Enough already!!!

Stingray67 · 10-26-08, 10:13 AM

So there I am in my Type IID W of the Hebrides when the lookouts spot a ship.
Turns out to be two; a Town class Destroyer and an unidentified escort.

Since the sea was like glass and I was making too much noise they detected me and steered towards me. No matter I thought and dove to just above the sea bed (80 odd metres in this case).
They pick me upp easily enough and through two accurate depth charge salvoes destroys my AA gun, radio, hydrophones and both persicopes. The torpedo tubes are all damaged but repairable and the batteries are destroyed.

So I am dodging what turns out to be two elite escorts in reasonably shallow waters. I am at the bottom end of my battery power and can only coax my electrical engines to give me 3 knots. Being deaf as well as blind (no external camera) it is not so easy to handle the geometry of this particular fight. After a while they run out of depth charges but still keep at it.

Three hours into this cat-and-mouse the depth charges start rainig down again damaging my diesels. I think they just got reinforced! I keep evading and soon they are out of things to throw at me again.

This all started at 19:30 and it is now 05:59 game-time. I am seriously tired of the situation. The battery level is decreasing, although slowly. I have three-quarters of my compressed air and the on-board air is ok...so far.
I think there is only one escort left, but he is both persistant and uncanny in his ability to find me time and time again. I have been toying with the idea to make a run for it on the surface, but I don't think my chances are very good in my Type II. Besides I would need to do that soon if I want cover of darkness.

I'll keep evading, I think. I have run out of tricks to loose him with and I am pessimistic about the outcome but I will be damned if I am going to roll over just like that.

meduza · 10-26-08, 10:31 AM

I guess everyone here were at least once in the similar situation. Maybe a weak or two ago, I was depth-charged for 7 hours (real time!). I finaly managed to sink the destroyer with a 4 torpedo spread when she run out of the depth charges.

I stayed up until 4 a.m, and next morning came to work looking (and feeling) like a zombie. I told my boss that I was at the birthday party, because I don't know what he would have said if I told him I was evading a destroyer all night. :rotfl:

I hope you will get away alive.

PappyCain · 10-26-08, 11:01 AM

I guess everyone here were at least once in the similar situation. Maybe a weak or two ago, I was depth-charged for 7 hours (real time!). I finaly managed to sink the destroyer with a 4 torpedo spread when she run out of the depth charges.

Yes. I have been there a few times. That is the beauty of this sim. It imitates real situations that calls for clear thinking, endurance - good for us immersion players who appreciate how well the programmers did their research and work!!

Kapt Z · 10-26-08, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meduza

I guess everyone here were at least once in the similar situation. Maybe a weak or two ago, I was depth-charged for 7 hours (real time!). I finaly managed to sink the destroyer with a 4 torpedo spread when she run out of the depth charges.

I stayed up until 4 a.m, and next morning came to work looking (and feeling) like a zombie. I told my boss that I was at the birthday party, because I don't know what he would have said if I told him I was evading a destroyer all night. :rotfl:

Forget the boss! My wife would have made things mighty cold in the house after a night like that! :p

Graf Paper · 10-26-08, 08:40 PM

Keep your boat at silent running, do not go faster than 1 knot. this helps to make the DDs "deaf" to your presence. I know the Type II boats can remain silent at 2 knots.

Steer your boat toward deeper water, making random turns from time to time, to avoid being tracked on a straight line.

Unless you're flooding, I'd suspend repairs to keep the noise down and do not exceed 2 knots in speed or the destroyers will pick up your engine/propeller noise. You can use bursts of speed to draw their attention and then immediately set all stop while making a tight turn, drifting away from where they think you are.

Too many kaleuns here have lost their lives because they lost their nerve and tried to use speed to get away. Kind of pointless, when you think about it. Even if you could get away with flank speed, that's a max of 7 or 8 knots submerged vs. the destroyer's max speed of 25-34 knots.

You have to be as quiet and elusive as a ghost.

I once endured being hunted by four escorts for 14 hours, game time. There's a certain satisfaction in finally being able to surface and limping home in your battered and leaking u-boat, knowing you'll live to fight another day.

Schöneboom · 10-26-08, 09:14 PM

Jeepers, I didn't know such extended encounters were possible in GWX! I've only had to tangle with convoy escorts who, if they lose contact with you, give up after about 1-1/2 hrs. Those DDs you're dodging must be independent hunter-killer groups, right?

In a sick way, I almost envy you. I would be amazed to be in a tight spot with my air & battery power running out! To add to Graf Paper's advice, I would add only:

1) If there is no thermal layer to protect you from the DD sonar, then you might need to jump to full speed as soon as your sonarman yells, "Wasserbomben!"
2) The explosions mask your noise for ~30 seconds, so soon after the last explosion, switch back to 1 knot & change course. Then stay silent until the next attack.
3) If you are under a thermal layer (can't hear the pings), then you stay at 1 knot until the explosions start.

Viel Gluck!

Stingray67 · 10-26-08, 11:12 PM

Thanks for the advice people.

I am doing all of the above, but speedwise I am limited to 3 knots at about 200 rpm.

The situation si still undecided, though.

