Periscope Attacks at Night

[sharkbit]

Question:
Did submarines make periscope attacks at night in general?

I was wondering that yesterday while playing. I'm getting late into the war and the allied radar is getting extremely good, making night surface attacks against escorted vessels EXTREMELY difficult.

I'm currently (4/43) stalking a 3 ship convoy near the Canaries, escorted by one American Buckley class escort. I sank one modern tanker out of it, made an end around for another attack and intercepted at midnight. Due to the radar on the escort, I elected to do a submerged attack which would allow me to get close to the target track. The ships were sailing in line astern with the escort at the back. This made it easy to get ahead of the targets and in good position. I torpedoed the lead ship, a medium cargo, and am waiting for the escort to leave the area so I can administer the coup de grace if she won't go down on her own. I'll then do another end around and get the remaining ship, a small tanker.

When I decided to do the attack submerged at night, I just started wondering how realistic this would really be. Visibility was excellent-another strike against a surfaced attack.

It seems that most of the literature I've read concerning U-boats don't go into a lot of detail about attacks late in the war and whether they still attempted to try night surface attacks or not. it just got me wondering.

Thanks.

[GoldenRivet]

periscope attacks at night did occur and were more common later in the war (43 on)

earlier in the war 39, 40, 41 and part of 42 most night attacks took place on the surface observing targets through the UZO.

[sharkbit]

Thanks GR.

I kinda figured, but like I said, I just don't recall reading any accounts of night submerged attacks using the periscope. All the late war U-boat stuff seems to be more focused on just surviving.

[Bent Periscope]

Sharkbit,
You attacked the same way I would have done it. I'm always worried that a surface attack might get noticed and that the ship might call out for support. I always hope that my torp will destroy the ship prior to any Mayday calls.

BP

[sharkbit]

The escort with this convoy is a boob.

Escorting from astern allowed me to get in perfect position during both attacks with no worries about the escort.
After both attacks I've made on this convoy, he went off in a totally illogical direction. He wasn't even close to where I was.

I'm hoping to finish off the wounded cargo and go after the remaining tanker when I resume play.

Funny thing too-this is the second small convoy I've run across with an American Buckley class escorting from astern. The previous one had 2 ships plus the escort. I wiped out the entire convoy, including the escort when he presented a perfect 0 AOB down the throat shot with no zigs.

[Bent Periscope]

So how did you do?

Did the merchants have guns? If not, I might have taken out the destroyer 1st, if possible, then deck gunned the ships.

[WilyPete]

In stock SH3 and GWX1, 2 and 2.1 night attacks with periscope/UZO are no different from day attacks. In GWX 3 night attacks are an absolute nightmare. So it depends which version you're playing. I would guess, with no light pollution in the middle of the sea/ocean, GWX 3 is more accurate, hence why I'm not complaining. I also think this will dramatically reduce the unrealistic 1 million ton carreers to a more realistic level. Good job there GWX team.

[sharkbit]

Originally Posted by Bent Periscope

So how did you do?

Did the merchants have guns? If not, I might have taken out the destroyer 1st, if possible, then deck gunned the ships.

I finished off the wounded cargo with my deck gun once the escort and tanker were out of sight. None of the ships in this convoy were armed . I was quite suprised. They happened to be Brazilian.
Of course the cargo called for help and the escort headed back but the show was over. Nothing but some dust on the sea where the cargo ship went down and I was deep and quiet, creeping away.

Once the escort left, I did an end around, got in good position and put two eels in the small tanker which went down a flaming wreck. The escort never had a clue where I was. In fact, I don't recall him lobbing any depth charges.

End result-I wiped out the convoy except for the escort. (He may have some 'splainin to do when he gets home.)

I really didn't want to waste a eel on the escort for only 1400 tons. The escort was zigging while the merchants stayed in line. I didn't want to risk missing the escort, wasting a eel and having to end around again.

The previous escort was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. He presented a perfect down the throat shot and wasn't zigging.

[sharkbit]

Originally Posted by WilyPete

In stock SH3 and GWX1, 2 and 2.1 night attacks with periscope/UZO are no different from day attacks. In GWX 3 night attacks are an absolute nightmare. So it depends which version you're playing. I would guess, with no light pollution in the middle of the sea/ocean, GWX 3 is more accurate, hence why I'm not complaining. I also think this will dramatically reduce the unrealistic 1 million ton carreers to a more realistic level. Good job there GWX team.

I've actually noticed the opposite, although it may be my rig and/or graphics card.

My old computer had GWX2.1 and an ATI graphics card and the nights were dark as a well diggers arse. I tried periscope attacks at night and they were quite difficult. Even on the surface they were difficult. I was shooting at shadows basically. Maybe more realistic.

I recently got a new and better computer with a Nvidia card. The first thing I noticed was the brighter nights. I don't think too unrealistically though. I can make out more detail on targets sooner than I could with my older rig.

I've read somewhere that ATI cards will make nights appear darker compared to Nvidia cards. I don't know if that is really true or not.