Zigzagging convoys

UnterseeBoogeyMan · 05-17-07, 11:27 PM

GWX-
I'm on my 1st patrol in 1939, I've sunk 30,000 tons via one torpedo and deck gun so far. Over the last few days I see radio reports of a fast warship headed my way. I make visual at 17,000 meters and I see a V&W destroyer, then a Southampton, then a Fiji, another Fiji and a HMS Illustrious-class carrier. I am maintaining at 10-12 k when 2 Swordfish show up at 188 degrees bearing. If I dive, I intercept the convoy beyond a range I want to fire at - 7+ kms. So I stay on surface and man deck gun. The Swordfish stall and then go into their dive. At that point I order a hard turn to port, then 90 degrees to starboard. I crank away on the 20mm. I clip one of them, since he's trailing smoke. They still loose their bombs though. I down the one, but he kills my AA gunner. He died gloriously for the Fatherland - RIP, son. I order my repair crew to stop flooding and clean out the water. I order another poor unlucky one on the AA gun. The last Swordfish comes around for a pass. I am firing away, but the flooding makes the ship heave from side to side, I can't get him. His bomb kills my other AA gunner.

Luckily the last plane heads for home back to the HMS Illustrious. In the meantime, my repair crew gallantly fixes all that is broken - batteries, diesel engines, flak gun, hydrophones, radio, periscopes, etc. Meanwhile, I notice on the Fiji a turn to port by 40 degrees. I adjust accordingly. Then I zoom on the HMS Illustrious. She is 40 to port, 1 minute later she is 10 degrees to port. Then 40 then 17 then 10. This is a zigzagg! So, somewhere in the middle of 40 and 10 degrees port is the base course and that is the true heading I use for the intercept. Shout out if this is a wrong assumption. I remember reading about this in Run Silent Run Deep. It was common to train for zigzags, but as long as they found the base course they could intercept.
I am at 18 knots, convoy is at 17 knots. It is 1700 hours. I will shadow ahead of this convoy until dark. I will successfully set up an intercept for the base course - provided there are no more Swordfish out there! I got one of their number, so maybe they're spooked. Here's hoping.

Any suggestions you guys have for zigzaggers are awesome. Also, I am going to try three torpedoes on the Illustrious and reserve one for the Southampton or a Fiji. This will be fun and incredibly hairy.

05-17-07, 11:27 PM	#1
UnterseeBoogeyMan Ensign Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Land of Cholla Cactus and Red Chile Posts: 224 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Zigzagging convoys GWX- I'm on my 1st patrol in 1939, I've sunk 30,000 tons via one torpedo and deck gun so far. Over the last few days I see radio reports of a fast warship headed my way. I make visual at 17,000 meters and I see a V&W destroyer, then a Southampton, then a Fiji, another Fiji and a HMS Illustrious-class carrier. I am maintaining at 10-12 k when 2 Swordfish show up at 188 degrees bearing. If I dive, I intercept the convoy beyond a range I want to fire at - 7+ kms. So I stay on surface and man deck gun. The Swordfish stall and then go into their dive. At that point I order a hard turn to port, then 90 degrees to starboard. I crank away on the 20mm. I clip one of them, since he's trailing smoke. They still loose their bombs though. I down the one, but he kills my AA gunner. He died gloriously for the Fatherland - RIP, son. I order my repair crew to stop flooding and clean out the water. I order another poor unlucky one on the AA gun. The last Swordfish comes around for a pass. I am firing away, but the flooding makes the ship heave from side to side, I can't get him. His bomb kills my other AA gunner. Luckily the last plane heads for home back to the HMS Illustrious. In the meantime, my repair crew gallantly fixes all that is broken - batteries, diesel engines, flak gun, hydrophones, radio, periscopes, etc. Meanwhile, I notice on the Fiji a turn to port by 40 degrees. I adjust accordingly. Then I zoom on the HMS Illustrious. She is 40 to port, 1 minute later she is 10 degrees to port. Then 40 then 17 then 10. This is a zigzagg! So, somewhere in the middle of 40 and 10 degrees port is the base course and that is the true heading I use for the intercept. Shout out if this is a wrong assumption. I remember reading about this in Run Silent Run Deep. It was common to train for zigzags, but as long as they found the base course they could intercept. I am at 18 knots, convoy is at 17 knots. It is 1700 hours. I will shadow ahead of this convoy until dark. I will successfully set up an intercept for the base course - provided there are no more Swordfish out there! I got one of their number, so maybe they're spooked. Here's hoping. Any suggestions you guys have for zigzaggers are awesome. Also, I am going to try three torpedoes on the Illustrious and reserve one for the Southampton or a Fiji. This will be fun and incredibly hairy.