One question. I thought thermal layers weren't modelled? Are they?

10-26-08, 10:13 AM	#1
Stingray67 Seaman Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 34 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Enough already!!! So there I am in my Type IID W of the Hebrides when the lookouts spot a ship. Turns out to be two; a Town class Destroyer and an unidentified escort. Since the sea was like glass and I was making too much noise they detected me and steered towards me. No matter I thought and dove to just above the sea bed (80 odd metres in this case). They pick me upp easily enough and through two accurate depth charge salvoes destroys my AA gun, radio, hydrophones and both persicopes. The torpedo tubes are all damaged but repairable and the batteries are destroyed. So I am dodging what turns out to be two elite escorts in reasonably shallow waters. I am at the bottom end of my battery power and can only coax my electrical engines to give me 3 knots. Being deaf as well as blind (no external camera) it is not so easy to handle the geometry of this particular fight. After a while they run out of depth charges but still keep at it. Three hours into this cat-and-mouse the depth charges start rainig down again damaging my diesels. I think they just got reinforced! I keep evading and soon they are out of things to throw at me again. This all started at 19:30 and it is now 05:59 game-time. I am seriously tired of the situation. The battery level is decreasing, although slowly. I have three-quarters of my compressed air and the on-board air is ok...so far. I think there is only one escort left, but he is both persistant and uncanny in his ability to find me time and time again. I have been toying with the idea to make a run for it on the surface, but I don't think my chances are very good in my Type II. Besides I would need to do that soon if I want cover of darkness. I'll keep evading, I think. I have run out of tricks to loose him with and I am pessimistic about the outcome but I will be damned if I am going to roll over just like that. __________________ If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!

10-26-08, 10:31 AM	#2
meduza Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: on patrol Posts: 1,035 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	I guess everyone here were at least once in the similar situation. Maybe a weak or two ago, I was depth-charged for 7 hours (real time!). I finaly managed to sink the destroyer with a 4 torpedo spread when she run out of the depth charges. I stayed up until 4 a.m, and next morning came to work looking (and feeling) like a zombie. I told my boss that I was at the birthday party, because I don't know what he would have said if I told him I was evading a destroyer all night. :rotfl: I hope you will get away alive. __________________

10-26-08, 11:01 AM	#3
PappyCain Samurai Navy Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: on the Atlantic Ocean Posts: 559 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I guess everyone here were at least once in the similar situation. Maybe a weak or two ago, I was depth-charged for 7 hours (real time!). I finaly managed to sink the destroyer with a 4 torpedo spread when she run out of the depth charges. Yes. I have been there a few times. That is the beauty of this sim. It imitates real situations that calls for clear thinking, endurance - good for us immersion players who appreciate how well the programmers did their research and work!! __________________ DID, no cheats, no shortcuts, no non-historic equipment deviations. Boat and crew safety is integral with my immersion style! Follow the historic events during your patrol: http://www.uboat.net/today.html

10-26-08, 08:40 PM	#5
Graf Paper Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest United States Posts: 1,146 Downloads: 41 Uploads: 2	Keep your boat at silent running, do not go faster than 1 knot. this helps to make the DDs "deaf" to your presence. I know the Type II boats can remain silent at 2 knots. Steer your boat toward deeper water, making random turns from time to time, to avoid being tracked on a straight line. Unless you're flooding, I'd suspend repairs to keep the noise down and do not exceed 2 knots in speed or the destroyers will pick up your engine/propeller noise. You can use bursts of speed to draw their attention and then immediately set all stop while making a tight turn, drifting away from where they think you are. Too many kaleuns here have lost their lives because they lost their nerve and tried to use speed to get away. Kind of pointless, when you think about it. Even if you could get away with flank speed, that's a max of 7 or 8 knots submerged vs. the destroyer's max speed of 25-34 knots. You have to be as quiet and elusive as a ghost. I once endured being hunted by four escorts for 14 hours, game time. There's a certain satisfaction in finally being able to surface and limping home in your battered and leaking u-boat, knowing you'll live to fight another day. __________________ Still sailing the high seas, hunting convoys with those who join me.

10-26-08, 09:14 PM	#6
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Jeepers, I didn't know such extended encounters were possible in GWX! I've only had to tangle with convoy escorts who, if they lose contact with you, give up after about 1-1/2 hrs. Those DDs you're dodging must be independent hunter-killer groups, right? In a sick way, I almost envy you. I would be amazed to be in a tight spot with my air & battery power running out! To add to Graf Paper's advice, I would add only: 1) If there is no thermal layer to protect you from the DD sonar, then you might need to jump to full speed as soon as your sonarman yells, "Wasserbomben!" 2) The explosions mask your noise for ~30 seconds, so soon after the last explosion, switch back to 1 knot & change course. Then stay silent until the next attack. 3) If you are under a thermal layer (can't hear the pings), then you stay at 1 knot until the explosions start. Viel Gluck! __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher."

10-26-08, 11:12 PM	#7
Stingray67 Seaman Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 34 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the advice people. I am doing all of the above, but speedwise I am limited to 3 knots at about 200 rpm. The situation si still undecided, though. One question. I thought thermal layers weren't modelled? Are they? __________________ If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!