I Hit The Motherlode

sergei · 04-14-10, 11:03 AM

U-19. Type IID.
Fifth War Patrol.

So I get ordered to AN41. All my patrols so far have been further south, between the Firth of Forth and the Humber.
There I have been seeing mostly coastal and small freighters, with the occasional medium or large thrown in.

But oh man, I've discovered on this patrol there's heavy tonnage to be had a bit further north.

The first one I sank was heading South West towards Inverness. So I trawled back and forth along what I assumed was the shipping lane.
Ten days of this led to the following

They were all pretty big! And I managed 'One Torpedo - One Ship'. Hit all of them in the forward cargo hold.
The Empire Freighter went down in about 10 minutes. The rest took about 30-40.

I have never had a patrol this lucrative in a Type II.
I'm well on track to being able to afford a bigger boat in time for the first transfers to France.

Any Canoe Kaleuns on this forum?
My advice - head north

maillemaker · 04-14-10, 11:25 AM

That's great shooting!

I almost always have to use 2 torps per target.

Last night in a storm I fired 5 at a lone tanker!

2 hits. 1 premature.

Steve

sergei · 04-14-10, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maillemaker

I almost always have to use 2 torps per target.

If I was in a bigger boat, then I would have given all of those target two eels as a matter of course.

But with only 5 torpedoes I thought I'd give it a try

Pisces · 04-14-10, 11:35 AM

Nice tonnage for a type 2.

frau kaleun · 04-14-10, 12:21 PM

That's nice tonnage for a type anything!

JEuler · 04-14-10, 12:33 PM

Nice work sergei!

And thanks for the info.I'm playing with type IIA and its january '40,changed
the grid to AN41.Wish me luck!

KL-alfman · 04-14-10, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEuler

Nice work sergei!

And thanks for the info.I'm playing with type IIA and its january '40,changed
the grid to AN41.Wish me luck!

good hunting, Herr Kaleu!

Jimbuna · 04-14-10, 01:32 PM

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

frau kaleun · 04-14-10, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

Whoa, didn't see that coming.

sergei · 04-14-10, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEuler

I'm playing with type IIA and its january '40,changed the grid to AN41.Wish me luck!

OK JEuler. All the vessels I saw were heading WSW or ENE along the line indicated.

I'm assuming I stumbled on a shipping lane for heavy freight between Inverness and Scandinavia.

You'll be up around there near the same time as I was. I'll be interested in seeing if this is such a good spot for anyone else, or if I was just real lucky with what vessel types spawned near me.

Good Luck Herr Kaleun.

Let us know how you get on.

JEuler · 04-14-10, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sergei

You'll be up around there near the same time as I was. I'll be interested in seeing if this is such a good spot for anyone else, or if I was just real lucky with what vessel types spawned near me.

Good Luck Herr Kaleun.

Let us know how you get on.

I will start the patrol probably tomorrow.I will report as soon as I finish.

Jimbuna · 04-14-10, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

Whoa, didn't see that coming.

hehe

STEED · 04-14-10, 04:21 PM

That lot in a Type II!

What eels you got?

Who having Cake & tea with Hitler...You are.

frau kaleun · 04-14-10, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

That lot in a Type II!

What eels you got?

Who having Cake & tea with Hitler...You are.

Just make sure you compliment him on the tableware, it was made special!

sergei · 04-14-10, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

That lot in a Type II!

What eels you got?

Yep, it's a lot. My first four patrols I've been averaging about 13,000 tons. Which is not too shabby in a canoe.
I've a feeling this was one of those 'once in a lifetime' patrols.

Eels? Steamers. 3 meters depth. Impact.

The first 2 attacks were on the surface at night so I thought I'd risk firing only one torpedo, on the basis that it would be relatively easy to reposition myself for another attack in case I missed or got a dud.

The third to fifth attacks were submerged daylight attacks.
In each case the target was going slow enough (4-6 knots) that I judged I could risk a single torpedo, and if something went wrong I would still have time enough to send another.
Plus I was on a bit of a roll by then. Some patrols everything just seems to come together

I ended up shooting real close in these attacks, from about 500-700 meters because I was so intent on making sure of hitting the forward cargo hold.

I've just started patrol 6, been sent down to AN81.
So far all I've seen is fishing trawlers and tugs.

Like I said, some patrols you just get real lucky.

04-14-10, 11:03 AM	#1
sergei Sea Lord Join Date: May 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 1,788 Downloads: 405 Uploads: 29	I Hit The Motherlode U-19. Type IID. Fifth War Patrol. So I get ordered to AN41. All my patrols so far have been further south, between the Firth of Forth and the Humber. There I have been seeing mostly coastal and small freighters, with the occasional medium or large thrown in. But oh man, I've discovered on this patrol there's heavy tonnage to be had a bit further north. The first one I sank was heading South West towards Inverness. So I trawled back and forth along what I assumed was the shipping lane. Ten days of this led to the following They were all pretty big! And I managed 'One Torpedo - One Ship'. Hit all of them in the forward cargo hold. The Empire Freighter went down in about 10 minutes. The rest took about 30-40. I have never had a patrol this lucrative in a Type II. I'm well on track to being able to afford a bigger boat in time for the first transfers to France. Any Canoe Kaleuns on this forum? My advice - head north

04-14-10, 11:35 AM	#4
Pisces Silent Hunter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: AN9771 Posts: 4,904 Downloads: 304 Uploads: 0	Nice tonnage for a type 2. __________________ My site downloads: https://ricojansen.nl/downloads

04-14-10, 01:32 PM	#8
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,481 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!! __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-14-10, 04:21 PM	#13
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	That lot in a Type II! What eels you got? Who having Cake & tea with Hitler...You are. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

04-14-10, 11:25 AM	#2
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	That's great shooting! I almost always have to use 2 torps per target. Last night in a storm I fired 5 at a lone tanker! 2 hits. 1 premature. Steve

04-14-10, 12:21 PM	#5
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	That's nice tonnage for a type anything!

04-14-10, 12:33 PM	#6
JEuler Mate Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 54 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	Nice work sergei! And thanks for the info.I'm playing with type IIA and its january '40,changed the grid to AN41.Wish me luck!