An awesome escape and then...

maillemaker · 03-28-11, 11:01 AM

So it's September 1943.

I hit a convoy SE of the Rocall Banks, on my way to somewhere in BE, as usual when I leave Bergen these days.

My attack is a massive screw-up.

I've got two Falke homing torpedoes aft in my VIIC, TIIIs up front.

I'm trying to slip into the front of the convoy as usual, dodging the flank and lead escorts. Unfortunately I dove too soon and the port-side flank escort goes right over me and starts pinging me.

I try and launch a salvo of 2 and 2 at two large tankers in the lead, and then I dive. I got one hit, but no sinking.

And now they are on me. 5 escorts taking turns. I'm shucking and jiving at 200 m and they won't let me go. Finally it looks like we are down to 3 escorts, but they've hammered me down to about 73% hull integrity. So I secure from silent running and have the boys reload the front tubes, and head to periscope depth.

I get a shot off with my falke, and it tags one of the escorts in the screws, stopping it but not sinking it, which is very rare, and the first time I've seen a Falke not sink an escort. It turns out it save my life.

My last Falke missed its target and circled around my own sub - I actually watched it go around me through the periscope! Close call.

I managed to nail another escort with a lucky magnetic shot from the front, and then I get hammered with gunfire and I'm down to 54% hull integrity.

And worse, both of my periscopes are destroyed.

So, I do the only thing I can do. I make straight for the crippled, motionless destroyer, using the hydrophones, and, as best I can tell, I came to a rest directly under it.

The last remaining escort circled and circled.

Not knowing what else to do, I ordered a dive, with no motor, to 70 meters.

Our boat slowly descends, and low and behold, the circling escort breaks off and heads back to the convoy!

I'm saved!

So I crawl at slow speed heading north east to make the trip around the north of Britain to get back to Bergen.

Then, numerous sonar contacts from warships coming up from the east! Looks like they summoned a task force to come look for me. I go silent and back down to 70 meters while they pass astern a mere 2000 m away.

But I make it.

I go silent for a couple more hours. I'm free. No sonar contacts.

I give the order to surface, I can hear the water sloshing around the conning tower, and then...

Crash to desktop.

Fish In The Water · 03-28-11, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maillemaker

I give the order to surface, I can hear the water sloshing around the conning tower, and then...

Crash to desktop.

Okay that just hurts. I can feel your pain all the way over here...

It's like Murphy's Law in digital: If anything can go wrong it will, and at the worst possible time!

Gerald · 03-28-11, 11:17 AM

Until next time, I would have at least one Falke in the bow, so you can cover yourself up a bit more....if you can afford what it costs

Sailor Steve · 03-28-11, 12:46 PM

Bad luck that. I hate CTDs, but then so does everybody else.

One realism problem, though: Changing depth with the motors off was diffictult at best in real life, and would require using the pumps, which made just as much noise as the motors.

maillemaker · 03-28-11, 01:42 PM

I wasn't changing depth with no motors for noise sake - I just didn't want to come out from under that crippled destroyer!

Gerald · 03-28-11, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maillemaker

I wasn't changing depth with no motors for noise sake - I just didn't want to come out from under that crippled destroyer!

As Steve mentioned above, the CTD is no welcome guest with us all, yes in that situation you want to get there from the best possible way, and because you could not dive deeper, there are not too many opportunities to escape, but you might and that was the main thing, unfortunately, you got a CTD in the wrong mode, btw did you have a saved position before the convoy came up?

maillemaker · 03-28-11, 02:41 PM

I'm not sure if I saved before that convoy or not.

But I'm mostly annoyed about having my close call and surviving and losing it!

Gerald · 03-28-11, 02:45 PM

Maybe you can back the tape and start again, with a different focus

VonApist · 03-29-11, 04:10 AM

Aaaaargh

maillemaker · 03-29-11, 08:54 AM

Well, I did save just before engaging the convoy, as it turns out.

Reloaded, re-attacked. Picked up by radar on the approach, got hammered by escorts.

At 200m, suddenly I got smashed down to 81% HI with no warning of depth charges. 2 minutes later hammered again and sunk, again with no warning of depth charges.

