So, what would you do?

Gereke · 03-07-11, 01:50 AM

I'd write the career off.

Mostly because I know that realistically, that scenario wouldn't have ended well in the U-boats favor. Real life Destroyer crews wouldn't pull some of the same bone-head moves that the AI in SH3 does... Namely line themselves up to be systematically sunk by a U-boat.

Only time I'd consider the "scuttle/rescue" option is if my diesels had been knocked out, yet I still managed to EVADE the destroyers. Again, realistically speaking being rescued would depend on if there was another U-boat operating close enough to pick you up before more enemy showed up. You have to take into consideration that you'd not be the only one to have thrown out an SOS.

timmy41 · 03-07-11, 01:57 AM

Regardless of the silly destroyers...
I guess you could justify it if you spent say a week or so out there and managed to survive in that condition, pretending that after that amount of time a returning U-boot would have picked up the crew.

maillemaker · 03-07-11, 08:51 AM

I suspect we could have survived - we had plenty of compressed air and we could dive to periscope depth and wait.

Steve

Kapt Z · 03-07-11, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gereke

I'd write the career off.

Mostly because I know that realistically, that scenario wouldn't have ended well in the U-boats favor. Real life Destroyer crews wouldn't pull some of the same bone-head moves that the AI in SH3 does... Namely line themselves up to be systematically sunk by a U-boat.

Only time I'd consider the "scuttle/rescue" option is if my diesels had been knocked out, yet I still managed to EVADE the destroyers. Again, realistically speaking being rescued would depend on if there was another U-boat operating close enough to pick you up before more enemy showed up. You have to take into consideration that you'd not be the only one to have thrown out an SOS.

I agree. It's late '42 near the Rockall Banks. Within range of radar equipped aircraft. Assume that at least one of the destroyers got off a distress call. I think you'll have 'hostile' company arriving shortly.

I'd write the crew off as POWs.

Herr-Berbunch · 03-07-11, 09:53 AM

To last until the end of '42 you've done very well. I'd now start a fresh career from that point with an inexperienced crew.

Good luck!

kapuhy · 03-07-11, 11:01 AM

Well, you have just sunk an aircraft carrier and four destroyers in enemy controlled waters - this is enough for Royal Navy to unleash all available assets in an epic pursuit that will make Hunt for the Bismarck look like a picnic. In real life even answering to your distress call would put any U-Boat in grave danger, for within short time entire area would crawl with aircraft and warships. Even if both you and the helping boat somehow escaped detection, how would you transfer crew from one boat to another in the middle of big naval operation of the enemy?

You might have had a slim chance before you surfaced in front of the British lifeboat - after that, they know you're still there and they won't let go.

maillemaker · 03-07-11, 11:41 AM

I can certainly take care of the British lifeboat...

kapuhy · 03-07-11, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maillemaker

I can certainly take care of the British lifeboat...

In your situation - I'd rather invite some British on board, distribute some food and blankets and generally be nice, since your best bet at survival is being picked up by one of incoming RN vessels.

Don't forget to toss Enigma machine and code books overboard before you do it, though.

Tessa · 03-07-11, 01:05 PM

Despite your damage, BdU isn't going to just write you off since you're whole crew is alive, and the boat is still seaworthy (just with no propulsion - granted that's a major problem). Since it was just a Bogue carrier (not one of the large ones) sure the allies are going to be mad, but they suffered some intensely more sinkings than a carrier. When Churchill asked for 100 tanks to help in North Africa the tank and engines were shipped in 2 seperate ships. The tanks made it to their destination, but chance one captain sunk the one with the 100 engines on it. The money and strategic value (granted the German's had no clue they sank such an important ship) of that ship was enormous. Despite the priceless cargo in that convoy it didn't have the entire home fleet go after that one sub.

Long as your propeller shafts aren't bent beyond fixing on board you have a chance. You'd have the whole mechanical crew strip down both diesels and see if 1 of the block/chasis was intact enough to repair. Then go through both sets of parts and see what you can use and what you need to get at least 1 diesel going. If there was a supply ship nearby (even within a few hundred km's) another sub would likely be dispatched to pick up parts and drop them off on your boat; it isn't without precedence.

Get the diesel back online and set sail for the nearest friendly port that has repair facilities and parts. If you were stationed in Kiel for instance you'd likely head straight to either Brest or Wilhemshaven depending on your position just to get repairs; then head to your home base.

To reflect that in the game you can either have a null mission where you don't have a patrol area, just need to go to whichever port you would have stopped out, dock (in real time, don't actually exit the patrol), then head back home to simulate the time spend moving from base to base. Or you could modify your career files and add an extra 2 weeks or so to your patrol time.

maillemaker · 03-07-11, 02:43 PM

Whew, thanks, Tessa!

I was sailing out of Lorient so I was probably only a day from home.

I really don't want to chuck the career since I didn't die. This is 32 patrols which represents at least 16 separate gaming sessions and perhaps 40 hours of game play.

