assigned grid vs. convoy attack

08-09-12, 06:15 AM

Ahoy!
I wonder real U-boats how many attacks performed one after one on a given convoy. I suppose remaining torpedoes, fuel and damage and weather were the key factors but apart from this did they keep attacking till they ran out of eels then exit chasing and return to base?
I'm asking it because on my current patrol with a VIIB in June 1940 I was heading for my designated grid by the Azores, when spotted an enemy convoy SW of Ireland. After an attack 9 eels remained. Should I ignore the assigned patrol grid and attack again and again or set course to the original destination letting the convoy sail away perhaps into the hands of another U-boat.

Von Due · 08-09-12, 06:28 AM

I would say never turn down a party invitation, especially if there are any high tonnage/tankers left in there.

Whether to continue to the patrol grid or not depends on which version of SH3 you're running and how you choose to play. Stock version then go, after attending the party. In GWX, it doesn't matter if you give the grid a miss altoghether.

Obltn Strand · 08-09-12, 08:34 AM

U-boats sole purpose is to sink enemy ships. Brain will figure out the rest.

In some tactical situations, for example operation drumbeat, uboats were forbidden to attack enemy ships during transit.

Captain Nemo · 08-09-12, 09:17 AM

In my view you should go ahead and keep attacking the convoy if possible. In my current patrol I have been given a square in AJ south of Greenland. Whilst on transit I came across an eastbound convoy and attacked until my torpedoes were exhausted. I'm now heading back to Brest without patrolling my assigned grid for 24 hours.

Nemo

sublynx · 08-09-12, 01:59 PM

http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUOrder4.htm

08-09-12, 02:26 PM

Thanks for the answers. I play GWX so there's no renown for reaching and patrolling the assigned grid. After reading your lines I decided to keep attacking and sink as many tons as I can.

Sailor Steve · 08-10-12, 12:01 AM

One of the things that slowed them down in real life is reloading torpedoes. There is a chance of a torpedo breaking free of its hoist if the boat is diving steeply, so they were never reloaded while there was a chance of a counter-attack. They would fire all the tubes and then dive deep, and wait for the destroyers to find them. If they came under attack they would try to escape. If, after awhile, they determined that they were safe they would then reload and resume the attack. This meant having to do an end-around on the convoy and start over again. They couldn't just have the crew keep reloading on the fly while they pummelled the convoy over and over again.

08-09-12, 06:15 AM	#1
allievo Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	assigned grid vs. convoy attack Ahoy! I wonder real U-boats how many attacks performed one after one on a given convoy. I suppose remaining torpedoes, fuel and damage and weather were the key factors but apart from this did they keep attacking till they ran out of eels then exit chasing and return to base? I'm asking it because on my current patrol with a VIIB in June 1940 I was heading for my designated grid by the Azores, when spotted an enemy convoy SW of Ireland. After an attack 9 eels remained. Should I ignore the assigned patrol grid and attack again and again or set course to the original destination letting the convoy sail away perhaps into the hands of another U-boat.

08-09-12, 08:34 AM	#3
Obltn Strand Commodore Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 614 Downloads: 135 Uploads: 0	U-boats sole purpose is to sink enemy ships. Brain will figure out the rest. In some tactical situations, for example operation drumbeat, uboats were forbidden to attack enemy ships during transit. __________________ Himmel, sukeltakaa!

08-09-12, 09:17 AM	#4
Captain Nemo Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London, England Posts: 1,144 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	In my view you should go ahead and keep attacking the convoy if possible. In my current patrol I have been given a square in AJ south of Greenland. Whilst on transit I came across an eastbound convoy and attacked until my torpedoes were exhausted. I'm now heading back to Brest without patrolling my assigned grid for 24 hours. Nemo __________________ "I'm afraid there is no disguising the fact that King's obsession with the Pacific and the Battle of Washington cost us dear in the Battle of the Atlantic". Sir John Slessor GCB, DSO, MC, DL AOC-in-C Coastal Command RAF ___________________________________________

08-09-12, 01:59 PM	#5
sublynx Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: In the conning tower of my VIIC scanning the sea through the periscope Posts: 1,698 Downloads: 173 Uploads: 7	http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUOrder4.htm __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] NYGM+H.sie v16+Stiebler 4C+MaGui WS

08-10-12, 12:01 AM	#7
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	One of the things that slowed them down in real life is reloading torpedoes. There is a chance of a torpedo breaking free of its hoist if the boat is diving steeply, so they were never reloaded while there was a chance of a counter-attack. They would fire all the tubes and then dive deep, and wait for the destroyers to find them. If they came under attack they would try to escape. If, after awhile, they determined that they were safe they would then reload and resume the attack. This meant having to do an end-around on the convoy and start over again. They couldn't just have the crew keep reloading on the fly while they pummelled the convoy over and over again. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-09-12, 06:28 AM	#2
Von Due Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,690 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	I would say never turn down a party invitation, especially if there are any high tonnage/tankers left in there. Whether to continue to the patrol grid or not depends on which version of SH3 you're running and how you choose to play. Stock version then go, after attending the party. In GWX, it doesn't matter if you give the grid a miss altoghether.

08-09-12, 02:26 PM	#6
allievo Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Thanks for the answers. I play GWX so there's no renown for reaching and patrolling the assigned grid. After reading your lines I decided to keep attacking and sink as many tons as I can.