This is September 1943.

Hedgehogs?

31 patrols. Back to 1939.

Gerald · 03-29-11, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maillemaker

Well, I did save just before engaging the convoy, as it turns out.

Reloaded, re-attacked. Picked up by radar on the approach, got hammered by escorts.

At 200m, suddenly I got smashed down to 81% HI with no warning of depth charges. 2 minutes later hammered again and sunk, again with no warning of depth charges.

This is September 1943.

Hedgehogs?

31 patrols. Back to 1939.

Hedgehogs,a deadly weapon for submarines during the period...

03-28-11, 11:01 AM	#1
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	An awesome escape and then... So it's September 1943. I hit a convoy SE of the Rocall Banks, on my way to somewhere in BE, as usual when I leave Bergen these days. My attack is a massive screw-up. I've got two Falke homing torpedoes aft in my VIIC, TIIIs up front. I'm trying to slip into the front of the convoy as usual, dodging the flank and lead escorts. Unfortunately I dove too soon and the port-side flank escort goes right over me and starts pinging me. I try and launch a salvo of 2 and 2 at two large tankers in the lead, and then I dive. I got one hit, but no sinking. And now they are on me. 5 escorts taking turns. I'm shucking and jiving at 200 m and they won't let me go. Finally it looks like we are down to 3 escorts, but they've hammered me down to about 73% hull integrity. So I secure from silent running and have the boys reload the front tubes, and head to periscope depth. I get a shot off with my falke, and it tags one of the escorts in the screws, stopping it but not sinking it, which is very rare, and the first time I've seen a Falke not sink an escort. It turns out it save my life. My last Falke missed its target and circled around my own sub - I actually watched it go around me through the periscope! Close call. I managed to nail another escort with a lucky magnetic shot from the front, and then I get hammered with gunfire and I'm down to 54% hull integrity. And worse, both of my periscopes are destroyed. So, I do the only thing I can do. I make straight for the crippled, motionless destroyer, using the hydrophones, and, as best I can tell, I came to a rest directly under it. The last remaining escort circled and circled. Not knowing what else to do, I ordered a dive, with no motor, to 70 meters. Our boat slowly descends, and low and behold, the circling escort breaks off and heads back to the convoy! I'm saved! So I crawl at slow speed heading north east to make the trip around the north of Britain to get back to Bergen. Then, numerous sonar contacts from warships coming up from the east! Looks like they summoned a task force to come look for me. I go silent and back down to 70 meters while they pass astern a mere 2000 m away. But I make it. I go silent for a couple more hours. I'm free. No sonar contacts. I give the order to surface, I can hear the water sloshing around the conning tower, and then... Crash to desktop.

03-28-11, 11:17 AM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Until next time, I would have at least one Falke in the bow, so you can cover yourself up a bit more....if you can afford what it costs __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

03-28-11, 12:46 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Bad luck that. I hate CTDs, but then so does everybody else. One realism problem, though: Changing depth with the motors off was diffictult at best in real life, and would require using the pumps, which made just as much noise as the motors. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-28-11, 02:45 PM	#8
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Maybe you can back the tape and start again, with a different focus __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

03-29-11, 04:10 AM	#9
VonApist Navy Dude Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 175 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Aaaaargh __________________ "Submariners are a special brotherhood, either all come to the surface or no one does. On a submarine, the phrase all for one and one for all is not just a slogan, but reality.” -- VADM Rudolf Golosov

03-28-11, 01:42 PM	#5
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	I wasn't changing depth with no motors for noise sake - I just didn't want to come out from under that crippled destroyer!

03-28-11, 02:41 PM	#7
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	I'm not sure if I saved before that convoy or not. But I'm mostly annoyed about having my close call and surviving and losing it!

03-29-11, 08:54 AM	#10
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	Well, I did save just before engaging the convoy, as it turns out. Reloaded, re-attacked. Picked up by radar on the approach, got hammered by escorts. At 200m, suddenly I got smashed down to 81% HI with no warning of depth charges. 2 minutes later hammered again and sunk, again with no warning of depth charges. This is September 1943. Hedgehogs? 31 patrols. Back to 1939.