Tactics against the convoy

[torpedo1963]

So my own "tactics" is:rough weather(no rain).I go to the front of convoy and
i am "dead" in the water,then i chose targets-launch torpedoes and then run silent...
it works quite well-but isi it there any other "working" tactics?
and where i can found Britsh battleships??

[Rommer69]

That is the best tactic, specially if you can go away after your attack without being detected.
Battleships? Tell me where when you find one. :rotfl:
After 9 patrols, only DDs. Task forces that sail aroun British islands are phantoms, I´ve chased them two or three times and never found them.

[dinazor]

I attack 5-7 kms away from convoy. Therefore I always use T1 torpedo. Salvo 4-5 torpedos to convoy, generally hit one or two ships then deep to 150 m and run away, reload of torpedos and attack again.

I only found british carrier with 6 DDs in may 1944 far away of Ireland. I had only one torpedo, attack from 9 kms but missed.

I used to engage the convoys from aside as well. But that was ages ago - in these days where I began to get familiar with whole SH3.
Now I always try to penetrate escort screen and get into the convoy slowly behind the leading escort and use the surprise method realeasing torps in specific order, whick leads to multiple explosions in the convoy at almost the same time.

Anyway I always knew the tactics from the begining and I knew how should I approach the convoy, how to atack and successfully evade DD sweeps. But this takes time to learn.. To learn how to turn theoretical knowledge into practical.

Good luck

[kylania]

Originally Posted by dinazor

I attack 5-7 kms away from convoy. Therefore I always use T1 torpedo. Salvo 4-5 torpedos to convoy, generally hit one or two ships then deep to 150 m and run away, reload of torpedos and attack again.

I only found british carrier with 6 DDs in may 1944 far away of Ireland. I had only one torpedo, attack from 9 kms but missed.

Hmm. I should try that. I usually close within 1200m or so, or sometimes inside the convoy ranks even. Maybe I'll do better from farther away?

[TorpedoMo]

My most used tactic in attacking convoy was to set myself in front of the convoy with the convoys course, silent running, then let myself drop into the convoy by two ways: 1. Manouver out the escort(s) in front if possible on periscope depht or 2. dive deep and come up as soon as the escort run over.
Then, in the convoy I try to get between two lines, looking out for the fat ones, and then take them out by in german called "rechtwinkelschuss", 90° shot. Thats a good way, just let the ships pass by slowly to your left and right, a make your torps go.
This tactic works in the earlier years of war. By progress of war, the better and more escorts make the manouvering near and inside the convoy very dangerous.

[kylania]

I just had an awesome convoy attack, nearly perfect.

Got a report of a convoy coming my way. I moved to intercept and was in place, 5km off their port side as they approached. I inched my way forward as they closed so I'd be approx 1km from the close line of ships I'd estimated.

I did make one mistake and as they closed I peeked with my periscope and forgot to lower it and they actually sent bombers after me! I got hit once and moved. The convoy didn't change course.

The lead escort went past my bow, the edge escort extremely close to my stern, but both passed me as I moved undetected.

I took 4 shots but got greedy! The front row of ships was medium cargos, but a far row had some large troop and tankers! I fired at those. 2 Type IIIs and 2 FATs. One Type 2 exploded early. The other hit a troop ship. The FATs just went off on their merry way and were never heard of again.

After launching I sped up to 2kts, dropped to 40m and inched INTO the convoy. After I heard the first row of ships pass amazingly close over head I turned starboard and headed out of the rear of the convoy. There was some depth charging and pinging, but nothing near me.

As I exited the convoy I popped up to periscope depth and shot a homing torpedo at a passing ammunition ship. Hit!

The escorts never knew where I was. Only sunk two ships (5.7K troop and 7K ammo) but misses aside, I feel it was a picture perfect attack.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by dinazor

I attack 5-7 kms away from convoy.

WHAT?

i would never manage to hit a convoy at such a range!

My convoy attacks are typically from around 1200 meters to within 400 meters of the center column.

I almost always attack from within the lanes up until early 1943... then this gets more difficult.

Your hide in front of the convoy tactic will eventually stop working as the war progresses.

eventually, it would be suicide to attack a convoy.

[Task Force]

Originally Posted by Rommer69

That is the best tactic, specially if you can go away after your attack without being detected.
Battleships? Tell me where when you find one. :rotfl:
After 9 patrols, only DDs. Task forces that sail aroun British islands are phantoms, I´ve chased them two or three times and never found them.

Ya know, I use to chase those task forces, and never seen a sign of one, But they did lead me to a convoy onece.