Why bother attacking convoys???

[Missing Name]

Sometimes I don't even get an icon for sinkings.

Me? I actually don't care for convoys. Too dangerous, in my opinion. I DID get the HMS Nelson in a convoy once and almost got blown out of the water by a Revenge class another time.

But sometimes, I will call off an attack if I deem it too risky, no matter what the targets. I once had the HMT Aquitania in my crosshairs about 3km away, but there were 4 escorts within 1km. If I had attacked, I would have been immediately pounced on. The convoy went too fast for me to effectively get into another firing position.

I prefer harbor runs. Norfolk and Gibraltar are fun. (Baltimore has nothing.)

[Gargamel]

Ok, we've attacked the convoy, got into the nice little knife inside the middle I so enjoy, After hitting the primary target with T2's, we've tried to hit a couple more with fast running T1's.

Now we've dove, survived the DC's, and got spit out the back of the convoy. We come to peri depth, get a good fix on their direction, get some distance, and try to do an end around while shadowing the convoy.

Any tips for doing so?

I made a dawn attack, now have to shadow, during the day, In june, At the same latitudes as La Rochelle. Currently running decks awash, about 14k away from the convoy, but the side escort keeps wandering out my way. Any good tips for this?

[Tessa]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Ok, we've attacked the convoy, got into the nice little knife inside the middle I so enjoy, After hitting the primary target with T2's, we've tried to hit a couple more with fast running T1's.

Now we've dove, survived the DC's, and got spit out the back of the convoy. We come to peri depth, get a good fix on their direction, get some distance, and try to do an end around while shadowing the convoy.

Any tips for doing so?

I made a dawn attack, now have to shadow, during the day, In june, At the same latitudes as La Rochelle. Currently running decks awash, about 14k away from the convoy, but the side escort keeps wandering out my way. Any good tips for this?

The Sonar is the best tool for me, you can safely stay 2km away and still get a good fix on the convoy's heading. While the SO might not report any contact, when shadowing you really need to operate the sonar yourself so you can get precise reading on the heading of the convoy.

Another method I've used with good success is a triangular course. Use the convoy as the bottom line and you're going to make the other 2 sides over the course of the day. The idea being you complete the triangle a hour or so after dark where you and the convoy meet up at the corner of the triangle and you plan your attack accordingly. Granted you do need to do some real math and calculate the distance the convoy will go at its observed speed so you can be sure to meet up with it at the end of the course; success rate for intercepting the convoy as planned works (for me) 70%-80% of the time. Even if they aren't at the appointed spot they are usually nearby and close enough to search for them and still have ample time to attackk in the darkness.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Now we've dove, survived the DC's, and got spit out the back of the convoy. We come to peri depth, get a good fix on their direction, get some distance, and try to do an end around while shadowing the convoy.

Any tips for doing so?

Assuming they don't have radar, I would go to surface, flank speed ahead of it, then drop back to its speed. The rest of the day, I would keep 10-12K in front of it (or front and off to one side; that's up to you), using hydrophone checks to insure it does not zig-zag away.

[TarJak]

In late '43 convoy hunting goes off my list and I look for loners. I'll hit a convoy if it comes along but only if it looks like its worth running the risk.

Up until lat '42 though it's what makes playing SH3 fun. The thrill of getting into position, lining up and sinking your target then slinking away. Nothing finer.

[Tessa]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

Assuming they don't have radar, I would go to surface, flank speed ahead of it, then drop back to its speed. The rest of the day, I would keep 10-12K in front of it (or front and off to one side; that's up to you), using hydrophone checks to insure it does not zig-zag away.

Radar doesn't start showing up till late 41'. By mid 42' nearly all escorts have radar with one escort having a Huff-Duff, and all the larger planes will have them installed on board as well.

If you're in front of the convoy you need to be much more mindful of your relative positions. Sometimes you need to pull a Crazy Ivan just to get the headings from your SO. Biggest disadvantage with being in front is that the convoy is largely in your blind spot (sonar wise) and if you can see them they can see you just the same. Once night finally does fall you're in a position where you can use a number of different tactics; being in front gives you more options about how to plan your attack.

