What's a successful mission?

frau kaleun · 04-28-10, 02:37 PM

Most of my patrols in fall/winter 1939 have ended up bagging between 25-50K GRT each. All in a VIIB running out of Wilhelmshaven.

I still play at a very low realism level which makes most things having to do with sinking ships much easier. I don't do manual targeting, so really all I have to worry about once I'm setting up to attack is being in range and getting a good enough AOB to make things go BOOM. I use magnetic fuses whenever possible, and even in rougher weather when the target is tossing around a bit I've still had good luck with them by setting the depth 1-2 meters *above* the ship's listed draft. If it actually runs into the ship, it still goes off, and that's good enough for me.

The overwhelming majority of my kills have been lone merchants, so I haven't spent a lot of time or fuel running away from escorts or dodging depth charges. With one-on-one attacks I try to stick to the "1 ship, 1 torpedo" rule unless it's a large merchant or something that size or bigger. As long as I can use the guns to finish off what the torpedo started, there's no sense in sending another eel to do the job.

I've gotten most of my tonnage in the AM grids already mentioned, NW of Ireland, and in the BF "teens" in the lower Western Approaches. I've also sunk several ships while running north or south off the west coast of Ireland in between those two areas. Usually coastal freighters but once or twice a large merchant in the 10K range. Overall I've seen a pretty good variety of ships - large merchants, ore carriers, Granville freighters. But I don't turn my nose up at anything that's out there. I used to cringe every time I'd get a contact and it would turn out to be yet another 2K coastal freighter... but I've found they do add up, especially if you're using one eel a piece on 'em. Which means when the large merchant does show up, I've usually got more than enough ammo on board to take it out as well.

My normal cruising around speed is 8 knots - this seems to give the best range figures when I inquire of my navigator. I have never had to end a patrol that early in the war with leftover eels because my fuel ran low. Sometimes I've still had half a tank when I got back to base.

Brag · 04-28-10, 03:39 PM

I go wherever BDU sends me. After the 24 hours, move to prosperous hunting grounds.

Before the fall of France, I like opening holes on single traffic heading NE for the Fair Isle Passage.

I can't remember the exact BF grid, but locating yourself on a line Between Bristol and the Azores, off the continental shelf is a rich area for convoys.

My standard goal for a convoy attack is 10,000 BRT for four torpedoes.

Coming back to base is as satisfying as a nice greaser landing on an airplane.

maillemaker · 04-28-10, 03:42 PM

Just wanted to add: I always hit my assigned patrol grid for 24 hours also.

I have changed my config file to give me renown for doing so.

Steve

dfscott · 04-28-10, 03:47 PM

Ok, thanks all. Looking at the map, I now realized that don't follow the course you mentioned. Once I leave the docks at Wilhelmshaven, I head straight for Scapa Flow -- I don't stop by the channel or skirt the coast. Maybe that's why I'm missing all the good stuff. I have yet to even see a convoy...

sergei · 04-28-10, 03:58 PM

Get yourself round to the Western Approaches.
Plenty convoy there

schlechter pfennig · 04-28-10, 04:00 PM

Here is an excellent area for finding traffic:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=168607

KL-alfman · 04-28-10, 04:05 PM

for the VIIB which I ride atm I can say that with Wreford-Brown's "Deck awash and fuel economy"-mod the range at 1/3 is about 32,000km.
that's pretty enough.
speed ranges from 6kn (in extremely heavy seas) to 8kn in calm wheather.

frau kaleun · 04-28-10, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfscott

Ok, thanks all. Looking at the map, I now realized that don't follow the course you mentioned. Once I leave the docks at Wilhelmshaven, I head straight for Scapa Flow -- I don't stop by the channel or skirt the coast. Maybe that's why I'm missing all the good stuff. I have yet to even see a convoy...

I never skirt the British coast in the run north out of Willy, and usually don't do it on the way home either. Occasionally I'll get a ship somewhere in the North Sea on the way home, but I usually stay far to the east of Britain because if I attack anything on the way back through there it's gonna be with the guns and I don't want to be near the British coast in that case.

Almost all my tonnage comes from the Western Approaches, or the occasional ship when I'm coming over the top of the British Isles on my way there. Or once in a while out to the west of Ireland on my way to and from the BE/BF sectors which is where my orders are usually telling me to go.

Weiss Pinguin · 04-28-10, 04:38 PM

The east coast is pretty good hunting for Type II's, as the Scapa Flow is just about at the edge of the IIB's operating range. The D can go further, of course, but with only 5 torpedoes there's not really much point.

But you're not in a Type II, so anyways

04-30-10, 03:54 AM

If fuel is the problem, just use "Slow" as your primary travel speed.

Tonnage comparisons around here aren't realy possible, as we all use different realism settings, and SIR (Self Imposed Restrictions).
Not to mention the differences in mods, and modding.

Your best, and most evenly matched competitor, is your own past carriers.

Brag · 04-28-10, 04:38 PM

Here is an old thread with good hunting locations

Happy Hunting Grounds

pickinthebanjo · 04-28-10, 04:53 PM

Generally I get 10-20k while being very cautious, (usually the patrol after I get beat up by escorts) but when i'm trying to get promoted I tend to do stupid thing resulting in at least 40k but heavy damages.

Harbor attacks are good if your feeling brave, just remember there are mines, nets, surface batteries and very shallow depths.

I agree that AM52 and it's surrounding grids are great spots also

Good luck

gazpode_l · 04-28-10, 05:40 PM

Pretty new to career mode within SH3, but one area i've found is peachy spot just SW of holyhead. I'm running a IXB out of Lorient in Oct 1940 and am on my 2nd Career. On my first I hit a huge convoy there and bagged four or five ships before running out of eel's and getting D/C'd to my grave!

