Liberty Cargo ships?

[HauptmannFox]

Hey, everyone. I'm new to SH3 and was playing through my third Career patrol in one of the grid squares between La Spezia and Gibraltar, near the collection of islands in the gulf. I had two boats appear West of me on my map, closing on me at a slow speed. I dove to periscope depth and killed my engine, waiting for them to approach me - which they did. One torpedo quickly took care of the first ship, a basic Merchant carrier. However, the second proved quite a bit more formidable.

Seeing it was classed as a "Liberty Cargo" ship, I fired two torpedos at its prop for good measure just as it passed me. Both hit and damaged the prop, but it kept on surging forward. I quickly blew a 180 degree turn and shifted to Ahead Full to chase it. Eventually, I managed to flank it and fire all four tubes it its starboard side hull. Three of four hit, and again, it kept on moving forward.

I couldn't use my deck gun due to rough seas, and its deck guns were hitting me hard as soon as I surfaced above 7m, so I again repositioned facing its starboard side and fired the last of my reserve torpedoes. Three more hits. It was smoking at this point, but still hadn't sunk. I followed it for a good six hours as it moved towards Gibraltar before I had to pull out and return to port.

Can anyone tell me how to sink these bastards effectively, if it's even possible? Thanks.

[maillemaker]

I've never heard of any merchant taking that many successful hits and surviving.

I find the toughest merchies are those small 2700 ton jobs.

Steve

[scott_c2911]

Ive never had to put more than 4 torpedoes into any ship to sink it let alone stop it. This sounds very strange to me, it could be a bug but ive never heard of one being this severe. The C2 cargo in stock was notoriously hard to sink but 4 torpedoes was normally enough for that too

[HauptmannFox]

Sixth patrol this afternoon, same gulf region, almost directly south of La Spezia. I again encountered a Merchant Ship escorting a Liberty Cargo tanker. Lining up on the starboard side of the Liberty Cargo, I fired all four tubes and sunk it instantly by the time the third had impacted.

I then made quick work of the Merchant with another single torpedo and surfaced, placing a watch crew on deck and continuing southeast towards the hostile island port - its name eludes me at the moment. Not six in-game hours later, I had a bomber squad on top of me, eight planes in total.

Feeling reckless and a bit foolish after my success on the Cargo ship, I set my crew to the Flak guns (three light, one heavy) and engaged the squadron. As their bombs fell all around me but never actually hit me, I peppered them and managed to destroy all eight.

After patrolling my grid for 24 hours, I returned to La Spezia without contact. Not a bad day for a beginner.

[desertstriker]

The no sinking issue sometimes happens when I break one of these rules

Always save when surfaced.
Always save when in control room, F2, view.
Always save at least 50km off shore.
Always give the game a little time at TCx1 after being on high TC before you save.
Never save with any known contacts, go some 50km away from your last sinking.

[TECHNICOLOR]

From time to time I meet a unsinkable ship,usually a merchant ,in bad weather. This is what probably happened to you. Just let him go, it might be glitch, an easter egg (something like the stories sailors say about phantom ships roaming the seas manned by the souls of sailors long dead and who were denied the privileged of rest after death ).
Anyway, very few ships deserve more than two torpedos.

[maillemaker]

I'm always a sucker for the fallacy of the sunk cost. I figure if I've already got 2 fish invested in it I'm going to see her sunk!

Steve

[DrZaius]

Originally Posted by maillemaker

I'm always a sucker for the fallacy of the sunk cost. I figure if I've already got 2 fish invested in it I'm going to see her sunk!

Steve

To use a poker-term, you're pot-committed! It's worth it to throw good money after bad if the reward outweighs the benefit of folding.

-DrZ

[GJO]

I have encountered ships that stubbornly stay afloat - and, although I am a relative amateur at this game, I think the secret is not to repeat the first action. If I can, I always put my first torpedo into the engine or boiler room (usually just below the funnel) and I then stay close to the target (easy if it isn't armed but difficult if it means staying submerged) until it stops. I then wait - usually, once stopped it will eventually sink but if it doesn't, I put another torpedo into a different part of the hull - close to the bow if the target is still moving. If the ship isn't armed and the sea is calm, gunfire at the waterline from close range can work. Alternatively, manoeuvre round to the opposite side of the target and launch a torpedo at the undamaged side of the hull. There are risks from long exchanges - some targets appear to be able to call up assistance - when trying to finish off a target with gunfire over a prolonged period, I was attacked by a Catalina aircraft fortunately, I was able to submerge in time. On another occasion two enemy destroyers appeared on the scene - I submerged to periscope depth right alongside the target and the destroyers just circled round and round before eventually leaving the scene - I guess I was lucky and I did eventually sink the target.

It happened too in real life, in The Golden Horseshoe Otto Kretschmer describes a merchant that appeared to be loaded with empty wooden barrels and proved unusually difficult to sink.

[Rammstein0991]

I usually wont waste another torpedo on a crippled (stopped) ship unless I have to, I just finish it off with the deck gun, again thats unless I cant for some reason (stormy weather, ship is armed, etc)

P.S. I heard that story too GJO, but iirc I think it was empty oil drums, but I'd have to check to be sure.

[barker262]

I read an old 1930's era book about uboat actions, one of the commanders described an action against a Q sailing ship. Apparently the hull was full of cork so as not to sink and lure the u-boat in close to open fire. I think it may have been called HMS Prize. The book had several other odd tales from u-boat commanders of WW1. Good read in all.

[TECHNICOLOR]

in the book " runs silent run deep" the skipper makes the same assumption about a Q ship ,he mentions ping-pong balls, cellulose and balsa wood.

[barker262]

If you read this Technicolour, the book I was refering to is called "Raiders of the deep." by Lowell Thomas printed in 1929. Great book with a quaint style.

[TECHNICOLOR]

Originally Posted by barker262

If you read this Technicolour, the book I was refering to is called "Raiders of the deep." by Lowell Thomas printed in 1929. Great book with a quaint style.

Thanks , I`ll try to find it.