Noob Mistake.

[Spike88]

Its September 11th, 1939 and I'm heading back to Wilhamshaven from BF18 after a 20 day patrol. I decide the easiest way to get back would be between Ireland and England, because I can mostly cruise along the surface. I am just north of Ireland when I recieve a radio message informing me of a Large Convoy heading my way due west of my position.

Since I have 11 torpedoes left, I figure why not give it a try. I order periscope depth, engines standard, and then set coarse for a direct interception with the Convoy. I put time compression to 256, and wait for the first sonar contact.

Suddenly I get a report that w'ere taking damage and that the flak guns are damaged. I drop out of TC, confused why I'm taking damage. Immediately afterwords I hear the pinging of Destroyers. Yet my sonarman still hasn't reported anything. I look at the crew page and realize that the effectiveness of my radioroom is very low. I switch out the radioman and sonarman and the reports start flowing in. I had 5 destroyers around me, while 20 merchants are sailing away.
A destroyer passes right over my aft deck, but his depth charges miss.


I figure our best bet would be to head north where the water gets deeper. I order silent running, and set my depth to 60M and course due north. 10 intense minutes go by with the destroyers pinging and randomly dropping depth charges. I'm thinking that I'm out free, So I relax a little bit. Out of nowhere there is a loud crash and the crew is jostled around.

My CE reports were taking damage, Tube 4 damaged, Radio Damaged, Sonar Damaged, Port Electric engine damaged, Port Diesel engine damaged, bow batteries damaged. I suddenly realize we've run into the the ocean floor. I order all stop, and a new depth of 40M, and then I order ahead slow. There's more scraping as we grind across the ocean floor.

At this point I only had two destroyers gunning for me, but after hitting the floor, they're depth charges get a lot closer. Luckily none hit and I was able to reach the trench, where I took us down to 90M and ordered all stop. The destroyers eventually left, and it was uneventful sailing back to Port.

I totally felt like a noob. I wouldn't be surprised if my crew all applied to transfer else where. The only good thing about that patrol is I sunk 9,000 tons with my deck gun alone, and that we escaped with our lives.

[Mopy]

Hunting in risky depths eh? I have no idea how you calmly flowed through the Irish Sea on the surface. Even in 1939/1940 I run into hostile ship after hostile ship. I think my next campaign will rule out following convoys into shallow water like that. That's how my last three have all ended in late 1940.

Glad you survived yours though I had a similar experience last week, but had to abandon as I had no engines left and was travelling at 0 knots.

Time for another radio qualification? Either that or court marshal him for not paying attention.

[Spike88]

Interesting, the only contacts I had to deal with where two Elco torpedo boats heading in the direction of the merchant I had sunk South of Ireland, I saw them and dived before they realized I was there. I also sank a small Trawler with my deck gun in the middle of the Irish sea and still didn't have any hostiles.

I actually didn't have any radio qualifications. Just gave 3 out via SH3Commander. I would of had atleast 20,000 tons(including the 9,982 from earlier) under my belt if it hadn't been for the sonarman.

[Rafael]

I think that your crew is still not experienced in 1939. I had a similar 'problem' at "Skagerrak" when leaving Kiel 9 September 1939. With only one Polish destroyer!

Anyway, happy you did not die and could sail back to Port.

[Melonfish]

yikes next to Der Kanal the Irish sea is the worst place to be. i've only ever sat around am53 as the convoys come in but ready to dash to deep water if anything comes to get me!

[Jimbuna]

Don't go playing in puddles....keep to the deeper areas...depth is your friend