In my current career I again hit a convoy SW of holyhead just the other night, so I wld suggest giving the irish sea a try. Also keep an eye on where you are on the map cause the darker colors highlight the deeper depths.

04-28-10, 03:39 PM	#2
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I go wherever BDU sends me. After the 24 hours, move to prosperous hunting grounds. Before the fall of France, I like opening holes on single traffic heading NE for the Fair Isle Passage. I can't remember the exact BF grid, but locating yourself on a line Between Bristol and the Azores, off the continental shelf is a rich area for convoys. My standard goal for a convoy attack is 10,000 BRT for four torpedoes. Coming back to base is as satisfying as a nice greaser landing on an airplane. __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

04-28-10, 03:47 PM	#4
dfscott Bosun Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Atlanta GA USA Posts: 68 Downloads: 49 Uploads: 0	Ok, thanks all. Looking at the map, I now realized that don't follow the course you mentioned. Once I leave the docks at Wilhelmshaven, I head straight for Scapa Flow -- I don't stop by the channel or skirt the coast. Maybe that's why I'm missing all the good stuff. I have yet to even see a convoy... __________________

04-28-10, 04:05 PM	#7
KL-alfman Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Weimar Posts: 930 Downloads: 86 Uploads: 0	for the VIIB which I ride atm I can say that with Wreford-Brown's "Deck awash and fuel economy"-mod the range at 1/3 is about 32,000km. that's pretty enough. speed ranges from 6kn (in extremely heavy seas) to 8kn in calm wheather. __________________ Life, Liberty and Property!

04-28-10, 04:38 PM	#9
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	The east coast is pretty good hunting for Type II's, as the Scapa Flow is just about at the edge of the IIB's operating range. The D can go further, of course, but with only 5 torpedoes there's not really much point. But you're not in a Type II, so anyways __________________

04-28-10, 04:38 PM	#11
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Here is an old thread with good hunting locations Happy Hunting Grounds __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

04-28-10, 02:37 PM	#1
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	Most of my patrols in fall/winter 1939 have ended up bagging between 25-50K GRT each. All in a VIIB running out of Wilhelmshaven. I still play at a very low realism level which makes most things having to do with sinking ships much easier. I don't do manual targeting, so really all I have to worry about once I'm setting up to attack is being in range and getting a good enough AOB to make things go BOOM. I use magnetic fuses whenever possible, and even in rougher weather when the target is tossing around a bit I've still had good luck with them by setting the depth 1-2 meters above the ship's listed draft. If it actually runs into the ship, it still goes off, and that's good enough for me. The overwhelming majority of my kills have been lone merchants, so I haven't spent a lot of time or fuel running away from escorts or dodging depth charges. With one-on-one attacks I try to stick to the "1 ship, 1 torpedo" rule unless it's a large merchant or something that size or bigger. As long as I can use the guns to finish off what the torpedo started, there's no sense in sending another eel to do the job. I've gotten most of my tonnage in the AM grids already mentioned, NW of Ireland, and in the BF "teens" in the lower Western Approaches. I've also sunk several ships while running north or south off the west coast of Ireland in between those two areas. Usually coastal freighters but once or twice a large merchant in the 10K range. Overall I've seen a pretty good variety of ships - large merchants, ore carriers, Granville freighters. But I don't turn my nose up at anything that's out there. I used to cringe every time I'd get a contact and it would turn out to be yet another 2K coastal freighter... but I've found they do add up, especially if you're using one eel a piece on 'em. Which means when the large merchant does show up, I've usually got more than enough ammo on board to take it out as well. My normal cruising around speed is 8 knots - this seems to give the best range figures when I inquire of my navigator. I have never had to end a patrol that early in the war with leftover eels because my fuel ran low. Sometimes I've still had half a tank when I got back to base.

04-28-10, 03:42 PM	#3
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	Just wanted to add: I always hit my assigned patrol grid for 24 hours also. I have changed my config file to give me renown for doing so. Steve

04-28-10, 03:58 PM	#5
sergei Sea Lord Join Date: May 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 1,788 Downloads: 405 Uploads: 29	Get yourself round to the Western Approaches. Plenty convoy there

04-28-10, 04:00 PM	#6
schlechter pfennig Commander Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 462 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 7	Here is an excellent area for finding traffic: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=168607

04-30-10, 03:54 AM	#10
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	If fuel is the problem, just use "Slow" as your primary travel speed. Tonnage comparisons around here aren't realy possible, as we all use different realism settings, and SIR (Self Imposed Restrictions). Not to mention the differences in mods, and modding. Your best, and most evenly matched competitor, is your own past carriers.

04-28-10, 04:53 PM	#12
pickinthebanjo Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 651 Downloads: 282 Uploads: 0	Generally I get 10-20k while being very cautious, (usually the patrol after I get beat up by escorts) but when i'm trying to get promoted I tend to do stupid thing resulting in at least 40k but heavy damages. Harbor attacks are good if your feeling brave, just remember there are mines, nets, surface batteries and very shallow depths. I agree that AM52 and it's surrounding grids are great spots also Good luck

04-28-10, 05:40 PM	#13
gazpode_l 中国水兵 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chelmsford, Essex Posts: 280 Downloads: 50 Uploads: 0	Pretty new to career mode within SH3, but one area i've found is peachy spot just SW of holyhead. I'm running a IXB out of Lorient in Oct 1940 and am on my 2nd Career. On my first I hit a huge convoy there and bagged four or five ships before running out of eel's and getting D/C'd to my grave! In my current career I again hit a convoy SW of holyhead just the other night, so I wld suggest giving the irish sea a try. Also keep an eye on where you are on the map cause the darker colors highlight the deeper depths.