U-19 Mayday!

[Kielhauler1961]

Kameraden,

Following a radio contact report U-19 (Type II) has intercepted not one, not two but THREE convoys in grid AN55 on 26th January, 1940.

She has sunk two Empire freighters and two destroyers from one convoy and a third destroyer from the second, so all torpedoes are expended.

Problem: Two very good destroyers and one not quite so hot corvette have now been hunting the boat for over twelve hours and my kaleun is getting a bit desperate. Both destroyers have used all their depth charges but the corvette still has some left but luckily his aim if off. They are in almost constant sonar contact and making repeated dummy runs. There was the sound of gunfire at one point but I have no idea what was going on up there because I don't have the free camera enabled. I've lost track of how many depth charges they have dropped, must be over 150 although the corvette is only dropping one or two at a time.

It's dark, my battery is down to 30 and CO2 level has hit 3. I've tried everything - fast, slow, twisting, going silent - but nothing seems to throw them off for more than a few minutes. I've thought about surfacing and trying to escape that way but there is always one hunter within 500 metres guiding the others in.

Anyone got any ideas?

KH

[Zosimus]

Set a specific escape route, let's say north by north east, if that's a convenient way. Doesn't matter exactly. Set a waypoint out there.

Then pick a direction approximately 50 degrees either port or starboard of the way you're going and kick the engine up to standard. Turn off silent running. The destroyers will immediately hear you and begin to follow. Once you're sure they have your new trail resume your previous course and watch your rudder. Once it hits 40–meaning that the wheel is hard over, run silent.

Go as deep as you possibly can. If you are in shallow water, you should be no more than 5 meters off the floor. If you are in deep water, then you need to go as deep as your ship can take it. I don't know exactly how deep your boat can go, but I normally dive until the crew complains that we're nearing critical depth. Then I go about 5 meters below that.

[danasan]

And set your speed manually to 1 (one) knot, that should help...

[Kielhauler1961]

Danke, Mein kameraden,

I'll try the solution proposed by Zosimus (great handle) and Danesan, I have been at less than 50 revolutions for most of this torment. Believe you me, these guys won't be shaken off...

I'm fed up with the constant PINGING....Enemy is pinging us, Sir,.......PINGING.....aaarrrrggggghhh!

I estimate the air will last about another two hours before the people start fainting and the battery is good for a bit longer.

U-19 out.

KH

[danasan]

Are you running GWX? There aren't that many options left without any eels. But don't give up! You never know. You could go directly into the direction of one of the escorts, WHEN it make a run on you. When it is above you, go ahead flank for a minute or so to try and get some distance from the DD screen, then return to 50 RPM or even ZERO and wait what will happen.

BTW: Pinging doesn't always mean that they have you in their cone, but they are searching.

[Kielhauler1961]

@ Danesan,

Yes, GWX but no mods enabled.

I've tried turning towards my tormentors, turning on the opposite course as they shoot past. Running fast in one direction then turning away and going slow. Nothing will shake the J&K DD and I'm fresh out of stratagems. Nearly 13 hours submerged now and my crew are looking a bit pale...

These two DD's (J&K and a Tribal I think, I can only judge by his screws) have the the persistence of Jehovah.

Some DD's are classed as Elite, my bad for finding two of them in one hit.

KH