Lesson Learned: GWX Aircraft

[filefool]

Confirmed!

July '40 and i am heading towards the rockall as a plane comes along. Since i got a newly installed double-barreled 2cm, a flak gunner and the bogey is a swordfish biplane i expect an easy victory.

The result was a dead gunner, hull at 68% and the aft torpedo tube destroyed...

Maybe I'll give it a another try when i get the U-flak conning tower.

[Brag]

In 1940 it is probably Ansons, which were used by Coastal Command. I was attacked by them in the same area. The bestards kept appearing every time I surfaced.

Yes! Dive, dive, dive, is the only answer. I lost my flacker to a tugboat, of all things. In GWX surface combat for U-boats is the absolute last resort, when you're gonna go down in a blaze of useless glory.

[stabiz]

It depends on the type of planes too, those fast buggers are a real pain in the rear torpedo tubes.

Oh, and if you decide to fight it out, go to flank speed, and zig-zag alot.

[AirborneCZ]

but two Mosquitos

you also have been really "lucky"

Mosquitos in ´40 must have been test prototypes!!!!

[Paajtor]

Get the Radar Warning Receiver-upgrade (if year permits).
The moment you get a warning, immeadiatly order flank-speed, and dive to periscope-depth...at 12m, make a hook (this is to change course as soon as possible, without the wake of your disappearing conning-tower giving away the course-change).
Now stop engines, and listen...if you hear nothing anywhere, then you've just escaped from an air-attack, and go full speed again, to leave the area, and put some kms between yourself and your last known location. If you hear screws, then you can decide whether to setup for evasion or attack.

If you can't get the RWR - or enemy isn't using radar - then the warning of your watch-crew will come much later...don't bother fighting the plane, just dive full speed without hesitation, and speed away.
My '42 VIIC has double flak-twins, but I hope I'll never have to rely on them.

[AVGWarhawk]

After I loaded up GWX you get that option to engage or dive to scope depth. I clicked the dive to scope depth as the automatic response. At the very least my boat is diving and at that point I can hit C for crash dive if the depths are deep enough. Screw those planes...not worth the headach or taking the deep everlasting 1000 fathoms for good tour

[melnibonian]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

After I loaded up GWX you get that option to engage or dive to scope depth. I clicked the dive to scope depth as the automatic response. At the very least my boat is diving and at that point I can hit C for crash dive if the depths are deep enough. Screw those planes...not worth the headach or taking the deep everlasting 1000 fathoms for good tour

Well said. In one full career (1939-1945) and the current one (1939-1941 and going) I haven't shoot down a plane. I've been bombed a couple of times but I always try to avoid them. That's why I'm still alive I think, although some will say I'm a chicken Don't listen to them. They say this because their boat blew up as they were firing at planes :p

[Captain Nemo]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

After I loaded up GWX you get that option to engage or dive to scope depth. I clicked the dive to scope depth as the automatic response. At the very least my boat is diving and at that point I can hit C for crash dive if the depths are deep enough. Screw those planes...not worth the headach or taking the deep everlasting 1000 fathoms for good tour

I agree. I'm on my second patrol (1939) with GWX and when ever a plane shows up I order a crash dive if I am in deep water. Most u-boat commanders did the same in real life until 1944 when u-boat control ordered that they fight it out with their quad 20mm and 37mm flak guns on the surface. These flak guns were deemed adequate for the task but the 37mm had parts that were made of metal that corroded when it got wet so were unreliable. In the end Coastal Command were more successful at sinking u-boats than u-boats were at shooting down aircraft.

Nemo