Convoy attack tactics in SH3 vs. tactics of real life U-boats. - Page 2

02-13-09, 08:39 AM

I just increase the damage radius of the fish to 5 miles and then fire and run....takes out the whole convoy and all its escorts with one shot. Great for racking up the tonnage and certainly puts those real life U-Boat commanders to shame.....the pussies!

Steeltrap · 02-17-09, 01:09 AM

Please Note: I'm not trying to start any kind of 'war' between various mod fans. I've played NYGM and GWX (and enjoyed both very much) and these comments are based on that fact with respect to this issue only!

This is one aspect I feel NYGM handles far better than GWX. In NYGM it is entirely possible to close on the surface to within 800-1000m of the enemy's track and stop. You then wait for the gyro angle in the display while using the UZO to reach what you want (as a general rule I fire the first torp at a lead gyro of 5 and the 2nd at around 0 degrees). Then hit full rudder and ahead 2/3 or standard, steadying at a course to lead you away from the convoy presenting your stern as minimum cross-section to be spotted. You can do this at night while the Allies don't have radar. It still takes some nerve, especially getting used the the idea that an escort 3000m away probably won't see you (and this is entirely realistic; you can read Dick O'Kane's Clear the Bridge for ideas of how close it's possible to get to an escort, and that's on a US sub in 1944!!).

There are still some issues, I feel....

* convoys tend to be too tightly grouped, although both mods have addressed this to some extent.
* it's not clear the extent to which sea-state affects visibility, although it should reduce it substantially. A sub has an extremely low profile, and was all but impossible to spot with the naked eye at distances as low as 500m in many conditions.
* the amount of searchlights and starshells is excessive. Many merchants didn't mount major searchlights and didn't use them anyway due to the fear of showing the attacker more than they themselves revealed through their use. There was also the issue of the degree to which excessive use of lights would hamper/highlight escorts. Convoys were extreme in their 'light discipline' for good reason; a massive display of searchlights etc could highlight your position well beyond the horizon, especially with any cloud cover off which to reflect them.

I'm not sure how GWX and NYGM treat the issue of visibility etc, but it seems they do it differently. In the context of night surface attacks, I've found NYGM's to be closer to providing greater opportunities to use this tactic.

Cheers all

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02-13-09, 08:39 AM	#16
Uber Gruber Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I just increase the damage radius of the fish to 5 miles and then fire and run....takes out the whole convoy and all its escorts with one shot. Great for racking up the tonnage and certainly puts those real life U-Boat commanders to shame.....the pussies!

02-17-09, 01:09 AM	#17
Steeltrap Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 818 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Please Note: I'm not trying to start any kind of 'war' between various mod fans. I've played NYGM and GWX (and enjoyed both very much) and these comments are based on that fact with respect to this issue only! This is one aspect I feel NYGM handles far better than GWX. In NYGM it is entirely possible to close on the surface to within 800-1000m of the enemy's track and stop. You then wait for the gyro angle in the display while using the UZO to reach what you want (as a general rule I fire the first torp at a lead gyro of 5 and the 2nd at around 0 degrees). Then hit full rudder and ahead 2/3 or standard, steadying at a course to lead you away from the convoy presenting your stern as minimum cross-section to be spotted. You can do this at night while the Allies don't have radar. It still takes some nerve, especially getting used the the idea that an escort 3000m away probably won't see you (and this is entirely realistic; you can read Dick O'Kane's Clear the Bridge for ideas of how close it's possible to get to an escort, and that's on a US sub in 1944!!). There are still some issues, I feel.... * convoys tend to be too tightly grouped, although both mods have addressed this to some extent. * it's not clear the extent to which sea-state affects visibility, although it should reduce it substantially. A sub has an extremely low profile, and was all but impossible to spot with the naked eye at distances as low as 500m in many conditions. * the amount of searchlights and starshells is excessive. Many merchants didn't mount major searchlights and didn't use them anyway due to the fear of showing the attacker more than they themselves revealed through their use. There was also the issue of the degree to which excessive use of lights would hamper/highlight escorts. Convoys were extreme in their 'light discipline' for good reason; a massive display of searchlights etc could highlight your position well beyond the horizon, especially with any cloud cover off which to reflect them. I'm not sure how GWX and NYGM treat the issue of visibility etc, but it seems they do it differently. In the context of night surface attacks, I've found NYGM's to be closer to providing greater opportunities to use this tactic. Cheers all