Man....1943 is Tough! - Page 2

Ancient Mariner · 07-07-09, 05:15 AM

@ Seahawk,I read that book too it got me back into playing Sh3. With regard to 43-45 have given it a go but sadly all attempts were in vain,1st patrol sinking everytime.

ryanglavin · 07-07-09, 11:09 AM

i started my career in 1940 and i haven't died yet and i am in 1942. i have 200k tons sunk, from pure luck mostly. i found not many convoys with more than 1 escort. but then november 1941 hit me, and i find a task force in the meditteranean. Its the middle of the night in the stormy seas, which is weird for the med. i get scared because the first battleship in line is a king george only 3000K meters off my bow. i have 3 destroyers comings down on me, and right when i fire my 4 torpedoes from the bow tubes at the battleship, on of his salvoes comes flying in and has flooding in 3 rooms, everyone topside killed, and my hydrophones and radio destroyed, same with both periscopes. i dive to 200 meters and stop everything while going into silent runnings. i feel safe, and i blow ballast, and he i come up to a completely disabled king george 800 yards away with no escorts around. I think a destroyer had radar, because right when i reload my tubes and fire my torps, i look to my right and see a destroyer no more than 7000 yards off. i dive and actually go under the battleship, and i am safe. the destroyer tries to drop depth charges on my escape but actually hit hits the battleship and sinks itself. i don't want to risk anything so i go 1000 yards to put the battleship to my stern. i don't go onto the surface and fires off my torpedos straight behind. I blow ballast right afterwards so i can see the sinking. i claim a battleship sunk and 36.000 tons on that patrol. i surface the boat and go ahead flank on the shortest route back to La Spezia, to home and a cheering crowd. i take so much damage that it takes until february of 1942 to repair the boat.
Lesson learned:
Don't attempt to destroy a battleship on the surface.

Kpt. Lehmann · 07-07-09, 11:10 AM

I just set sail in '44...

... and the threats to survival began within minutes as an air raid slammed the harbor. (In the wee hours of the morning with the spotlights and air-raid sirens in GWX... it was very cool.)

About five hours into the bay of Biscay and still within sight of the shore, I witnessed a returning U-boat under repeated attack by a Sunderland... was also very cool!! (Both survived... and I thought the AI U-boat was a goner!)

One hour later, I was attacked by a Catalina that I think was drawn to the area by the AI by the Sunderland...

... and I was still in relatively shallow water.

The Cat's DC's were close enough to rock the boat, but the only damage was a couple of broken gauge faces.

All the same... the first 12 hours of my patrol have told me CLEARLY that the 'Happy Times' are very much over.

Late war gaming in GWX absolutely ROCKS... and I'm not just saying that because I'm the project manager. I usually try to stay away from saying how good GWX is because ppl get on my case about being 'arrogant' etc.

Its just that I get more of a thrill limping home all beat up with one engine running and a tired damage control team. Surviving close calls, makes me feel a little bit like I've been somewhere... and done something.

Then again... having been involved with the project for so long... I'm obviously a masochist.:rotfl:

meduza · 07-07-09, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kpt. Lehmann

Late war gaming in GWX absolutely ROCKS...

I agree. It's a completely different game than in early war, when I'm totaly obsessed with tonnage. After '43 the main concern is survival, how to come home in one peace. Strategic thinking is more important - which route to chose, when to dive and for how long, making sure not to run out of air and battery at wrong time,...etc. Every sank ship is victory for itself, especially in Med where most of them are escorted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kpt. Lehmann

Then again... having been involved with the project for so long... I'm obviously a masochist.:rotfl:

Now we know why is GWX so hard.

ltforce · 07-07-09, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meduza

I agree. It's a completely different game than in early war, when I'm totaly obsessed with tonnage. After '43 the main concern is survival, how to come home in one peace. Strategic thinking is more important - which route to chose, when to dive and for how long, making sure not to run out of air and battery at wrong time,...etc. Every sank ship is victory for itself, especially in Med where most of them are escorted.

Now we know why is GWX so hard.

Im the same as you...finishing 41...and waiting for the onslaught of 43....I finished a campaign from start to finish in the stock sh3 before GWX came out....maybe i can do it again....we'll see, I love GWX its amazing and completely realistic!!

TarJak · 07-07-09, 09:55 PM

Yup late war is all about survival and much less about tonnage. The special effects like air raids with sirens and searchlights just make it that much more special.

BasilY · 07-07-09, 11:54 PM

My sympathies.

Been there. The hedgehog was my biggest enemy as well.

My advise to you. Use the renown you gather so far on long-range pattern-running and acoustic-homing torpedoes. Attack from a safe distance away at night. After, your renown credit s won't be worth anything after the war anyway.

