What is the right way to attack a convoy ?

Di3lta-303 · 06-05-07, 11:33 AM

Ok... I have another question, For example, I want to hit the turret section of lets say a Heavy Cruiser, how do I know much spread angle to use?

06-05-07, 01:03 PM

Do you guys attack convoys when you are in shallow waters (mostly around Java sea) so you can dive up to 30 m?

donut · 06-05-07, 01:44 PM

Dive to ck.thermal depth,& see if you have one ? Slip under,& PD.for action

Snuffy · 06-05-07, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julius Caesar

Do you guys attack convoys when you are in shallow waters (mostly around Java sea) so you can dive up to 30 m?

I attack only when I think I have sufficient fish to do the job on the escort, the rest can be handled by the deck gun(s). [Lately I've been prone to shootin up sampans, junks, fishing boats and the like with the 20s.] Great fun!

06-05-07, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snuffy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julius Caesar

Do you guys attack convoys when you are in shallow waters (mostly around Java sea) so you can dive up to 30 m?

I attack only when I think I have sufficient fish to do the job on the escort, the rest can be handled by the deck gun(s). [Lately I've been prone to shootin up sampans, junks, fishing boats and the like with the 20s.] Great fun!

But most convoys have 3+escorts.
So, would you attack such a convoy?
I had no luck trying to escape.
I even tried hiding below sinking ship; destoryes still wouldn't go away and he kept firing depth charges.

It is almost impossible to run away in clear weather in shallow waters.

byss · 06-05-07, 02:43 PM

i sneak in between the lead dd and right side dd then line up on the main bulk of the convoy and wait then i'm usually in good shot for middle of the pack send 2 fish at high at the middle one in the middle of the pack then 2 on slow at the closest one in the middle then a quick 180 on the scope to target the the side dd escort with aft and send 2 fish on high at him i can usually sink 1 of the freighters or carriers or get lucky and get both but 95% of the time i usually always sink the dd then do some evading cause i usually have 1 or 2 of the other escort dd's comming fast. sonar man "warship closing moving fast!!" but then i get really aggressive 70% of the time i'll poke scope up and try to take out the incomming dd's cause even if i run silent and don't poke the scope they never seem to go away. got lucky last night on a convoy did the above hit middle of pack and the closest of the middle at the same time with 2 fish each and the side dd behind me at the same time with all the fish all 3 destroyed then went hard to port waited a bit poked scope up looked around a bit saw a dd in front and back popped 2 fish on each one of the front fish almost took me out it exploded too soon long story short used all my fish on the dd's taking all them out then surfaced to use deck gun on rest of convoy good times

donut · 06-05-07, 03:27 PM

that's valor,but we might be shark bait:rotfl:

Hazelwood · 06-05-07, 04:12 PM

I enjoy living dangerously and although slipping under the DD escort is the most prudent way to go I often take the head-on approach. You will usually find a couple of DDs in your path so I "sucker" them by noisily turning up the speed or even surfacing briefly. After that, hope you do not have too many "duds";-) Make sure crew are at battle-stations because you will need all the help you can get.

These destroyers will pull away from the convoy to take you on but their comrades on the other side of the formation typically take no notice. I then lie low and silent until I see the whites of their eyes and lay on a torp for each at high speed once within 400 yards or so. This is playing "chicken", of course, but it's very exciting. These destroyers are semi-tough. If you miss or get a dud you are in serious trouble. Be prepared to use your stern tubes. If you succeed you will have blown a huge hole in the escort and it's happy days for you with the merchant fleet. Clean up! By the time the other destroyers wake up and come looking for you you will have amassed enormous tonnage sunk. You may even find time to sink something with the deck gun. Slink away below the thermal.

This advice is just for fun. Evading the defences to begin with is more responsible.

Best wishes,
Cpt. J, Hazelwood / USS "Haddock"

Snuffy · 06-05-07, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julius Caesar

But most convoys have 3+escorts.
So, would you attack such a convoy?
I had no luck trying to escape.
I even tried hiding below sinking ship; destoryes still wouldn't go away and he kept firing depth charges.

It is almost impossible to run away in clear weather in shallow waters.

I've attacked convoys with 4 or more DDs as well. In most cases one good placed shot will severly cripple a DD and take it out of action if not sink it altogether. Crippled ships are left to be dealt with last.

I've had my fair share of being chased down and blown out of the water, don't get me wrong, that still doesn't change my approach. Taking out the escorts first allows for a nice leasurely time in sinking the merchants.

I am not saying I'm 100 percent perfect in doing this either ... the O.P. wanted tactics ... and thats mine.

vindex · 06-05-07, 10:42 PM

My gameplan. Works like a charm every time:

1) Use flank to get ahead of the convoy, out of visual range.

2) Using radar, plot the parallel courses of the rows of convoy ships and their escorts on the map. Also get an estimate on the convoy speed by timing their progress. You can also do this while flanking the convoy. This should give you enough time (30 minutes) to get a VERY accurate read on their speed.

