Irish Sea

[melnibonian]

The minefields are almost everywhere on that area but the mines are under the surface. So if you go to periscope depth and further down you run the risk to hit them. If you're on the surface you don't need to worry about mines, but you need to be careful about DDs and planes. That's the reason why I'm suggesting to run decks awash. If you are attacked you can dive quickly, and you can minimise the chances of being spotted by DDs.

When I did it I was on the move all the time. I was running decks awash and I was trying to set up ambushes to lone merchants. At night I was attacking from the surface and I was finishing up the target with the deck gun. During day time the attacks were done at periscope depth but with all engines stop (that way you avoid being hit by a mine). The conning tower was a bit exposed but if you raise the scope just a bit you can still see and fire a shot. Don't forget the merchants and the DDs are not too good in spotting you early in the war, so you can use it to your advantage and be a bit more aggressive. Because of your small profile you will most probably see the ships before they see you. If it's a merchant you can plan your attack without any problem. If it's a warship you're still running decks awash. You don't need to submerge straight away. Depending on the time of day and the weather you can always position your boat far away from the warship and still keep moving on the surface. If you're spotted or if you need to dive, then you have to pray you're not inside a minefield. If that's the case I would suggest you either go to the bottom and stay there until the danger passes or if you need to be moving try to do it at small speeds and for short periods of time.

As I said before it's tricky and dangerous but it can yield a lot of tonnage, and early in the war it's a unique oportunity.

Good Luck (and trust me you will need it )

[Jimbuna]

I beg to differ Rob...the minefields esecially in the narrow section can be too intense
Consider going north up the west coast of Ireland and around the tip of Scotland

[The Munster]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I beg to differ Rob...the minefields esecially in the narrow section can be too intense
Consider going north up the west coast of Ireland and around the tip of Scotland

Next time you're round here, call in and I'll put the kettle on :rotfl:

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Kpt. Munson

Next time you're round here, call in and I'll put the kettle on :rotfl:

your on :rotfl:

[robj250]

Well, I can see it's goning to take me a while to get up near Belfast, or to run into a string of merchants. I've been running decks-a-wash and ahead slow. I just snuck past one V&W without her finding me, cause I will need the remaining 7 torpedoes I have left to sink the merchants.

I sure hope it's daylight when I get near all those minefields in the "choke" near the top before I get into the open sea again. That way I'll be able to see them it I have to submerge to avoid being seen or escaping "trouble"

I'm not too keen on how shallow the Irish waters are. No room to dive deep if I have to.

Rob

[melnibonian]

Keep up to good work Rob and Good Luck

[mookiemookie]

Wow, I never knew it was that heavily mined. I guess I've been very lucky. I know the northern entrance to the Irish Sea has a minefield on kind of the northeastern section of it over by the Hebrides, so I always hugged the coast of Northern Ireland when travelling through that part.

Metric craploads (yes, that's a scientific measurement....the "Metric Crapload":rotfl: ) of tonnage going in and out of the Bristol Channel though. I'd say it's worth it. Why not? Yeah, you WILL get attacked by DD's, Elcos and the occasional airplane. But it's early in the war and they should be relatively easy to avoid. Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk.

[melnibonian]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Besides, it's your first patrol. You're not losing much if you get sunk.

Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Abd_von_Mumit]

Originally Posted by melnibonian

Just a crapy crew that cannot hit a barn door with the deck gun :rotfl: :rotfl:

What the hell?! How you say ”You don't loose much”?! It's a life risk, and life is not something that you can order twice paying by PayPal!

[melnibonian]

Originally Posted by Abd_von_Mumit

What the hell?! How you say ”You don't loose much”?! It's a life risk, and life is not something that you can order twice paying by PayPal!

No no. That was a joke for Rob as he was complaining about his deck gun crew in another post

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Abd_von_Mumit

What the hell?! How you say ”You don't loose much”?! It's a life risk, and life is not something that you can order twice paying by PayPal!

:rotfl: Don't worry. My advice to him would have been very different if he were going to try it in real life. The beauty of SH3 is that you can be reincarnated as many times as you like!

[Abd_von_Mumit]

Oh men… <rotfl> I was joking too, really…

[melnibonian]

Originally Posted by Abd_von_Mumit

Oh men… <rotfl> I was joking too, really…

I know that. No worries