1943 and the growing sense of doom

[flag4]

...never made it past '42. But I think this was due to impatience and risk taking.

[RustySubmarine]

Originally Posted by flag4

...never made it past '42. But I think this was due to impatience and risk taking.

Taking risks can play a big part on survival. I am a bit of a stickler for taking risks. If my patrol has not brought much luck in sinking a few ships, I tend to venture into an area where I am likely to find something worth risking. The Humber estuary is one of these, but there is always warships on the lookout for any unsuspected activity. Night time encounters are best used to enter harbours, either on surface or submerged if there are chances of being spotted. I usually stay on the surface as long as possible and only submerge if I need to do so. You need to watch out for nets, especially if the channel you are entering is narrow, or you may even encounter mines. Oh yes I have been caught in nets up the Clyde, and getting out of them can be a bit tricky, but you will get damaged. But it's all part of risk taking I suppose, otherwise play it cool and don't take chances, if you want to survive longer, but you wont get any medals, if you don't get your tonnage score up.

[flag4]

Originally Posted by RustySubmarine

Taking risks can play a big part on survival. I am a bit of a stickler for taking risks. If my patrol has not brought much luck in sinking a few ships, I tend to venture into an area where I am likely to find something worth risking. The Humber estuary is one of these, but there is always warships on the lookout for any unsuspected activity. Night time encounters are best used to enter harbours, either on surface or submerged if there are chances of being spotted. I usually stay on the surface as long as possible and only submerge if I need to do so. You need to watch out for nets, especially if the channel you are entering is narrow, or you may even encounter mines. Oh yes I have been caught in nets up the Clyde, and getting out of them can be a bit tricky, but you will get damaged. But it's all part of risk taking I suppose, otherwise play it cool and don't take chances, if you want to survive longer, but you wont get any medals, if you don't get your tonnage score up.

I agree with you RustySubmarine...but I think my problem sometimes surfaces when impatience and risk taking combine; this I think is a deadly combination. it has caught me out on so many occasions and every time I tell myself, next time I wont let it happen - so, im learning not to rush in in panic mode just to get some tonnage. I keep saying to myself 'crew first - tonnage next time.'
the problem is that its so tempting to take a risk...


by the way, that's a great photo of 534. ive been to see it on a few occasions and think they should never have cut it up the way they did. maybe have been better to cut some large side panels out - coz inside is all rusted to hell anyway. its such a gorgeous shape and we lose all sense of that as it lies there in 3-4 slabs like a sliced up whale.

[RustySubmarine]

Yes it's a bloody shame they had to cut up U534. I watched it being lifted off the barge, when it first arrived at Birkenhead and lowered onto the jetty. I've been aboard her quite a few times whilst she was at the H S Museum, as a mate of mine was one of the volunteers who worked there. It was a sad day when the museum had to close and the fate of U534 was left in the balance, as to what would happen to it. The rest of the ships, found new homes, but U534 was too big to move and fears that it might have to be scrapped was on the cards. Luckily she was eventually saved, but had to be cut into sections, so that it could be moved to its new resting place at the new Nautical Museum near the Ferry. But at least it has been saved and although maybe not a complete one piece boat, you can still visit it today.

[Wulfmann]

I have only once completed a GWX start to finish career.

I almost finished another but was sunk in early 45 taking a risk i should not have.

The one I completed I simply left the NA in the Spring of 43 buying a IXC and moving to the SA. After mid 44 I bought a VIIC and moved to Norway. I never went into the NA after 43 at all.

In late 44 and 45 I attacked Russian convoys and from long range turning and diving deep long before any possible torpedo impacts.

To be honest I eventually succumbed to shell shot and now have trouble attacking in 1940.
I used to sit for hours glued to the sonar maneuvering to avoid depth charges but now feel like I can no longer handle the stress
It is funny to admit you have post traumatic Stress from a sub sim but that is what happen to me.

I have completed one 1943 start and one 1944 start which helped and have two careers going but again, do not have the nerve I used to have.

When i completed an entire war career in GWX I kind of was expecting general O'Neil to stop by and beam me up to his ship and send my to the Destiny but alas, nothing

Wulfmann