First convoy engagement advice

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

If you have T1 torpedoes, they will leave a steam trail. Merchants do not notice this (cue Gargamel), .

In best David Attenborough voice:

"Merchants in the wild are a stupid and cattle like creature. While they have never been observed exhibiting this behavior in the wild, merchants that have been bred in captivity have been known, on occasion, to be actually become aware of predatory threats, and react accordingly. In the wild, only the keen and alert watchfulness of their symbiotic life partner, painindassus destroyus, has ever been observed alerting the merchants to the presence of a threat. These nimble and aggressive shepherds of the marine world quickly pounce on any perceived threat."

[jwolf4]

It took some restarts and saves, but I did it. I felt like I was cheating a bit with all the redos but it was so awesome. Here's what I did:

At ~12:00 I fired my only Type IIIGe torpedo at the destroyer escort up front. One torpedo sunk it. I then hurried more so ahead of the convoy so that when they finally came across me again, it was ~19:00 and dark. I fired 2 torpedoes at a C2 Cargo and a T2 Tanker in the front line. Sunk em both. (I think one torpedo may have sufficed for each, but it may just be a random probability) I was out of front torpedoes, so I cut across in front of the convoy and was greeted by a Flower Corvette. It followed me so I blew it up, firing a stern torpedo at 900m and closing. Then I surfaced an started engaging ships with my deck gun until the other Corvette came over from the other side of the convoy. I duked it out with it and was only hit twice I think. Anyways I sunk it and I think that was the most fun. Going head to head on the surface exchanging lead. My deck crew was very good though. I then emptied my ammo holds on the defenseless ships until I realized I had one more stern torpedo left. I lined up and fired away but didn't sink the ship I aimed at. In the end I sunk 3 warships and 8/16 of the merchants. One of which was a Tanker. I've never seen ships carrying trucks, tanks, and planes before. But I sunk some. It was a good night.

Are tankers better to sink than cargo ships? Some ships appeared orange on my map. What does that mean? Thanks for all your advice. I learned a lot.

[Gargamel]

No idea what orange is... never seen it before. It thought it was just red/green/blue/grey.

Anyways, I play with those colors turned off so I have to manually identify the nationality of each ship.

Now go install one of the super mods and see what happens when you try that approach tactic. . Or are you Missing Name?

Very good.

Now try the same attack with 100% realism.
Map contacts Off (Nothing on the sea chart but you).
And Manual Targetting.

I'de be willing to bet that the results will look much different.

[jwolf4]

Ok, maybe the color is red or green. I have color confusion or some medical term, basically where I don't see patterns between colors well at all and much less between shades of colors, but that's not important. I guess that the different colors show nationality or friendly-hostile-neutral status?

I am playing with 43% realism. I'll try higher realism levels once I get the hang of the game and beat it. Right now I'm having a great time at it though.

[Gargamel]

Yup...

In GWX, this color scheme is removed, leaving the map as juy . It forces you to identify the ship by the flag it's flying. You then use a pull down tab to compare the flag to a chart that shows you which side they're on and when.

But if you're colorblind, flag identification may get interesting for you....

[Mouftic]

Originally Posted by jwolf4

At ~12:00 I fired my only Type IIIGe torpedo at the destroyer escort up front.

Big no, no!
The objective is to sink has many merchants without even touching an escort.

Originally Posted by jwolf4

I fired 2 torpedoes at a C2 Cargo and a T2 Tanker in the front line. Sunk em both. (I think one torpedo may have sufficed for each, but it may just be a random probability).

Good habit.
I always fire 2 torpedoes now at each target in convoy now since I got rob of a large tanker once with a premature detonation.

If it's a single merchant go for one at a time.

Originally Posted by jwolf4

I was out of front torpedoes, so I cut across in front of the convoy and was greeted by a Flower Corvette. It followed me so I blew it up, firing a stern torpedo at 900m and closing.

Low percentage shot, worth a try when in big doo doo.

Originally Posted by jwolf4

Then I surfaced an started engaging ships with my deck gun until the other Corvette came over from the other side of the convoy. I duked it out with it and was only hit twice I think. Anyways I sunk it and I think that was the most fun.

OK Rambo! Yeah fun but suicidal.
Start playing your commanders with only one life. You will learn pretty fast that way.

Read my true story thread to see how I do it. It's also entertaining.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=182248

Have fun

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

In best David Attenborough voice:

"Merchants in the wild are a stupid and cattle like creature. While they have never been observed exhibiting this behavior in the wild, merchants that have been bred in captivity have been known, on occasion, to be actually become aware of predatory threats, and react accordingly. In the wild, only the keen and alert watchfulness of their symbiotic life partner, painindassus destroyus, has ever been observed alerting the merchants to the presence of a threat. These nimble and aggressive shepherds of the marine world quickly pounce on any perceived threat."

Cmon folks.... that was funny.... not even a guffah from anybody.....

[Fish In The Water]

^^^ I dunno, bumping your own comedy is kinda funny - does that count?

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Fish In The Water

^^^ I dunno, bumping your own comedy is kinda funny - does that count?

Yeah I guess..... sigh.....

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Cmon folks.... that was funny.... not even a guffah from anybody.....

I wanted to laugh, but I kept remembering Ben Affleck rolling that Animal Cracker on Liv Tyler's belly in Armageddon.

[Sailor Steve]

It's okay, Gargles. We know you're a funny guy.

In fact, we laugh at you behind your back all the time.

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Cmon folks.... that was funny.... not even a guffah from anybody.....

Well I tried to imitate his voice for my own pleasure. But couldn't quite get the vibe going. It does actually read the way he talks. So hats off to you!