what would a kaleun do?

Tolkemec · 02-04-12, 04:19 AM

Hello meine herren. I need your advice on a small matter.

I am off the english coast, following a merchant who has a solid 90 degree course at 14 knots, so heading away from my patrol area.

My u-28 is 9000 meters behind at all ahead flank, reaching 15 sometimes 16 knots.

Based on what I saw (two conspicous masts), my previous encounters in this zone, and its speed, I am almost sure it is a small passenger ship of about 1600 tons. I don't know which flag she has, and could perfectly be a neutral (its september 39) heading to danmark.

So based on my calculations It will take me 4 hours aprox to be at 1500 meters and shell it (don't want to waste ammo).

What would a real kaleun do in this situation? We are talking of a very small tonnage and a real possibility of it being a neutral ship.

Would he consider it a waste of fuel and give up the chase? Is it even possible to run 4 hours at flank speed without burning the diesels? If not at flank I will not be possible to intercept it.

Would he go for it for a morale boost (morale is not an issue so far, being sept 17th and having shelled a small merchant the day before, exept for that pesky watch officer who is always unhappy)?

Would he give up?

Thx!

SubHunter88 · 02-04-12, 06:01 AM

Personally, I would let it go.

Early in the war the destroyers are stupid, If you go low speed you can eek right into a port and blast a battleship then slide right back out. It does wonders for earning morale, and promo points apparently.

Better yet, it's early for you, I would stay on mission.

Herr-Berbunch · 02-04-12, 06:59 AM

I wouldn't chase something so small, just report it and let the fly boys earn their medals.

misha1967 · 02-04-12, 07:48 AM

I agree.

Based on your observations, she's not worth it. If you had an easy firing solution, by all means. Check her out and let her go if she's not worth it, but since it will require considerable effort on your part to get there and there's a high likelihood that you won't want to sink her anyway, let the BdU know what you saw and leave the decision to them.

Hinrich Schwab · 02-04-12, 12:39 PM

The ship is too small for any real consideration and even if he was in range, he's not worth the torpedo and at less than 2000 tons, I would not even want to waste shells on him. He got away. Accept it and find bigger fish.

Be more aggressive.

Tolkemec · 02-06-12, 09:44 AM

Thanks for the advice (I see it was unanimous). When I decided not to pursue, I saw it change direction and begin to zigzag, so the final aproach was very fast. It went down with a few shells. I was right, small passenger ship, 1660 t, british. Oh, and then I messed up my 57 mod soup and cannot play anymore. Damn!

Herr-Berbunch · 02-06-12, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tolkemec

... I saw it change direction and begin to zigzag, so the final aproach was very fast. It went down with a few shells.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tolkemec

Oh, and then I messed up my 57 mod soup and cannot play anymore. Damn!

02-04-12, 04:19 AM	#1
Tolkemec Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: BCN Posts: 118 Downloads: 131 Uploads: 0	what would a kaleun do? Hello meine herren. I need your advice on a small matter. I am off the english coast, following a merchant who has a solid 90 degree course at 14 knots, so heading away from my patrol area. My u-28 is 9000 meters behind at all ahead flank, reaching 15 sometimes 16 knots. Based on what I saw (two conspicous masts), my previous encounters in this zone, and its speed, I am almost sure it is a small passenger ship of about 1600 tons. I don't know which flag she has, and could perfectly be a neutral (its september 39) heading to danmark. So based on my calculations It will take me 4 hours aprox to be at 1500 meters and shell it (don't want to waste ammo). What would a real kaleun do in this situation? We are talking of a very small tonnage and a real possibility of it being a neutral ship. Would he consider it a waste of fuel and give up the chase? Is it even possible to run 4 hours at flank speed without burning the diesels? If not at flank I will not be possible to intercept it. Would he go for it for a morale boost (morale is not an issue so far, being sept 17th and having shelled a small merchant the day before, exept for that pesky watch officer who is always unhappy)? Would he give up? Thx!

02-04-12, 06:01 AM	#2
SubHunter88 Seaman Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 38 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Personally, I would let it go. Early in the war the destroyers are stupid, If you go low speed you can eek right into a port and blast a battleship then slide right back out. It does wonders for earning morale, and promo points apparently. Better yet, it's early for you, I would stay on mission. __________________ Sniper of the High Seas; xALIENAx Running silent, running Deep.

02-04-12, 06:59 AM	#3
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	I wouldn't chase something so small, just report it and let the fly boys earn their medals. __________________

02-04-12, 07:48 AM	#4
misha1967 Commander Join Date: May 2004 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 470 Downloads: 78 Uploads: 0	I agree. Based on your observations, she's not worth it. If you had an easy firing solution, by all means. Check her out and let her go if she's not worth it, but since it will require considerable effort on your part to get there and there's a high likelihood that you won't want to sink her anyway, let the BdU know what you saw and leave the decision to them. __________________ Ansonsten, Herr Lutter, ist alles in Butter Liqui-cooled Intel i2550K @ 4.2 GHz, 8 Gb RAM, GTX 970 GPU

02-04-12, 12:39 PM	#5
Hinrich Schwab Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 908 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 0	The ship is too small for any real consideration and even if he was in range, he's not worth the torpedo and at less than 2000 tons, I would not even want to waste shells on him. He got away. Accept it and find bigger fish. Be more aggressive.

02-06-12, 09:44 AM	#6
Tolkemec Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: BCN Posts: 118 Downloads: 131 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the advice (I see it was unanimous). When I decided not to pursue, I saw it change direction and begin to zigzag, so the final aproach was very fast. It went down with a few shells. I was right, small passenger ship, 1660 t, british. Oh, and then I messed up my 57 mod soup and cannot play anymore. Damn!