3) Place yourself at a 90-degree angle to the convoy's course, at a point of your choosing. I usually place myself 0.3nm (approx. 600 ft) outside the outer row, WITHIN the escort screen. The escorts will tend to assume the torpedo came from outside their screen and begin their search by heading outwards.

4) If you're feeling ambitious, go to decks awash (approx. 30ft) where your radar and radio still work, but your profile is lower, and wait for a visual sighting of at least three ships, then you can call in a contact report. Then immediately dive to periscope depth. You will get a reply with mission orders (bonus prestige if you do what they say). This is only necessary the first time you encounter the convoy, not on follow-ups. It isn't strictly necessary at all, you can just dive to periscope depth before visual sighting if you want to be safe.

5) Raise periscope to get visual sighting and collect data for your manual TDC solution. At this attack position, starting AOB is almost always 8-10 degrees off center, either way. You already have their speed. All you really need is range.

6) Be sure to put "silent running" on. I've found that it makes a difference, even with engines off.

7) As you wait quietly, keep a careful watch on the lead escort. He tends to weave around and can come very close to your position. If he gets too close, drop periscope, he may see it and come after you. Also, make sure to stay more than 0.5nm away from any destroyer's course -- that is the limit of his sonar cone. They do not always run active sonar, but if they do, they will ping you and come after you. In worst case -- a destroyer is coming right at you while you wait -- you may want to drop way down to 250 ft, wait, and then come back up when he's gone. If you've set up your solution already, you should have enough time to dive and then come back to periscope to make final checks, even if you're targeting the first convoy ship.

8) Fire your solution. I usually use 2 fish for a large cargo ship. If you have planned your solution dead-on, this should sink it. If you're slightly off, 2 hits should at least cripple it so that it gets left behind eventually and you can finish it off later with your deck gun.

9) I usually fire one solution per engagement. Maybe I'm just slow. But I find that it improves you torpedo/sinking ratio and you can always be patient and come back for more.

10) I wait to get visual confirmation on my hits. Then I immediately dive to 250ft. I only turn my engines on AFTER I get below the thermal layer. Then I go forward 1/3, very quiet. The escorts will have a VERY difficult time finding you under these circumstances, even if they are quite close -- and they probably have no clue where you are to begin with. I set a course away from the convoy, usually 90 degrees from its course. Don't set a course along the convoy's course or you will never be rid of them.

11) Once you are out of the immediate vicinity, go to periscope depth and take a look around. You will probably see them hunting around far away from you. Continue moving away at 1/3 speed, silent running. When you get outside visual range, surface and start reloading your torpedo tubes.

12) Go to flank speed and start doing an end-run around the convoy for another shot. Rinse and repeat.

You can dog a convoy for days like this, sinking them one at a time, and the escort won't have a clue what to do. If you have properly conserved fuel on your way to patrol station (running at 2/3 speed), you should have no problem flanking them repeatedly and still have enough gas to get home.

The name of this game is patience. If you treat a convoy like a big shooting gallery, they will surely find you.

GTHammer · 06-06-07, 01:14 AM

Well said Vindex

06-05-07, 01:44 PM	#3
donut The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Shifting, Whispering Sands, NM Posts: 1,463 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Rockm,& Sockm Dive to ck.thermal depth,& see if you have one ? Slip under,& PD.for action

06-05-07, 03:27 PM	#7
donut The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Shifting, Whispering Sands, NM Posts: 1,463 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Skipper byss,WELCOME Aboard mate that's valor,but we might be shark bait:rotfl:

06-05-07, 04:12 PM	#8
Hazelwood Bosun Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Calgary, Alberta / Canada Posts: 66 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Attacking Convoys I enjoy living dangerously and although slipping under the DD escort is the most prudent way to go I often take the head-on approach. You will usually find a couple of DDs in your path so I "sucker" them by noisily turning up the speed or even surfacing briefly. After that, hope you do not have too many "duds";-) Make sure crew are at battle-stations because you will need all the help you can get. These destroyers will pull away from the convoy to take you on but their comrades on the other side of the formation typically take no notice. I then lie low and silent until I see the whites of their eyes and lay on a torp for each at high speed once within 400 yards or so. This is playing "chicken", of course, but it's very exciting. These destroyers are semi-tough. If you miss or get a dud you are in serious trouble. Be prepared to use your stern tubes. If you succeed you will have blown a huge hole in the escort and it's happy days for you with the merchant fleet. Clean up! By the time the other destroyers wake up and come looking for you you will have amassed enormous tonnage sunk. You may even find time to sink something with the deck gun. Slink away below the thermal. This advice is just for fun. Evading the defences to begin with is more responsible. Best wishes, Cpt. J, Hazelwood / USS "Haddock"

06-06-07, 01:14 AM	#11
GTHammer Machinist's Mate Join Date: May 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 127 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Well said Vindex __________________ GT USS Hammer

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06-05-07, 11:33 AM	#1
Di3lta-303 Swabbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 8 Downloads: 48 Uploads: 0	Ok... I have another question, For example, I want to hit the turret section of lets say a Heavy Cruiser, how do I know much spread angle to use?