[STEED]

Should we leave them alone, after all there minding the own business and rather go about sailing from port to port and so on.

Hmmm...

Sounds boring to me, so what we do is beef things up and...WOO-HOO.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Tessa

Radar doesn't start showing up till late 41'. By mid 42' nearly all escorts have radar with one escort having a Huff-Duff, and all the larger planes will have them installed on board as well.

Which is why I made that caveat. I haven't gone back up the thread to see when he is playing, though his questions imply very early war.

Originally Posted by Tessa

Sometimes you need to pull a Crazy Ivan just to get the headings from your SO.

I wouldn't call it a "Crazy Ivan," a much different maneuver, but you do have to submerge and come around 90 degrees to get a good sound. Doing it once an hour or so alerts you to their course changes.

And if you are lazy, and conditions are clear, you can wait and watch for their smoke. You will see them far further out than they will see you. Of course, clear skies are a mixed blessing... you want pretty nice haze when you make your attack.

Originally Posted by Tessa

being in front gives you more options about how to plan your attack.

Exactly. With rare exceptions, there is little more fruitless than attacking from behind.

[desirableroasted]

Until the technology shifts (radar, etc), I like nothing better than a convoy. It's like a great pot roast: main course on Sunday and leftovers most of the rest of the week. Spotted far enough out in the Atlantic, you can pick the thing clean before it ever reaches England.

Yes, the escorts can be pesky -- or worse -- but patience, care, then depth, silence and more patience pretty much make convoy attacks a more-than-acceptable risk.

It has often occurred to me, reading posts here, that newer players wildly underestimate the patience required to make a successful convoy attack. There is little room for TC (maybe up to 16x in the beginning, and once the escorts are largely evaded) and a great need for concentration.

If you can't set aside two hours of real time to do a convoy attack, you are going to miss a lot of targets; you are also going to miss a lot of the sim's inner beauty.

[VONHARRIS]

Originally Posted by Missing Name

But sometimes, I will call off an attack if I deem it too risky, no matter what the targets. I once had the HMT Aquitania in my crosshairs about 3km away, but there were 4 escorts within 1km. If I had attacked, I would have been immediately pounced on. The convoy went too fast for me to effectively get into another firing position.

I prefer harbor runs. Norfolk and Gibraltar are fun. (Baltimore has nothing.)

I wouldn't have called this attack off.
I would have fired all 4 bow tubes at the Aquitania and immediately I would have dove to 150m silent running.
Was this engagement done in in daylight?

This is my first post for 2011!!
Happy new year to all!

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by VONHARRIS

I wouldn't have called this attack off.
I would have fired all 4 bow tubes at the Aquitania and immediately I would have dove to 150m silent running.
Was this engagement done in in daylight?

This is my first post for 2011!!
Happy new year to all!

150m,I had appeared further down to be a bit "safer" for example, around 200, unless there was no hull damage

[VONHARRIS]

Originally Posted by Vendor

150m,I had appeared further down to be a bit "safer" for example, around 200, unless there was no hull damage

Diving to 200m can be fatal if D/C start dropping near you or a hedgehog salvo lands on your deck. The damage control crew will never be able to cope with the flooding and the damege at the same time.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by VONHARRIS

Diving to 200m can be fatal if D/C start dropping near you or a hedgehog salvo lands on your deck. The damage control crew will never be able to cope with the flooding and the damege at the same time.

Certainly, but it can sometimes be easier to get away..

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by VONHARRIS

Diving to 200m can be fatal if D/C start dropping near you or a hedgehog salvo lands on your deck. The damage control crew will never be able to cope with the flooding and the damege at the same time.

And 20m would be less "fatal"?

Sounds to me like you assume you will be hit. That's 150m off your life, right there.

[VONHARRIS]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

And 20m would be less "fatal"?

Sounds to me like you assume you will be hit. That's 150m off your life, right there.

Yes , I always assume that a hit on my sub is possible - when attacking a convoy - especially after 1942 when things can get pretty rough.