I thought about submerging and seeing how far I could go on electrics. I bet I could have made it some ways at slow speed.

Steve

03-07-11, 11:53 AM

Considering that you already over employed a gamey destroyer elimination trick to erradicate yourself from the first mess, you might just as well pay the piper for the second mess.

You can bet with a carrier and 4 destroyers down the allies will have a lot of air and surface assets in the area. Might as well close that career as a POW, and start another.

Aircraft did that to one of my old careers.
No way home meant it was over.

03-07-11, 09:53 AM	#5
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	To last until the end of '42 you've done very well. I'd now start a fresh career from that point with an inexperienced crew. Good luck! __________________

03-07-11, 01:50 AM	#1
Gereke A-ganger Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 76 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	I'd write the career off. Mostly because I know that realistically, that scenario wouldn't have ended well in the U-boats favor. Real life Destroyer crews wouldn't pull some of the same bone-head moves that the AI in SH3 does... Namely line themselves up to be systematically sunk by a U-boat. Only time I'd consider the "scuttle/rescue" option is if my diesels had been knocked out, yet I still managed to EVADE the destroyers. Again, realistically speaking being rescued would depend on if there was another U-boat operating close enough to pick you up before more enemy showed up. You have to take into consideration that you'd not be the only one to have thrown out an SOS.

03-07-11, 01:57 AM	#2
timmy41 Weps Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 367 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Regardless of the silly destroyers... I guess you could justify it if you spent say a week or so out there and managed to survive in that condition, pretending that after that amount of time a returning U-boot would have picked up the crew.

03-07-11, 08:51 AM	#3
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	I suspect we could have survived - we had plenty of compressed air and we could dive to periscope depth and wait. Steve

03-07-11, 11:01 AM	#6
kapuhy Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Poland Posts: 874 Downloads: 72 Uploads: 3	Well, you have just sunk an aircraft carrier and four destroyers in enemy controlled waters - this is enough for Royal Navy to unleash all available assets in an epic pursuit that will make Hunt for the Bismarck look like a picnic. In real life even answering to your distress call would put any U-Boat in grave danger, for within short time entire area would crawl with aircraft and warships. Even if both you and the helping boat somehow escaped detection, how would you transfer crew from one boat to another in the middle of big naval operation of the enemy? You might have had a slim chance before you surfaced in front of the British lifeboat - after that, they know you're still there and they won't let go.

03-07-11, 11:41 AM	#7
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	I can certainly take care of the British lifeboat...

03-07-11, 01:05 PM	#9
Tessa Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CG 96 Posts: 861 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	Despite your damage, BdU isn't going to just write you off since you're whole crew is alive, and the boat is still seaworthy (just with no propulsion - granted that's a major problem). Since it was just a Bogue carrier (not one of the large ones) sure the allies are going to be mad, but they suffered some intensely more sinkings than a carrier. When Churchill asked for 100 tanks to help in North Africa the tank and engines were shipped in 2 seperate ships. The tanks made it to their destination, but chance one captain sunk the one with the 100 engines on it. The money and strategic value (granted the German's had no clue they sank such an important ship) of that ship was enormous. Despite the priceless cargo in that convoy it didn't have the entire home fleet go after that one sub. Long as your propeller shafts aren't bent beyond fixing on board you have a chance. You'd have the whole mechanical crew strip down both diesels and see if 1 of the block/chasis was intact enough to repair. Then go through both sets of parts and see what you can use and what you need to get at least 1 diesel going. If there was a supply ship nearby (even within a few hundred km's) another sub would likely be dispatched to pick up parts and drop them off on your boat; it isn't without precedence. Get the diesel back online and set sail for the nearest friendly port that has repair facilities and parts. If you were stationed in Kiel for instance you'd likely head straight to either Brest or Wilhemshaven depending on your position just to get repairs; then head to your home base. To reflect that in the game you can either have a null mission where you don't have a patrol area, just need to go to whichever port you would have stopped out, dock (in real time, don't actually exit the patrol), then head back home to simulate the time spend moving from base to base. Or you could modify your career files and add an extra 2 weeks or so to your patrol time.

03-07-11, 02:43 PM	#10
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	Whew, thanks, Tessa! I was sailing out of Lorient so I was probably only a day from home. I really don't want to chuck the career since I didn't die. This is 32 patrols which represents at least 16 separate gaming sessions and perhaps 40 hours of game play. I thought about submerging and seeing how far I could go on electrics. I bet I could have made it some ways at slow speed. Steve

03-07-11, 11:53 AM	#11
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Considering that you already over employed a gamey destroyer elimination trick to erradicate yourself from the first mess, you might just as well pay the piper for the second mess. You can bet with a carrier and 4 destroyers down the allies will have a lot of air and surface assets in the area. Might as well close that career as a POW, and start another. Aircraft did that to one of my old careers. No way home meant it was over.