It's a bit lonely in 1939

DirtyACE · 08-04-07, 07:19 PM

Just sailing around on my first patrol in GWX. Completed my objective which is to patrol AM24. Sad to say, so far in my journey I've only encountered a couple neutral ships, and one British warship which was too fast and too far away. Aside from that I have not seen anymore contacts of any kind. I pulled out the map of convoy routes and decided to head south of AM24 to the Halifax-Liverpool route. Been sitting here for a couple days now just drifting and absolutely nothing. It's like everyone has stopped sailing. Is it always like this in 1939? Should I keep heading south towards Brest where there's another convoy route?

Jimbuna · 08-04-07, 07:28 PM

Try AM52 or if your in transient mode go to BF13-15

Stealth Hunter · 08-04-07, 08:03 PM

So, are you good (be honest...)?

You might want to try raiding a naval base (Scapa Flow or Hartlepool). That's how I've racked up my 857,000 tonnes in 3 years.

Brag · 08-04-07, 10:14 PM

Check out Operation Spinnennetz in the stickies. The map will tell you where the hot areas are.

We have a few port raiding madmen but that's not the way U-boats operated, nor a good recipe to survive the war.

DirtyACE · 08-04-07, 10:26 PM

Thanks but I just was currious about the hot spots durring 1939. Any tips?

Also, it seems that intercepting is harder in GWX. I received a couple message from HQ of convoys and I tried intercepting them and both times I came up with nothing. I wouldn't even see the convoy. So far on my first patrol I've only sunk two measily little ships. A small freighter and tramp steamer.

Any tips on more effective interception in GWX?

nikbear · 08-04-07, 10:52 PM

If my memory serves me right,40 miles off of hartlepool and the gap between orkney and the scottish mainland will usually get you good contacts,its not very deep so be careful

also the the south east corner before you enter the channel where the ships turn to go to there channel ports is usually quite good,again shallow but as long as you are careful and use silent running when navy ships are around and keep your periscope to a minimum,you should be good to go

Schöneboom · 08-04-07, 11:27 PM

Guten Abend, DirtyACE,

The Western Approaches are reliable fishing areas because of the bottlenecks; if I had to choose between north & south of Ireland, I'd pick the north passage because of the narrower search area. Also, there is a channel between the Outer Hebrides & the Scottish mainland, known as The Minch. There is always single-ship British traffic through there (sometimes convoys), and you don't have to get close to Loch Ewe to find those ships. You could just lurk at, for ex., the south end and catch them going in or out. In GWX I'd stay away from Britain's east coast because of the mines.

Re how to intercept, I don't pursue every contact that appears on the map; that way lies madness. The ones worth pursuing are generally heading towards my position and within 1 day's travel (2 days, for convoys, maybe). Farther than that, esp. without map updates, it's not worth it -- odds are, the ships will change course.

After calculating the ETA for the intercept, it's a very good idea to submerge for sound checks periodically once you're in hydrophone range, esp. in bad weather &/or at night. A vital point: do not rely entirely on the sonar man -- slow down the boat ("Kleinefahrt") and listen yourself -- you'll often hear the ships long before he does.

Once you can hear the ship, the rest is history!

Gute Jagd!

Sailor Steve · 08-05-07, 02:53 PM

Having to look everywhere for targets in 1939? Sounds realistic to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter

So, are you good (be honest...)?

You might want to try raiding a naval base (Scapa Flow or Hartlepool). That's how I've racked up my 857,000 tonnes in 3 years.

So, what level do you play at (be honest...)?

I'm waiting for you to stop playing the game and give the sim a try.

S Rafty · 08-05-07, 03:35 PM

I play at 56% on GWX, will never play 100% cos I like to play with the external camera when Im bored :P

Sailor Steve · 08-05-07, 04:04 PM

I didn't mean you, S Rafty. People should play at whatever level and whatever type of game turns them on. I just get tired of the ones who brag about their accomplishments while playing the easy levels.

papa_smurf · 08-05-07, 07:25 AM

A good place is in the channel between Scapa flow and Lerwick - i've bagged a many ships during 1939.

As for harbour raiding - thats best left to the suicide bunch on this forum.