Bosje · 07-08-09, 04:40 AM

yeah it's hard but it's also a brilliant gaming experience

my most fun career ever saw me through the second half of 1942 and alsmost all of 1943, surviving some thrilling encounters. Eventually I died just before newyear 1944, from stupidity, when i attacked a convoy in the Med without having noticed that there was only 150 meters under the keel

hitting a few ships from a convoy and then playing hours and hours of cat and mouse with the escorts, in real time, is just the most exciting way to spend an evening, short of fornication

TarJak · 07-08-09, 08:25 AM

Geez I'm glad you added that qualification at the end. You could have left yourself open to some derision.

sharkbit · 07-08-09, 01:37 PM

I'm married with 2 kids. I can't even remember what fornication is anymore.

07-07-09, 11:09 AM	#17
ryanglavin Samurai Navy Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Evading that Hunter/Killer Group on my Tail Posts: 584 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	1940-1942 i started my career in 1940 and i haven't died yet and i am in 1942. i have 200k tons sunk, from pure luck mostly. i found not many convoys with more than 1 escort. but then november 1941 hit me, and i find a task force in the meditteranean. Its the middle of the night in the stormy seas, which is weird for the med. i get scared because the first battleship in line is a king george only 3000K meters off my bow. i have 3 destroyers comings down on me, and right when i fire my 4 torpedoes from the bow tubes at the battleship, on of his salvoes comes flying in and has flooding in 3 rooms, everyone topside killed, and my hydrophones and radio destroyed, same with both periscopes. i dive to 200 meters and stop everything while going into silent runnings. i feel safe, and i blow ballast, and he i come up to a completely disabled king george 800 yards away with no escorts around. I think a destroyer had radar, because right when i reload my tubes and fire my torps, i look to my right and see a destroyer no more than 7000 yards off. i dive and actually go under the battleship, and i am safe. the destroyer tries to drop depth charges on my escape but actually hit hits the battleship and sinks itself. i don't want to risk anything so i go 1000 yards to put the battleship to my stern. i don't go onto the surface and fires off my torpedos straight behind. I blow ballast right afterwards so i can see the sinking. i claim a battleship sunk and 36.000 tons on that patrol. i surface the boat and go ahead flank on the shortest route back to La Spezia, to home and a cheering crowd. i take so much damage that it takes until february of 1942 to repair the boat. Lesson learned: Don't attempt to destroy a battleship on the surface.

07-07-09, 11:10 AM	#18
Kpt. Lehmann GWX Project Director Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Republic of Texas Posts: 6,994 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	I just set sail in '44... ... and the threats to survival began within minutes as an air raid slammed the harbor. (In the wee hours of the morning with the spotlights and air-raid sirens in GWX... it was very cool.) About five hours into the bay of Biscay and still within sight of the shore, I witnessed a returning U-boat under repeated attack by a Sunderland... was also very cool!! (Both survived... and I thought the AI U-boat was a goner!) One hour later, I was attacked by a Catalina that I think was drawn to the area by the AI by the Sunderland... ... and I was still in relatively shallow water. The Cat's DC's were close enough to rock the boat, but the only damage was a couple of broken gauge faces. All the same... the first 12 hours of my patrol have told me CLEARLY that the 'Happy Times' are very much over. Late war gaming in GWX absolutely ROCKS... and I'm not just saying that because I'm the project manager. I usually try to stay away from saying how good GWX is because ppl get on my case about being 'arrogant' etc. Its just that I get more of a thrill limping home all beat up with one engine running and a tired damage control team. Surviving close calls, makes me feel a little bit like I've been somewhere... and done something. Then again... having been involved with the project for so long... I'm obviously a masochist.:rotfl: __________________ www.thegreywolves.com All you need is good men. - Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock

07-08-09, 04:40 AM	#23
Bosje Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 732 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 0	yeah it's hard but it's also a brilliant gaming experience my most fun career ever saw me through the second half of 1942 and alsmost all of 1943, surviving some thrilling encounters. Eventually I died just before newyear 1944, from stupidity, when i attacked a convoy in the Med without having noticed that there was only 150 meters under the keel hitting a few ships from a convoy and then playing hours and hours of cat and mouse with the escorts, in real time, is just the most exciting way to spend an evening, short of fornication __________________ And when an 800-ton Uboat has you by the tits... you listen!

07-08-09, 01:37 PM	#25
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	I'm married with 2 kids. I can't even remember what fornication is anymore. __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

07-07-09, 05:15 AM	#16
Ancient Mariner Torpedoman Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somewhere north of Auckland Posts: 114 Downloads: 80 Uploads: 0	@ Seahawk,I read that book too it got me back into playing Sh3. With regard to 43-45 have given it a go but sadly all attempts were in vain,1st patrol sinking everytime.

07-07-09, 09:55 PM	#21
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Yup late war is all about survival and much less about tonnage. The special effects like air raids with sirens and searchlights just make it that much more special.

07-07-09, 11:54 PM	#22
BasilY Weps Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 359 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	My sympathies. Been there. The hedgehog was my biggest enemy as well. My advise to you. Use the renown you gather so far on long-range pattern-running and acoustic-homing torpedoes. Attack from a safe distance away at night. After, your renown credit s won't be worth anything after the war anyway.

07-08-09, 08:25 AM	#24
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Geez I'm glad you added that qualification at the end. You could have left yourself open to some derision.