Convoy decision

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by scudder

I felt pretty good, until I realized I just let the entire convoy of materials and fuel proceed on to Britain unharmed. So what would a Kaleun do IRL? Sink the battleship so the next convoy isn't as well protected, or try to get at as much merchant tonnage as possible, even if it means letting the battleship get away scott free?

Battleships were almost irreplaceable, as the long construction time meant that an unit ordered during the war would not be ready before the end. There was also only a limited number of them, so the loss of even a single one could have an impact on operations. Tankers were much more numerous and easy to replace.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Marcello

Battleships were almost irreplaceable, as the long construction time meant that an unit ordered during the war would not be ready before the end. There was also only a limited number of them, so the loss of even a single one could have an impact on operations. Tankers were much more numerous and easy to replace.

I'm afraid that was not always the case.

USS Iowa.......................Laid down June 1940 and Commissioned Feb 1943

USS South Dakota...........Laid down July 1939 and Commissioned March 1942

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I'm afraid that was not always the case.

USS Iowa.......................Laid down June 1940 and Commissioned Feb 1943

USS South Dakota...........Laid down July 1939 and Commissioned March 1942

Not to be a nitpicker but for, say, Iowa you are looking at 1938-1939 for order and design, making it effectively prewar. It also took nearly half a year before it was actually committed to operations.
If you decided you needed a new battleship after the war had started to replace losses, most likely you would not get it before it was game over. That is what I was trying to say.
Yes, programs started before the war could and did yield results within useful time, but if you were starting from scratch it would not be possible to get them ready quickly enough. Typical example would be HMS Vanguard, despite being ordered in early 1941 and being designed to make use of existing components to expedite construction it was not ready before it had become irrelevant.

[Jimbuna]

Your not nitpicking at all but the USS Missouri for example wasn't ordered till June 1940 but was still launched and ready for combat by June 1944.

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Your not nitpicking at all but the USS Missouri for example wasn't ordered till June 1940 but was still launched and ready for combat by June 1944.

It was commissioned in June. Note however that like Iowa it spent a good six months afterwards training and fine tuning before being actually sent to the theater and committed to operations. By then the IJN had de facto ceased to exist as a surface opponent. Could it have been used sooner? Maybe, but I would bet there would be a lot of crossed fingers in that case.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Marcello

It was commissioned in June. Note however that like Iowa it spent a good six months afterwards training and fine tuning before being actually sent to the theater and committed to operations. By then the IJN had de facto ceased to exist as a surface opponent. Could it have been used sooner? Maybe, but I would bet there would be a lot of crossed fingers in that case.

She actually participated in actions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa amongst others.

[HW3]

My ??? is what is the renown for a B Ship and all of the other Merch. ships.

I had all that written down some time ago but can not find it.

SO__ where can we find the "Renown" score for the ship we sink??

SH3/data/Sea/"type of ship you sank here"/.cfg file

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

She actually participated in actions at Iwo Jima and Okinawa amongst others.

True, and so did Winsconsin, likewise a latecomer. But realistically, the matter had been settled by then, insofar surface engagements went, and if one wanted to be really technical 1940 was still prewar as far the US was concerned. In actual practice the breaking out of hostilities resulted in the termination of most battleships projects: the germans froze work on the H-39s, the british likewise halted the construction of the Lion class and the americans cancelled the Montana (the two extra Iowa were bumped down the priority list in favor of LSTs and such and never completed). The resources were redirected to something that could be brought in service within an useful time, such as submarines, escorts and aircraft carriers. Battleships were understood to be "come as you are" asset and a war would be largely fought with those that were either already ready or advanced enough in the pipeline. Eventual losses would have to be lived with. The same had happened previously in WW1, with neither Britain or Germany laying down new battleships after the beginning of the war.

My last contact with the convoy was while commanding U-384.

1943 January 12, grid AK0345

Time: 7:30 in the morning

Diesel reserve 30-35%

Weather: clear sky, Wind 15 m/s

Failed to position myself closer to the convoy. Was observing large convoy passing by in about 7 km away from me. Reported BDU. Speed 8 kn, Course 80. BDU responded with the request to report convoy status hourly. Was about to pursue the convoy when I spotted small merchant already far away left behind from convoy. Strugling after it in about 3 knots. Decided he was probably damaged by storm. Fired 4 torps in total. 2 missed, 1 dud, the last one had it. Sunk instantly. Decided not to follow convoy, due to low fuel. Still had 5 torps left. But I was far away from base to La Rochelle. Perhaps on the return course I will have to meet with supply u-boat not too far away, for extra diesel..