Convoy Crapout - Uber Escorts in Feb 1940??

[panthercules]

Originally Posted by Keelbuster

Do you use the uboat warning indicator? I use it, shamelessly. .

No - I turned that off from day one. I've been playing subsims since my old C-64 days so I figured I should have enough of an idea of when I should be getting more detectable. Even though I can understand folks using it as a reasonable substitute for some of the more subtle signs you would get IRL, it just looked too arcadish for my tastes.

Of course, after that escort spotted me, I may have to rethink my position on that - but fortunately, my newly specialized sound man called out an alert about the destroyer spotting us in time for me to crash dive and get away with limited damage even with the surprise spotting business (he earned himself a medal for that one - I just got back to base a few minutes ago and awarded the soundman an iron cross 2nd class - the only medal we got this trip - I figured he deserved it for saving the boat in that convoy battle )

[edit] BTW - I managed to damage a C3 with my last bow torp in my renewed night surface attack on the convoy, but missed with my stern shot She was on fire a little, and I pumped a couple of 88mm shells into her (hoping to slow her down so she couldn't keep up with the convoy) before the escorts got a bit close for comfort and I had to dive away. 2 or 3 escorts teamed up on me and gave me a pretty hard time for an hour or two, but eventually they broke off to rejoin the convoy.

The convoy changed course, but I eventually relocated it and tried sneaking up behind it hoping the damaged C3 would be straggling behind and I could finish her off. Unfortunately, soon after I spotted what looked like a lone smoke plume, a second one came into sight, so either that C3 was straggling so far behind that I lost it due to the course change, or it was managing to keep up (I guess even a damaged C3 could make 7 knots if it was lucky) or perhaps it sank while I was down below dodging the escorts - in any event with only one stern torp left I decided not to try to re-engage the convoy and so headed back to base. I was hoping to find something to spend my last torp on during the trip home, but both lone merchants I ran across were Norwegian, so no joy there.

Still, 5 enemy ships sunk for about 20,000 tons made for a decent enough patrol even with the convoy disappointment - and at least this time I remembered to send in a contact report on that convoy, which seemed to please BdU