Resupply/Milch Cows

Rwearjr · 09-11-17, 06:04 PM

Thanks for the heads up SS! Will certainly head up that way and take a sniff around...
BTW, on patrol between Ireland and Scotland last night in September 1940 when I get a "Merchant contact" from my Hydro man. From the map the three ships appear to all be warships. I begin to think there might be a bug. Nonetheless I am intrigued, so I begin my effort to get into a firing position. The weather isnt awful but isnt great either. I have a 15 meter p/s wind and heavy seas/ overcast. I struggle to get into position but despite my best efforts the "merchant passes my 90* while I am still 5000 meters away. Because I am also firing from my stern tube (hence only one shot) I decide not to fire. When I get my first actual look at the "merchant" she is already at my 190* and 5000 meters away. It was a enormous European liner, the 81,000 GRT type!! She is moving at twenty knots, and I realize I cant even catch her. Man, what a bummer...... She had two destroyer escorts, and my map showed her being hydrophone equipped as well. Thus it never occurred to me until I saw her that she was a liner. If only.............So heads up, if you get a merchant contact with two destroyer escorts and hydrophone on the third (if you have map hydro ranging enabled) That might be the prize of a lifetime. You will only get one shot, so make it count.
Rolf Weare, U-51 2nd Flotilla, Lorient

SS Norholm · 09-12-17, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rwearjr

Thanks for the heads up SS! Will certainly head up that way and take a sniff around...
BTW, on patrol between Ireland and Scotland last night in September 1940 when I get a "Merchant contact" from my Hydro man. From the map the three ships appear to all be warships. I begin to think there might be a bug. Nonetheless I am intrigued, so I begin my effort to get into a firing position. The weather isnt awful but isnt great either. I have a 15 meter p/s wind and heavy seas/ overcast. I struggle to get into position but despite my best efforts the "merchant passes my 90* while I am still 5000 meters away. Because I am also firing from my stern tube (hence only one shot) I decide not to fire. When I get my first actual look at the "merchant" she is already at my 190* and 5000 meters away. It was a enormous European liner, the 81,000 GRT type!! She is moving at twenty knots, and I realize I cant even catch her. Man, what a bummer...... She had two destroyer escorts, and my map showed her being hydrophone equipped as well. Thus it never occurred to me until I saw her that she was a liner. If only.............So heads up, if you get a merchant contact with two destroyer escorts and hydrophone on the third (if you have map hydro ranging enabled) That might be the prize of a lifetime. You will only get one shot, so make it count.
Rolf Weare, U-51 2nd Flotilla, Lorient

Sounds like 'The Ghost' The Queen Mary! Gutted for you man! Shame you missed out.

Yeah I've often wondered about her whereabouts, maybe she was heading for Belfast? I guess there, Southampton, Portsmouth, or maybe even Devonport are likely to have her visit perhaps.
I'll keep an eye out thanks, i'm by Northern Ireland/Malin Head currently after dropping off a spy.

Rwearjr · 09-12-17, 06:48 PM

SSNorholm:
I had just dropped off the Londonberry spy myself when I headed northwest. Dont have the map in front of me ATM, but she was around 200km to the East of the southernmost Lower Hebrides. She was actually making a 250*Heading, 70* course @ 20knots. Think she was headed toward the States. Given her course I would think you might find her anywhere from Lower Hebrides, to west of Ireland following roughly the aforementioned heading. If you have map contact updates on there will be three yellow hydrophone equipped warships, with the rear contact being the only of the three without sonar capability. Your Hydro crew will announce "Merchant contact" but map will appear as only escorts. Would give you exact grid coordinate, but as mentioned dont have the map in front of me ATM. If you would like the grid I can post later.
BTW, thanks for the AM53 tip, will be heading there on patrol tonight!
Happy Hunting,
Rolf Weare, U-51, 2nd Flotilla Lorient

SS Norholm · 09-13-17, 02:01 AM

Yeah nice one Rolf, will be useful thanks!
Although I'm still a few months behind you yet (21st June 1940). I'll be sure to head that way in September though.

You're welcome about AM5364, it's a great spot!
I was there again yesterday and had a Troopship and a Granville Medium Freighter come along first. Then a NP tanker not long after.
Never fails.

Most of them come from the south east, on roughly a 330-350 heading, virtually right passed you!

John.

U-49

09-11-17, 06:04 PM	#1
Rwearjr Soundman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 142 Downloads: 199 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the heads up SS! Will certainly head up that way and take a sniff around... BTW, on patrol between Ireland and Scotland last night in September 1940 when I get a "Merchant contact" from my Hydro man. From the map the three ships appear to all be warships. I begin to think there might be a bug. Nonetheless I am intrigued, so I begin my effort to get into a firing position. The weather isnt awful but isnt great either. I have a 15 meter p/s wind and heavy seas/ overcast. I struggle to get into position but despite my best efforts the "merchant passes my 90* while I am still 5000 meters away. Because I am also firing from my stern tube (hence only one shot) I decide not to fire. When I get my first actual look at the "merchant" she is already at my 190* and 5000 meters away. It was a enormous European liner, the 81,000 GRT type!! She is moving at twenty knots, and I realize I cant even catch her. Man, what a bummer...... She had two destroyer escorts, and my map showed her being hydrophone equipped as well. Thus it never occurred to me until I saw her that she was a liner. If only.............So heads up, if you get a merchant contact with two destroyer escorts and hydrophone on the third (if you have map hydro ranging enabled) That might be the prize of a lifetime. You will only get one shot, so make it count. Rolf Weare, U-51 2nd Flotilla, Lorient Last edited by Rwearjr; 09-11-17 at 06:19 PM.

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09-12-17, 06:48 PM	#3
Rwearjr Soundman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 142 Downloads: 199 Uploads: 0	SSNorholm: I had just dropped off the Londonberry spy myself when I headed northwest. Dont have the map in front of me ATM, but she was around 200km to the East of the southernmost Lower Hebrides. She was actually making a 250Heading, 70 course @ 20knots. Think she was headed toward the States. Given her course I would think you might find her anywhere from Lower Hebrides, to west of Ireland following roughly the aforementioned heading. If you have map contact updates on there will be three yellow hydrophone equipped warships, with the rear contact being the only of the three without sonar capability. Your Hydro crew will announce "Merchant contact" but map will appear as only escorts. Would give you exact grid coordinate, but as mentioned dont have the map in front of me ATM. If you would like the grid I can post later. BTW, thanks for the AM53 tip, will be heading there on patrol tonight! Happy Hunting, Rolf Weare, U-51, 2nd Flotilla Lorient

09-13-17, 02:01 AM	#4
SS Norholm Shark Hunter Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: AM 9661 Posts: 92 Downloads: 66 Uploads: 0	Yeah nice one Rolf, will be useful thanks! Although I'm still a few months behind you yet (21st June 1940). I'll be sure to head that way in September though. You're welcome about AM5364, it's a great spot! I was there again yesterday and had a Troopship and a Granville Medium Freighter come along first. Then a NP tanker not long after. Never fails. Most of them come from the south east, on roughly a 330-350 heading, virtually right passed you! John. U-49