Kaluen Platapus learns a harsh lesson in war

Platapus · 02-28-08, 07:55 PM

The ugly side of war intruded on my last patrol.

Playing with GWX2 and so far I have had a most respectable career. Sticking with my old and trusty (rusty) VIIC (U-52. It is 1943 and I am still representing the Kriegsmarine most righteously. For the first time, I feel confident that we can defeat the British.

Before my last patrol, I had to chance to upgrade my conning tower. Now I can get a heavy flak gun. Throwing down the renown gets me a nice quad 20 and two single 20’s. Life is going to be grand. I will show that drunken paralytic Churchill, what real submarines can do. No longer will I fear air attacks. I am a virtual fortress of flak. I will shoot down so many planes that they will start adding tonnage to my score.

Patrolling in BF but did not find anything. Before heading to port I decided to run my usual search patterns up and down the Western coast of Ireland. It seems that I get more tonnage outside of my assigned patrol area.

“Aircraft sighted!”

Now’s my chance. Rubbing my hands gleefully. Those RAF swine will rue the day they flew against me.

Two Aircraft sighted, should be a piece of cake. Dive to periscope depth?? Are you insane? I want to hop on the radio and call for more planes. I am invincible! I have a quad and two singles. Thats six barrels of flaming death to any aircraft foolish enough to dare attack me. This will be my greatest hour.

<fast forward 240 seconds>

What the hell happened???

Two officers dead, six seamen dead

Flooding finally under control but with 40% hull integrity left.

Flak guns repaired but I simply can’t spare the crew to man them. Not having anyone left who knows one end of a flak gun from another, few of my crew are willing to volunteer for OJT.

More Aircraft sighted. Barely get to periscope depth and don’t dare to go deeper.

Six hours, blessed night. Peace at last.

“Aircraft sighted” We may not be seeing home my friends.

Thanks to my damage control team, I finally limp back to Lorient. Eight comrades dead.

I wonder if spending the renown was worth it. It appears that 1943 is not a good year for subs.
I think I will go back to diving at first aircraft sighting. Why did I even spend the renown for the extra guns?

At least I am alive to learn the lesson. Tomorrow we sail again. I might try traveling on the surface during the day time, at least during the day I can see the verstunkin aircraft.

Torplexed · 02-28-08, 08:22 PM

I must say for a drunken paralytic, that Churchill is putting up a damn good fight.

Keelbuster · 02-28-08, 08:43 PM

Only fight back against aircraft if they're too close to dive. When aircraft spotted, I ask the WO for a range. If it's like 8km or so, I crash dive. If it's close, especially like 4km or so, it's unwise to dive right away, because he'll just drop his DCs on your back. So, as he approaches, man the flak guns, set for medium range attack, and as he does his dive, turn 90 degrees (going Flank, of course!). On that pass, the flak gunners may spoil his attack, or else the hard turn will. After he passes over, let your gunners fire at him for a few seconds and then straighten out and crash dive.

Platapus · 02-28-08, 08:58 PM

Torplexed

Brag · 02-28-08, 10:15 PM

My respects for your dead crew members and congratulations on your survival.

Grayson02sept1980 · 02-29-08, 08:20 AM

I did something similar..

Had two double 20mm and a very good AA-gun crew and fought one single airplane but it ripped my turret apart in its first attack.. .killed my two gunners and my Officer...
outch!

That time I decided to always get the standart turret and let them flys fly ... get deep and let em search me and drop their sh1t on the water if the think they have to... I'm not there anymore!

Jimbuna · 02-29-08, 10:51 AM

You do know that some aircraft get equipped with rockets in 43....don't you

The best policy is to dive every time....in RL, Doentz change of orders to sail in small packs and remain on the surface to fight it out, only lasted a few months before the previous doctrine was reverted back to

Laufen zum Ziel · 02-29-08, 08:18 PM

Way too much grog again.

Die verrückten Ente versucht zu kämpfen, die ein Flugzeug wird nie wieder kämpfen.

http://silent-hunter-addict.com

msalama · 02-29-08, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

I must say for a drunken paralytic, that Churchill is putting up a damn good fight.

Yah Herr Kaleun, true dat. How was the official line? A bed-wetter, a drunkard, and a degenerate or something I think... well for such a cretin he sure puts up a decent fight IMHO

And it of course gets even worse as the war goes on. Ah well, all in a day's work for a Kaleun still eh?

