How Depressing...

kgsuarez · 07-25-08, 01:35 AM

Okay, so after ages of not playing I decide to get the game up and running again. I started a career in August 1939 (pre-war). First patrol was uneventful, but by the time I went out for my second patrol we were at war.

I was commanding a small type IIA boat, U-11. First Flotilla, out of Kiel. We left base on the 9th and set a course for our assigned grid. On the way I ran into a British Task Force. So I'm stuck in a stupid IIA in the shallow waters of the channel and now a task force, great. This all went down around Grid AN-95. I think...

I ordered PD, and while looking through the scope I figured it'd probably be best to go by undetected. So I order a depth change. My plan is to just creep along running silent. I few minutes later I hear their ASDIC. My first thought was, "But it's 1939! The enemies don't have ASDIC until later!" So, I'm a little confused. I could have sworn that ASDIC wasn't around until '41 or so.

I eventually had three destroyers circling overhead. At first it wasn't too bad, just a few wabos to shake us up a bit. But they wouldn't give up. I tried everything.

Eventually I ran aground (stupid shallow waters!

) and I guess that must have made a racket because soon after they started DC'ing me pretty bad. I ended up with some pretty bad damage. I noticed after a while that both my diesel engines and one of my electric engines had been destroyed. We had "critical" flooding according to my Chief (I guess the shallow waters saved us there) and we had even lost a few good men. There was no way I was going to make it back to port in that condition anyway, so I figured I might as well just give up. I had to blow ballast several times, but we managed to surface.

Then the three destroyers shelled us to death.

Is this pathetic or did I just have bad luck in running into such a determined task force? And what about that ASDIC deal? Did the allies have it from the beginning of the war or not?

Chisum · 07-25-08, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgsuarez

Is this pathetic or did I just have bad luck in running into such a determined task force? And what about that ASDIC deal? Did the allies have it from the beginning of the war or not?

It's a bad luck.
To cruise in the chanel savely(early in the war) we need some luck and if we have a very bad weather with big rain it's a good think.
Try also to stay near the French coast.
Cruise in the middle of the night between 00H00 and 06H00, 2 knts maximum speed.
Sleep on the bottom during the day without noises.
Don't surfaced by day and of course no radio-communications.

In this conditions it's absolutly possible. I did it 2 or 3 times and even in 1941(but this time I was probably very lucky). After it is too difficult.

About the ASDIC...I don't know.
I think they were detection equipment but it was less efficient than a few years later

There is some screen of my first chanel trip.

1: very near of the French Coast

2: when I say near is realy very near.

3: after Calais, the big escape into the Bay of Biscay(don't engage any ship !)

4: when at this point normaly you are save. But run silently again and don't engage any enemy. Let pass the convoy.

Task Force · 07-25-08, 02:25 AM

In early war ive gon throuht the canal and stright of dover. but after my first two patroals I found out that going through the canal was way to dangerious.Mines everywhere.

Leandros · 07-25-08, 04:40 AM

Another way is to sneak up to the Channel entrance in the evening and then go full blast on the surface after it has become dark. keep close to the French coast.

Kielhauler1961 · 07-25-08, 04:52 AM

ASDIC was invented by the British at the end of WW1, and fitted in destroyers from the early 1920's. By 1939 even some Admiralty trawlers had it. A good bet is: if it's got depth-charges assume it also has ASDIC.

Chisum · 07-25-08, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kielhauler1961

ASDIC was invented by the British at the end of WW1, and fitted in destroyers from the early 1920's. By 1939 even some Admiralty trawlers had it. A good bet is: if it's got depth-charges assume it also has ASDIC.

Yep right.
I saw a thread somewhere here who talking about the efficient of the ASDIC since 1939 to the end of the WW2, but I don't remember the name.

07-25-08, 01:35 AM	#1
kgsuarez Planesman Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: USA Posts: 181 Downloads: 28 Uploads: 0	How Depressing... Okay, so after ages of not playing I decide to get the game up and running again. I started a career in August 1939 (pre-war). First patrol was uneventful, but by the time I went out for my second patrol we were at war. I was commanding a small type IIA boat, U-11. First Flotilla, out of Kiel. We left base on the 9th and set a course for our assigned grid. On the way I ran into a British Task Force. So I'm stuck in a stupid IIA in the shallow waters of the channel and now a task force, great. This all went down around Grid AN-95. I think... I ordered PD, and while looking through the scope I figured it'd probably be best to go by undetected. So I order a depth change. My plan is to just creep along running silent. I few minutes later I hear their ASDIC. My first thought was, "But it's 1939! The enemies don't have ASDIC until later!" So, I'm a little confused. I could have sworn that ASDIC wasn't around until '41 or so. I eventually had three destroyers circling overhead. At first it wasn't too bad, just a few wabos to shake us up a bit. But they wouldn't give up. I tried everything. Eventually I ran aground (stupid shallow waters!) and I guess that must have made a racket because soon after they started DC'ing me pretty bad. I ended up with some pretty bad damage. I noticed after a while that both my diesel engines and one of my electric engines had been destroyed. We had "critical" flooding according to my Chief (I guess the shallow waters saved us there) and we had even lost a few good men. There was no way I was going to make it back to port in that condition anyway, so I figured I might as well just give up. I had to blow ballast several times, but we managed to surface. Then the three destroyers shelled us to death. Is this pathetic or did I just have bad luck in running into such a determined task force? And what about that ASDIC deal? Did the allies have it from the beginning of the war or not?

07-25-08, 02:25 AM	#3
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	In early war ive gon throuht the canal and stright of dover. but after my first two patroals I found out that going through the canal was way to dangerious.Mines everywhere. __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

07-25-08, 04:40 AM	#4
Leandros Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stockholm Posts: 676 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Another way is to sneak up to the Channel entrance in the evening and then go full blast on the surface after it has become dark. keep close to the French coast.

07-25-08, 04:52 AM	#5
Kielhauler1961 中国水兵 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East of the Firth of Forth Posts: 273 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	ASDIC was invented by the British at the end of WW1, and fitted in destroyers from the early 1920's. By 1939 even some Admiralty trawlers had it. A good bet is: if it's got depth-charges assume it also has ASDIC.