What do you do during storms?

[Brag]

One method that works in low visibility is get behind the target at 250 meters, launch torpedo. Since target is moving away, torpedo will have time to arm.

[K-61]

Why are you wasting a valuable Kriegsmarine resource on a lousy trawlwer? The torpedo probably cost more than that derelict barge. The renown is so puny, as is the tonnage. And you wasted at least two torpedoes on that thing?

Chastisement over.

In such foul weather I run submerged as much as possible, unless I am trying to make haste to get to my patrol zone or base on the return leg. The chances of running into something while surfaced is so low it's not worth it. As it says in Das Boot, "You can hear more down here than you can see up there." I only surface to recharge and then down again. By running at ahead slow I maximize my battery time and only need to surface for air and to recharge.

P.S. Regarding minimum running distances to arm, for the normal torpedoes it is 300 metres, but for the new acoustics I believe it is 400 metres. You also have to take into account the relative motion of the target, which could increase or decrease the distance. A target moving toward you will eat up some of the distance, so you need to allow more than 300 or 400. A target moving away will increase the effective distance, so you can fire at less than 300 or 400 and still get a detonation. The things we Kaleunen must know!

[Akela]

Why are you wasting a valuable Kriegsmarine resource on a lousy trawlwer? The torpedo probably cost more than that derelict barge. The renown is so puny, as is the tonnage. And you wasted at least two torpedoes on that thing?

I don't know, this was an extremely dangerous trawler, very menacing. Seriously though, I almost cried when I first got an id and saw the tonnage, but after spending 5+ real-life hours tracking this guy down I was determined to sink him.

In such foul weather I run submerged as much as possible, unless I am trying to make haste to get to my patrol zone or base on the return leg...[snip]...I only surface to recharge and then down again. By running at ahead slow I maximize my battery time and only need to surface for air and to recharge.

Interesting, I was doing exactly the opposite, running on the surface as much as possible and only diving for 5 minutes or so to get updates on contacts. Mostly I was afraid of launching an attack with a depleted battery and being unable to get away from a counter attack.

I'm curious though, when my VIIB is submerged it can only do 8kts at flank. If the contact is moving "slow" that seems to be about 6kts, I can only imagine that "medium" is at least 8kts. How do you close on anything unless you are moving at flank?

Originally Posted by Akela

I don't know, this was an extremely dangerous trawler, very menacing. Seriously though, I almost cried when I first got an id and saw the tonnage, but after spending 5+ real-life hours tracking this guy down I was determined to sink him.



Interesting, I was doing exactly the opposite, running on the surface as much as possible and only diving for 5 minutes or so to get updates on contacts. Mostly I was afraid of launching an attack with a depleted battery and being unable to get away from a counter attack.

I'm curious though, when my VIIB is submerged it can only do 8kts at flank. If the contact is moving "slow" that seems to be about 6kts, I can only imagine that "medium" is at least 8kts. How do you close on anything unless you are moving at flank?

I always like to run submerged until I get a contact, then surface (to recharge batts) and run in his general direction then dive every few minutes to get a contact update and follow him, I had to track a convoy in foggy / stormy weather one time like this and it worked pretty well, besides the fact that an escort heard me and came to Depth Charge, but after that I snuck into the convoy, it was hell though, huge waves and extremely thick fog. Which brings me to another question waht are the "levels" of fog?? because even Poor visibility I seem to be able to spot things at a football field away with the naked eye. Is there ever fog so thick that you can run right up on ships and not know it?

[K-61]

The best way to make your batteries last is to run at the slowest speed setting until you find it necessary to run fast or surface and run faster. You can also tell your CE to not charge batteries in order to get every possible knot of speed. 25% is generally the lowest I will let them run down. Running at lowest speed I eventually run out of air but still have at least 75% battery left. Plot a few sound bearings to get a general idea of the target's course, then surface and make a high speed dash, submerge to pick up the trail again and repeat until you intercept.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by USNSRCaseySmith

I always like to run submerged until I get a contact, then surface (to recharge batts) and run in his general direction

If you are in fog and storm, stay on the surface. They can't see you any more than you can see them, and they can't hear you (unless the storm dips you below 10M, but that's briefly).

Originally Posted by USNSRCaseySmith

Which brings me to another question waht are the "levels" of fog?? because even Poor visibility I seem to be able to spot things at a football field away with the naked eye. Is there ever fog so thick that you can run right up on ships and not know it?

A "football" field away is 90 meters or so. In an VIIB, you are in a 66 meter boat. If your "sighting" is 90 meters away, it is about 55 meters from your bow. And if you are traveling at 4 knots, you will collide in 24 seconds.

Since you need at least three football fields of visibility to set up a shot -- unless you want to shoot into murk -- I'd say "a football field" is about as much fog as you want to encounter.

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

If you are in fog and storm, stay on the surface. They can't see you any more than you can see them, and they can't hear you (unless the storm dips you below 10M, but that's briefly).



A "football" field away is 90 meters or so. In an VIIB, you are in a 66 meter boat. If your "sighting" is 90 meters away, it is about 55 meters from your bow. And if you are traveling at 4 knots, you will collide in 24 seconds.

Since you need at least three football fields of visibility to set up a shot -- unless you want to shoot into murk -- I'd say "a football field" is about as much fog as you want to encounter.

My fault, I meant it seemed like a football field to me, it in reality must be over 4 or 5. I was able to sit in the middle of a convoy with poor visibility and see ships on both sides of me and probably a couple down each row, with what was definately more between them and me than the length of my type VIIB

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by USNSRCaseySmith

My fault, I meant it seemed like a football field to me, it in reality must be over 4 or 5. I was able to sit in the middle of a convoy with poor visibility and see ships on both sides of me and probably a couple down each row, with what was definately more between them and me than the length of my type VIIB

Oh, OK, it was 450 meters.

[Marko]

What i do during a storm it depends on what is going on? If there there are no contacts around i simply dive and do an underwater transit with the sonar guy on station waiting for a better weather for surfacing. However if found a contact that that is worth to be followed, i mean a convoy, i will start to shodow it.

On the other hand, if i get cought by bad weather during an approch phase (something that happens from time to time) i will try to stay in cotact with sonar with it. It is a long job cause with no visibility i stay in surface and dive usually, every 30 min, to chaeck its proximity.

[Kapt Z]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

If you are in fog and storm, stay on the surface. They can't see you any more than you can see them, and they can't hear you (unless the storm dips you below 10M, but that's briefly).

Until they have radar that is. Then you'll be dead before you even know what happened.

Lost two experienced boats that way.

[krashkart]

Originally Posted by Kapt Z

Until they have radar that is. Then you'll be dead before you even know what happened.

Lost two experienced boats that way.

I got zapped by a frigate that way. Came right up behind us full-tilt out of the fog bank and started blazing away. Allied radar is downright frightening because fog and the dark of night will provide no cover at all.

And if the tin cans don't get you, the planes will.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Kapt Z

Until they have radar that is. Then you'll be dead before you even know what happened.

Lost two experienced boats that way.

Good point, but as he was gadding around on the surface to start with, I assumed he was in early war.