06-05-07, 01:03 PM	#2
Julius Caesar Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Do you guys attack convoys when you are in shallow waters (mostly around Java sea) so you can dive up to 30 m?

06-05-07, 02:43 PM	#6
byss Nub Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	i sneak in between the lead dd and right side dd then line up on the main bulk of the convoy and wait then i'm usually in good shot for middle of the pack send 2 fish at high at the middle one in the middle of the pack then 2 on slow at the closest one in the middle then a quick 180 on the scope to target the the side dd escort with aft and send 2 fish on high at him i can usually sink 1 of the freighters or carriers or get lucky and get both but 95% of the time i usually always sink the dd then do some evading cause i usually have 1 or 2 of the other escort dd's comming fast. sonar man "warship closing moving fast!!" but then i get really aggressive 70% of the time i'll poke scope up and try to take out the incomming dd's cause even if i run silent and don't poke the scope they never seem to go away. got lucky last night on a convoy did the above hit middle of pack and the closest of the middle at the same time with 2 fish each and the side dd behind me at the same time with all the fish all 3 destroyed then went hard to port waited a bit poked scope up looked around a bit saw a dd in front and back popped 2 fish on each one of the front fish almost took me out it exploded too soon long story short used all my fish on the dd's taking all them out then surfaced to use deck gun on rest of convoy good times

06-05-07, 10:42 PM	#10
vindex Planesman Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 192 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	My gameplan. Works like a charm every time: 1) Use flank to get ahead of the convoy, out of visual range. 2) Using radar, plot the parallel courses of the rows of convoy ships and their escorts on the map. Also get an estimate on the convoy speed by timing their progress. You can also do this while flanking the convoy. This should give you enough time (30 minutes) to get a VERY accurate read on their speed. 3) Place yourself at a 90-degree angle to the convoy's course, at a point of your choosing. I usually place myself 0.3nm (approx. 600 ft) outside the outer row, WITHIN the escort screen. The escorts will tend to assume the torpedo came from outside their screen and begin their search by heading outwards. 4) If you're feeling ambitious, go to decks awash (approx. 30ft) where your radar and radio still work, but your profile is lower, and wait for a visual sighting of at least three ships, then you can call in a contact report. Then immediately dive to periscope depth. You will get a reply with mission orders (bonus prestige if you do what they say). This is only necessary the first time you encounter the convoy, not on follow-ups. It isn't strictly necessary at all, you can just dive to periscope depth before visual sighting if you want to be safe. 5) Raise periscope to get visual sighting and collect data for your manual TDC solution. At this attack position, starting AOB is almost always 8-10 degrees off center, either way. You already have their speed. All you really need is range. 6) Be sure to put "silent running" on. I've found that it makes a difference, even with engines off. 7) As you wait quietly, keep a careful watch on the lead escort. He tends to weave around and can come very close to your position. If he gets too close, drop periscope, he may see it and come after you. Also, make sure to stay more than 0.5nm away from any destroyer's course -- that is the limit of his sonar cone. They do not always run active sonar, but if they do, they will ping you and come after you. In worst case -- a destroyer is coming right at you while you wait -- you may want to drop way down to 250 ft, wait, and then come back up when he's gone. If you've set up your solution already, you should have enough time to dive and then come back to periscope to make final checks, even if you're targeting the first convoy ship. 8) Fire your solution. I usually use 2 fish for a large cargo ship. If you have planned your solution dead-on, this should sink it. If you're slightly off, 2 hits should at least cripple it so that it gets left behind eventually and you can finish it off later with your deck gun. 9) I usually fire one solution per engagement. Maybe I'm just slow. But I find that it improves you torpedo/sinking ratio and you can always be patient and come back for more. 10) I wait to get visual confirmation on my hits. Then I immediately dive to 250ft. I only turn my engines on AFTER I get below the thermal layer. Then I go forward 1/3, very quiet. The escorts will have a VERY difficult time finding you under these circumstances, even if they are quite close -- and they probably have no clue where you are to begin with. I set a course away from the convoy, usually 90 degrees from its course. Don't set a course along the convoy's course or you will never be rid of them. 11) Once you are out of the immediate vicinity, go to periscope depth and take a look around. You will probably see them hunting around far away from you. Continue moving away at 1/3 speed, silent running. When you get outside visual range, surface and start reloading your torpedo tubes. 12) Go to flank speed and start doing an end-run around the convoy for another shot. Rinse and repeat. You can dog a convoy for days like this, sinking them one at a time, and the escort won't have a clue what to do. If you have properly conserved fuel on your way to patrol station (running at 2/3 speed), you should have no problem flanking them repeatedly and still have enough gas to get home. The name of this game is patience. If you treat a convoy like a big shooting gallery, they will surely find you.