to think that the escorts were befuddled by the sinking of the two in the port - after all , it was considered impenetrable to the layman.