02-28-08, 07:55 PM	#1
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,369 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Kaluen Platapus learns a harsh lesson in war The ugly side of war intruded on my last patrol. Playing with GWX2 and so far I have had a most respectable career. Sticking with my old and trusty (rusty) VIIC (U-52. It is 1943 and I am still representing the Kriegsmarine most righteously. For the first time, I feel confident that we can defeat the British. Before my last patrol, I had to chance to upgrade my conning tower. Now I can get a heavy flak gun. Throwing down the renown gets me a nice quad 20 and two single 20’s. Life is going to be grand. I will show that drunken paralytic Churchill, what real submarines can do. No longer will I fear air attacks. I am a virtual fortress of flak. I will shoot down so many planes that they will start adding tonnage to my score. Patrolling in BF but did not find anything. Before heading to port I decided to run my usual search patterns up and down the Western coast of Ireland. It seems that I get more tonnage outside of my assigned patrol area. “Aircraft sighted!” Now’s my chance. Rubbing my hands gleefully. Those RAF swine will rue the day they flew against me. Two Aircraft sighted, should be a piece of cake. Dive to periscope depth?? Are you insane? I want to hop on the radio and call for more planes. I am invincible! I have a quad and two singles. Thats six barrels of flaming death to any aircraft foolish enough to dare attack me. This will be my greatest hour. <fast forward 240 seconds> What the hell happened??? Two officers dead, six seamen dead Flooding finally under control but with 40% hull integrity left. Flak guns repaired but I simply can’t spare the crew to man them. Not having anyone left who knows one end of a flak gun from another, few of my crew are willing to volunteer for OJT. More Aircraft sighted. Barely get to periscope depth and don’t dare to go deeper. Six hours, blessed night. Peace at last. “Aircraft sighted” We may not be seeing home my friends. Thanks to my damage control team, I finally limp back to Lorient. Eight comrades dead. I wonder if spending the renown was worth it. It appears that 1943 is not a good year for subs. I think I will go back to diving at first aircraft sighting. Why did I even spend the renown for the extra guns? At least I am alive to learn the lesson. Tomorrow we sail again. I might try traveling on the surface during the day time, at least during the day I can see the verstunkin aircraft. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right. Last edited by Platapus; 02-28-08 at 08:59 PM.

02-28-08, 08:43 PM	#3
Keelbuster Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: BA 72 Posts: 1,092 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Only fight back against aircraft if they're too close to dive. When aircraft spotted, I ask the WO for a range. If it's like 8km or so, I crash dive. If it's close, especially like 4km or so, it's unwise to dive right away, because he'll just drop his DCs on your back. So, as he approaches, man the flak guns, set for medium range attack, and as he does his dive, turn 90 degrees (going Flank, of course!). On that pass, the flak gunners may spoil his attack, or else the hard turn will. After he passes over, let your gunners fire at him for a few seconds and then straighten out and crash dive. __________________

02-28-08, 08:58 PM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,369 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Torplexed __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

02-28-08, 10:15 PM	#5
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	My respects for your dead crew members and congratulations on your survival. __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

02-29-08, 08:20 AM	#6
Grayson02sept1980 中国水兵 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Germany-Bayreuth Posts: 276 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	I did something similar.. Had two double 20mm and a very good AA-gun crew and fought one single airplane but it ripped my turret apart in its first attack.. .killed my two gunners and my Officer... outch! That time I decided to always get the standart turret and let them flys fly ... get deep and let em search me and drop their sh1t on the water if the think they have to... I'm not there anymore! __________________ SH3 Commander GWX 2.0 OLC GUI

02-28-08, 08:22 PM	#2
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I must say for a drunken paralytic, that Churchill is putting up a damn good fight.

02-29-08, 10:51 AM	#7
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,552 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	You do know that some aircraft get equipped with rockets in 43....don't you The best policy is to dive every time....in RL, Doentz change of orders to sail in small packs and remain on the surface to fight it out, only lasted a few months before the previous doctrine was reverted back to __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

02-29-08, 08:18 PM	#8
Laufen zum Ziel Eternal Patrol Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hiding on the bottom Posts: 1,783 Downloads: 853 Uploads: 457	Way too much grog again. Die verrückten Ente versucht zu kämpfen, die ein Flugzeug wird nie wieder kämpfen. http://silent-hunter-addict.com __________________ RIP Laufen zum Ziel