08-04-07, 07:19 PM	#1
DirtyACE Engineer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 213 Downloads: 28 Uploads: 0	It's a bit lonely in 1939 Just sailing around on my first patrol in GWX. Completed my objective which is to patrol AM24. Sad to say, so far in my journey I've only encountered a couple neutral ships, and one British warship which was too fast and too far away. Aside from that I have not seen anymore contacts of any kind. I pulled out the map of convoy routes and decided to head south of AM24 to the Halifax-Liverpool route. Been sitting here for a couple days now just drifting and absolutely nothing. It's like everyone has stopped sailing. Is it always like this in 1939? Should I keep heading south towards Brest where there's another convoy route?

08-04-07, 07:28 PM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,645 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Try AM52 or if your in transient mode go to BF13-15 __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

08-04-07, 10:14 PM	#4
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Check out Operation Spinnennetz in the stickies. The map will tell you where the hot areas are. We have a few port raiding madmen but that's not the way U-boats operated, nor a good recipe to survive the war. __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

08-04-07, 10:52 PM	#6
nikbear Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northampton,UK Posts: 1,859 Downloads: 86 Uploads: 0	If my memory serves me right,40 miles off of hartlepool and the gap between orkney and the scottish mainland will usually get you good contacts,its not very deep so be carefulalso the the south east corner before you enter the channel where the ships turn to go to there channel ports is usually quite good,again shallow but as long as you are careful and use silent running when navy ships are around and keep your periscope to a minimum,you should be good to go __________________ 'It is not surely known when the grey wolf shall come upon the seat of the gods' Ericksmal.

08-04-07, 11:27 PM	#7
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Guten Abend, DirtyACE, The Western Approaches are reliable fishing areas because of the bottlenecks; if I had to choose between north & south of Ireland, I'd pick the north passage because of the narrower search area. Also, there is a channel between the Outer Hebrides & the Scottish mainland, known as The Minch. There is always single-ship British traffic through there (sometimes convoys), and you don't have to get close to Loch Ewe to find those ships. You could just lurk at, for ex., the south end and catch them going in or out. In GWX I'd stay away from Britain's east coast because of the mines. Re how to intercept, I don't pursue every contact that appears on the map; that way lies madness. The ones worth pursuing are generally heading towards my position and within 1 day's travel (2 days, for convoys, maybe). Farther than that, esp. without map updates, it's not worth it -- odds are, the ships will change course. After calculating the ETA for the intercept, it's a very good idea to submerge for sound checks periodically once you're in hydrophone range, esp. in bad weather &/or at night. A vital point: do not rely entirely on the sonar man -- slow down the boat ("Kleinefahrt") and listen yourself -- you'll often hear the ships long before he does. Once you can hear the ship, the rest is history! Gute Jagd! __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher." Last edited by Schöneboom; 08-04-07 at 11:49 PM.

08-04-07, 08:03 PM	#3
Stealth Hunter Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Y'ha-Nthlei Posts: 4,262 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	So, are you good (be honest...)? You might want to try raiding a naval base (Scapa Flow or Hartlepool). That's how I've racked up my 857,000 tonnes in 3 years.

08-04-07, 10:26 PM	#5
DirtyACE Engineer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 213 Downloads: 28 Uploads: 0	Thanks but I just was currious about the hot spots durring 1939. Any tips? Also, it seems that intercepting is harder in GWX. I received a couple message from HQ of convoys and I tried intercepting them and both times I came up with nothing. I wouldn't even see the convoy. So far on my first patrol I've only sunk two measily little ships. A small freighter and tramp steamer. Any tips on more effective interception in GWX?

08-05-07, 03:35 PM	#9
S Rafty Machinist's Mate Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 121 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I play at 56% on GWX, will never play 100% cos I like to play with the external camera when Im bored :P __________________ 169th Recce Troop "Only In Death Does Duty End"

08-05-07, 04:04 PM	#10
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I didn't mean you, S Rafty. People should play at whatever level and whatever type of game turns them on. I just get tired of the ones who brag about their accomplishments while playing the easy levels. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-05-07, 07:25 AM	#11
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	A good place is in the channel between Scapa flow and Lerwick - i've bagged a many ships during 1939. As for harbour raiding - thats best left to the suicide bunch on this forum.