Convoy attack tactics

bollockmaster · 06-05-13, 04:33 PM

Hi all,
I'm sure it's nothing new, but I just thought I'd share my experiences of attacking convoys circa. 1940 in my trusty old Type II-D.
I'm running GWX Gold and at first found it very difficult attacking convoys without being either heavily damaged or sent to a watery grave by the escorts. But I've found that if I sneak inside the destroyer screen submerged, pick a couple of fat juicy merchants to attack, get as close as I dare to them (within a 1000yrds), stop and let fly with my 3 eels (2 into the first target to guarantee a sinking), continue heading towards the first target (i.e follow the eels into the target) once it sinks park myself as deep as possible and as close to the sunken hulk as I dare, then just sit there while the escorts search all over the outskirts of the convoy find nothing and p***off, reload and finish off the other merchant or if it's already gone down surface and catch up with the convoy again. The noise the sunken ship is making seems to mask my presence, and the escorts don't even come anywhere near.

jimmyjam25 · 06-06-13, 02:30 AM

I have often parked my boat on top of a wreck that's been split in half in shallow waters. The escorts won't come near it. Good if you need repair time. I'm sure anyone who has played the game long enough has done something similar.

Canovaro · 06-06-13, 04:14 AM

That is a cool idea be it difficult to perform.
But the sinking ship's sound masking your presence is a cool idea.

desertstriker · 06-06-13, 12:42 PM

unforuntely i doubt the sinking ship sounds work becaue the AI sometimes has godlike powers with the hydrophone.

What I normally do is go completely silent no engines, no loading of torpedos nothing and normally that works.

vanjast · 06-06-13, 06:07 PM

1) always approach a convoy, headon/rearon to the closest escort at 'silent running'
2) pop scope just above surface for 1 sec max when in the convoy
3) target and fire, then immediately dive to max depth.
4) turn to course +- 45 degs to rear of convoy course. This course determined by rear escort ?
5) Use convoy ships as cover as needed
6) DON'T BE GREEDY - there's plenty of time for another attack ?

All at silent running of course

CaliEs · 06-10-13, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanjast

1)
3) ... then immediately dive to max depth.

crashdive, normal dive, silent dive?

06-05-13, 04:33 PM	#1
bollockmaster Nub Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Doncaster, England Posts: 3 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Convoy attack tactics Hi all, I'm sure it's nothing new, but I just thought I'd share my experiences of attacking convoys circa. 1940 in my trusty old Type II-D. I'm running GWX Gold and at first found it very difficult attacking convoys without being either heavily damaged or sent to a watery grave by the escorts. But I've found that if I sneak inside the destroyer screen submerged, pick a couple of fat juicy merchants to attack, get as close as I dare to them (within a 1000yrds), stop and let fly with my 3 eels (2 into the first target to guarantee a sinking), continue heading towards the first target (i.e follow the eels into the target) once it sinks park myself as deep as possible and as close to the sunken hulk as I dare, then just sit there while the escorts search all over the outskirts of the convoy find nothing and p***off, reload and finish off the other merchant or if it's already gone down surface and catch up with the convoy again. The noise the sunken ship is making seems to mask my presence, and the escorts don't even come anywhere near.

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06-06-13, 02:30 AM	#2
jimmyjam25 Soundman Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 146 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	I have often parked my boat on top of a wreck that's been split in half in shallow waters. The escorts won't come near it. Good if you need repair time. I'm sure anyone who has played the game long enough has done something similar.

06-06-13, 04:14 AM	#3
Canovaro Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,062 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	That is a cool idea be it difficult to perform. But the sinking ship's sound masking your presence is a cool idea.

06-06-13, 12:42 PM	#4
desertstriker Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2012 Location: mod soup bar and grill Posts: 1,756 Downloads: 998 Uploads: 0	unforuntely i doubt the sinking ship sounds work becaue the AI sometimes has godlike powers with the hydrophone. What I normally do is go completely silent no engines, no loading of torpedos nothing and normally that works.

06-06-13, 06:07 PM	#5
vanjast Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere else now Posts: 1,734 Downloads: 825 Uploads: 4	1) always approach a convoy, headon/rearon to the closest escort at 'silent running' 2) pop scope just above surface for 1 sec max when in the convoy 3) target and fire, then immediately dive to max depth. 4) turn to course +- 45 degs to rear of convoy course. This course determined by rear escort ? 5) Use convoy ships as cover as needed 6) DON'T BE GREEDY - there's plenty of time for another attack ? All at silent running of course