Scapa Flow Strategies

[azn_132]

Originally Posted by WOD

I think I have made 15 (or so) attempts to invade Scapa Flow since playing GWX

All I know for sure 3 from the east side and 5 from the west side were successful. All others ended in death....so a bit over 50% success. But I only do this if my patrol grid is AMXX....and I find nothing to sink and in the beginning of the career til mid 40....(I hate to come home with a pretty empty log *lol*). I´ve no lust to drive from lorient right the way north....I prefer getting to close to gibraltar *lol*...although it ends in death not so often...only a few times.

U got guts homeboy.

[WOD]

Originally Posted by azn_132

U got guts homeboy.

The way in is the easy one....this was only 1 time my death....the other failed attempts ended up in death have been always resulted in the way out.

My strategy is invading at night with calm seas, in rough seas I´ve tried it 2 times...had no chance, couldn´t hold depth and conning tower always broke the surface....and on the way in I´m mostly all but not quiet. Every escort which comes in sight will be sunk...The only prob in the beginning is that he has to know where I am...but that´s quite easy. Driven with flank speed :-p....And when the time comes when he is on the way right towards my postion...I use steam-magnetics....350-400m...my course straight in his direction. So I have 5-6 eels less (for 5 or 6 escorts) when I´m in but I´ve got a bit of time til the next escorts will appear...but I´m able to sink at least 2 more ships whichs lay in port....The prob is always the way out....no torps and pretty much escorts. The most successful way out havent been directly east of scapa most time.....It was the way round west north then east ....then going home. And in the night at surface (if nothing is in sight) always with flank speed, so long it is possible...Its quite a risky manouver but no risk no fun....although how I already said only til mid 40 I pray sometimes for suicide missions :rotfl: From end 41 on I wouldn´t try to get in. In the early years the chances are quite good to survive with more or less boat damage....but surviving counts

[Deep-Six]

You have not lived it until you try w/ a IXB. I have done it and survived.

[TarJak]

I normally make the approach through the eastern entrance decks awash at night, though I've also done it at dawn and dusk, never in daylight. Always run silent even decks awash, (Those diesels make a hell of a racket but the Brits don't seem to be able to hear them too well).

When I get past the block ships I slip down to PD and make 2kts until I get into firing position. Rarely get picked up before firing unless I do something silly like broaching or leaving the scope up for too long or trying to go too fast. Never approach at higher than 32x TC either and only when I'm getting really bored with my slow progress and I've made sure the patrolling DD's and vettes are out of the way.

Fire everything you've got then run fast for a bit towards the exit, then go silent and 2kt again. Don't bother doing a reload unless you have taken out the patrols before killing the BB and merchies. Personally I rarely bother with the patrols and go for the big boys whenever I make a visit.

Als check out my Harbour rading tutorial at: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=96843


it was written before GWX but all the principals still apply cos the stock AI behaviour and depth of nets etc are all the same.

[WOD]

Originally Posted by Deep-Six

You have not lived it until you try w/ a IXB. I have done it and survived.

False

I´ve tried it 2 times with a IX B and all of that two times I survived...one time with Conning tower destroyed and Aft Torp room destroyed. The 2nd time with no damage. But with the IX U-Boats you have to have calm seas....with VII U-Boats it´s not necessary cause they´re not so big. But if the seas are rough it makes it 100% more difficult....2 reasons....conning tower breaking surface and evading on the surface with flank speed...but in rough seas flank speed is much less then on calm seas.

I think in calm seas with the IX Boats it´s even more easy to invade Scapa. Cause you have more torps to defend (or attack - call it how you want) yourself on the outbreak against escorts....That´s why I - when invading with a IX boat - always keep 2 eels in my front tubes and 1 in my aft tubes for the way out...that saved my ass all two times getting out of Scapa...although one time I have had a little prob...invaded one-two hour to late....and the morning comes to early....and finally got some trouble with planes. That´s why I´ve had the 2 completly destroyed parts in my boat. But reached home (ok 4 Crewmembers died - that has been the bad thing)

[Abd_von_Mumit]

The only good "Scapa Flow Strategies" fo me is to go around it in a distance as large as possible, at quite slow speed at night in bad weather, at as low TC as possible, and try to avoid being spotted in shallow waters.

No other strategies for me.

[Mooncatt]

i survived quite a few times in stock. i attempted it using GWX.......never again

[IceGrog]

Originally Posted by Mooncatt

i survived quite a few times in stock. i attempted it using GWX.......never again

i did it using GWX and loved it but once was enogh for me

[Corsair]

Originally Posted by Abd_von_Mumit

The only good "Scapa Flow Strategies" fo me is to go around it in a distance as large as possible, at quite slow speed at night in bad weather, at as low TC as possible, and try to avoid being spotted in shallow waters.

No other strategies for me.

I second that, besides that the whole place is Hurricane Alley...

[andy_311]

Not my fav harbour to hit I only go there early war and normally from the west and exit at the east side I only go there if am desprate at least there's a transport there and 2 tankers if no capitals ships are there.