BB or Merchants. Which to (try and) take?

SinkingFeeling · 12-31-07, 10:08 PM

I've found myself in an interesting situation, and am wondering what my real-life counterparts would have done.
I've taken my VIIB into the Irish Sea and intercepted a convoy just outside of Belfast. The convoy is headed into the port, so I haven't got much time to play with. Using my Cheatomatic magic eye(tm) I've found that the centrepiece of the convoy is a Revenge class battleship, usually an extremely tempting target. However, in this case, all the random convoy generator numbers must have fallen in my favour, as it is surrounded by a couple of large tankers, a whale ship and an ammunition ship!
My problem is this: In real life would my counterparts have weighed up the damage to the war effort that sinking the BB would do, versus the damage that the merchant's cargos would do once landed? Or would they just go for straight out tonnage glory, and take the merchants? Or would the glory of sinking such a BB be too much to resist?
As much as I would like to, I don't think I have the time to attack both sets of targets, so I have a difficult choice to make. Any hints?

12-31-07, 10:11 PM

My 2 pfennig worth ::grins::

I'd go for the merchants. The value they potentially carry with regards to the war effort is a lot more than the battleship. But I have to admit, that'd be a tough choice to make!

Dread Knot · 12-31-07, 10:23 PM

Get more bucks for the bang. Go for the soft merchants. They don't take as many torpedoes to sink.

cheese123 · 12-31-07, 10:24 PM

I would go for the battleship... it gives lots of renown and this might be the only time you will ever see one, merchants are everywhere.

Kptlt. Neuerburg · 12-31-07, 11:02 PM

I'd think about how close to the convoy you are,how many escorts there are, and how many torpedos it would take to sink each one. Trust me it will NOT be the only battleship you'll see out there.(I'll give you a hint, go to Narvik, Norway at the start of the invasion there and you will see a few.)

cheese123 · 12-31-07, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kptlt. Hellmut Neuerburg

Trust me it will NOT be the only battleship you'll see out there.(I'll give you a hint, go to Narvik, Norway at the start of the invasion there and you will see a few.)

What year is the invasion?

Kptlt. Neuerburg · 12-31-07, 11:20 PM

April 1940.

12-31-07, 10:08 PM	#1
SinkingFeeling Watch Join Date: May 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 15 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	BB or Merchants. Which to (try and) take? I've found myself in an interesting situation, and am wondering what my real-life counterparts would have done. I've taken my VIIB into the Irish Sea and intercepted a convoy just outside of Belfast. The convoy is headed into the port, so I haven't got much time to play with. Using my Cheatomatic magic eye(tm) I've found that the centrepiece of the convoy is a Revenge class battleship, usually an extremely tempting target. However, in this case, all the random convoy generator numbers must have fallen in my favour, as it is surrounded by a couple of large tankers, a whale ship and an ammunition ship! My problem is this: In real life would my counterparts have weighed up the damage to the war effort that sinking the BB would do, versus the damage that the merchant's cargos would do once landed? Or would they just go for straight out tonnage glory, and take the merchants? Or would the glory of sinking such a BB be too much to resist? As much as I would like to, I don't think I have the time to attack both sets of targets, so I have a difficult choice to make. Any hints?

12-31-07, 11:02 PM	#5
Kptlt. Neuerburg Admiral Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,279 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	I'd think about how close to the convoy you are,how many escorts there are, and how many torpedos it would take to sink each one. Trust me it will NOT be the only battleship you'll see out there.(I'll give you a hint, go to Narvik, Norway at the start of the invasion there and you will see a few.) __________________ "When you're born into this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show. If you're born in America you get a front row seat." - George Carlin

12-31-07, 11:20 PM	#7
Kptlt. Neuerburg Admiral Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,279 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	April 1940. __________________ "When you're born into this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show. If you're born in America you get a front row seat." - George Carlin

12-31-07, 10:11 PM	#2
Albrecht Von Hesse Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	My 2 pfennig worth ::grins:: I'd go for the merchants. The value they potentially carry with regards to the war effort is a lot more than the battleship. But I have to admit, that'd be a tough choice to make!

12-31-07, 10:23 PM	#3
Dread Knot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,288 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Get more bucks for the bang. Go for the soft merchants. They don't take as many torpedoes to sink.

12-31-07, 10:24 PM	#4
cheese123 Gunner Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: on some striat Posts: 96 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I would go for the battleship... it gives lots of renown and this might be the only time you will ever see one, merchants are everywhere.