Convoy attack tactics in SH3 vs. tactics of real life U-boats.

[Agiel7]

I've read that most U-boats conducted torpedo attacks during the night while surfaced, since the Allies' ASDIC wasn't as effective on surfaced boats. However, I've never used this tactic since the Brit's destroyer crews have been eating their carrots. I'm not sure if this tactic was properly modeled into the game, so have any of you tried it?

[Sailor Steve]

Many have tried, many have died.

I think the game has trouble with night and day. It seems to be a little too hard to do night surfaced attacks early in the war, pre-radar. That said, I haven't played a real career in quite some time, and I intend to use that tactic where appropriate.

We'll see.

[A Very Super Market]

Detection ranges had to be changed for more realistic attacks, though it is admittedly too difficult for the night surface attacks. Even during '41, a night attack was feasible, the tactic only became obsolete when RADAR was developed, and submerging became the dominant part of U-boot life.

[GoldenRivet]

i have a lot of success with this tactic. run decks awash and maintain a slow speed.

basically you have to observe the destroyers guarding the flanks, you will notice that they break off into a search pattern every few minutes.

if you can place yourself off to the side of the convoy say.. 1500 - 2000 meters from the nearest merchant and make your attack when this destroyer is breaking off onto a search pattern it will work out.

as soon as the last fish leaves the tube, break off and leave the area making good speed - but not flank speed - just a good 8 or 9 knots.

by the time the first torpedo impacts its target alerting everyone to your presence... you should be a good 3 to 5 KM away, at this time you can move ahead flank.

search lights and starshells will fill the air, but as long as you keep the convoy on your tail, stay out of the searchlights and starshell lights and make good speed... the tactic should work out for you.

I wouldnt go trying it after 42 though.

[Hitman]

You an also open sim.cfg in "My Documents/SH3/Data/Cfg" and tweak it like I did:

[Visual]
Detection time=2 ;[s] ;was 0.5
Sensitivity=0.01 ;(0..1)
Fog factor=1.25 ;[>=0]
Light factor=2.8 ;[>=0] ;was 2.0
Waves factor=1.0 ;[>=0]
Enemy surface factor=350 ;[m2]
Enemy speed factor=15 ;[kt]

This will make the enemy a bit more blind at night. But be careful, you can easily overshoot....

[nikimcbee]

Does it auto detect you a certain distance?

[Kapt Z]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

i have a lot of success with this tactic. run decks awash and maintain a slow speed.

basically you have to observe the destroyers guarding the flanks, you will notice that they break off into a search pattern every few minutes.

if you can place yourself off to the side of the convoy say.. 1500 - 2000 meters from the nearest merchant and make your attack when this destroyer is breaking off onto a search pattern it will work out.

as soon as the last fish leaves the tube, break off and leave the area making good speed - but not flank speed - just a good 8 or 9 knots.

by the time the first torpedo impacts its target alerting everyone to your presence... you should be a good 3 to 5 KM away, at this time you can move ahead flank.

search lights and starshells will fill the air, but as long as you keep the convoy on your tail, stay out of the searchlights and starshell lights and make good speed... the tactic should work out for you.

I wouldnt go trying it after 42 though.

I've used very similiar tactics with success up to spring '42. When the escorts have radar it's pointless.

Only thing I do different is not using decks awash. I like to come in from either flank between the lead escort and the first escort on each flank. There is a big hole there when you time it right. Plenty of time to fire some Ta's at medium speed at targets around 4500 yds, which means you should be able to reach to lead tanker or other large cargo in the center of the convoy. If you use map contacts it is quite easy to watch for your opportunity. Now that I play with the contacts off it is harder, but still possible.

[harzfeld]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

i have a lot of success with this tactic. run decks awash and maintain a slow speed.

would run decks awash increase chance for destroyers to hear you? because decks awash is considered as running submerged? Sometimes the nearest I can get to escorts without being detected while on surface at any speed during very dark was around 2.5km away. That's in early year, but I haven't tried run deck awash just to get closer to escorts before. Is the speed the key? I guess I'll try that.

[TarJak]

It can be done if you are careful and only before radar becomes ubiquitous.

Running decks awash is considered as running surfaced as long as you have crew on the tower. If you drop below about 7.8m your crew will button up and you run the risk of being picked up on passive sonar or asdic. On the surface they can't hear you unless you make noise by going too fast or shooting with flak or deck guns.

With OLC's environment it is much easier to run decks awash and make surface attacks as the visibility is closer to real life than in stock SHIII.

[tomfon]

Originally Posted by Agiel7

I've read that most U-boats conducted torpedo attacks during the night while surfaced, since the Allies' ASDIC wasn't as effective on surfaced boats. However, I've never used this tactic since the Brit's destroyer crews have been eating their carrots. I'm not sure if this tactic was properly modeled into the game, so have any of you tried it?

It is do-able and the only way to find out how is to give it a try.
But as people have already said its difficult enough after '42 and impossible
'43 onwards.
Suggestion? Go for it! Its, at least, the most satisfactory way of attacking.
The alternative is Hitmans suggestion.