Request urgent lessons in submerged evasion techniques

[Eichenlaub]

Gentlemen: thank you all for contributing. I shall try your tips out now and see if my performance improves. I'll let you know later.

Kind regards,

Eichenlaub

[tbarak]

No reason to disparage as I think the intent of the designers was to make fighting late in the war very hard. This is of course done to mirror reality.

I think the only things you can do is be selective and realize that some convoys may be too well defended to attack. Attacking in bad weather and at night helps, and take your shot and run like hell. If you're caught inside a convoy, steam directly underneath a merchant, one that's wounded is ideal. That way the escorts can't touch you and they will eventually leave. You can then finish off the wounded merchant at your leisure.

Attacking from greater range helps and take good advantage of the acoustic homers and FATS. The decoys can really save you if used properly. Also I don't hesitate to shoot at the destroyers anymore especially when I think I can't escape them. I steam at periscope depth and give them as inviting a target as possible. Wait until they're close, about 500 - 700 metres and let 'em have it with a stern shot, using an electric eel, magnetic impact. They almost always go down with one shot. You can eventually thin out the escort screen one-by-one and hopefully you have enough fuel - and patience - to mop up the convoy. It's very time consuming and you really have to be patient, but it is possible.

And I think you have to resign yourself to the fact that the glory days (the happy times) are over by 1944, so lower tonnage scores are to be expected.

[Txema]

Stiebler,

Ironically, perhaps, the big problem is slipping away *after* the escorts have run out of depthcharges - they do run out eventually, although it often feels like it takes ages. Then you can't escape in the noise of the depthcharges.

Is the noise of the depth charges really modelled in SH3 to make the hydrophones and ASDIC loose contact as it happened in real life???


Txema

[Sir Big Jugs]

God help me, I'm in -39, in Scapa in a Type VIIB and I've got HI of 57%, am in 20m deep with 7 destroyers pinging me!

S O S!

[Stiebler]

Txema asked:

Is the noise of the depth charges really modelled in SH3 to make the hydrophones and ASDIC loose contact as it happened in real life???

It seems to be, yes. Of course, it's not likely to be the sound that is modelled, but the fact of depthcharges being dropped. Quite a simple equation, depending on how it is implemented. Remember that the time for the depthcharges to fall and explode is already modelled, so the variables are already available for use in the computation.

Stiebler.

[Txema]

Very interesting advise.

Thank you very much for your help !!!


Txema

[Highbury]

Originally Posted by Brewster Pilot

God help me, I'm in -39, in Scapa in a Type VIIB and I've got HI of 57%, am in 20m deep with 7 destroyers pinging me!

S O S!

bye

[Eichenlaub]

I tried it out yesterday and I....survived!

I fired several torpedoes at long range between 3000 and 4000 meters, at two T3's, a T2 and a TT. One T3 was sunk after a single hit. The TT was hit as well and apparently sank after I don't know how many minutes - I got the message that it was sinking while evading submerged later on. I did have the event camera turned on, so I saw my T I steam torpedo (it happened to be in the tubes, I've stopped using them now though I still use the T I FaT and occasionally the LuT) hit a T2 tanker right between the bulge of the aftership and the rudder...I knew I'd hit the propulson and she was going to sit there, waiting for me to reappeer eventually and finish the job.

I did wait just a tad too long to dive (I love watching those torpedo runs), forcing me to fire at an oncoming warship. I sank it and neatly dived to 200m. I went silent at 1 knot at that depth in the direction of the convoy's heading. I had meant to await the results of my torpedoes and the escorts' actions. This way, I could opt to go to PD again if the escorts didn't find me the first time and fire again. Two warships were next observed to be converging on my position. I couldn't help being pinged a few times, and changing direction at least 180 degrees, but this time the BOLD may have actually assisted me - that must be a first! I kept waiting for them to ping me again but it never happened. I egressed the convoy at its rear. I then went to PD and searched the area where I had marked that stationary tanker. It wasn't long before my sonarman picked it up. Ironically, she took two more contact torpedoes before she went down, which was surprising considering a T3 and a TT had gone down after a single hit under their keels.

In my next patrol I finally got rid of the TI, but retained the TI FaT since after upgrading to the Type XXI, I no longer have the renown to purchase just any torpedo I want.

In my next patrol I also encountered a convoy. It consisted of about 6 to 8 small targets (CM's, SM's) and 4-5 C2's and a T2, protected by about 5-6 warships. I sank a warship in front of the convoy with a Zaunkönig and approached the merchants head on. This convoy battle was surprising in that only one of the warships actually made an attempt to intercept me after my first torpedo hit. I had to sink that one too - my second Zaunkönig success! I love those TV's! They have missed only once yet. Since no warships made their presence felt, I could set about firing plenty of torpedoes. Eventually I gave up this battle as the risk was increasing. As the convoy moved in my direction, so did the rear escort. Since I apporached the convoy head on, I had to fire a few down-the-throat shots at C2's. Despite the number of torpedoes I fired, I only sank the single T2 and 2 C2's. One C2 had already eaten up 3 torpedoes (at least two had hit her) but she still sped away at 4 knots.
After letting the convoy pass, I went back to PD and chased that final slow C2. She was protected by a lone escort that did something of a "Crazy Ivan" every now and then. Travelling at 9 knots with periscope surfaced I usually spotted instantly when the escort turned towards me. I slowed to 1 knot every time that happened. After completing this cycle 3-4 times, I was finally just ahead of the slow C2. Turning westwards, I got to within 400 meters before firing another torpedo. The escort didn't intervene at all.

That last convoy battle was rarely a battle; it resembled a Turkey shoot. The two escorts that did try to catch me were dealt with by the TV, of which I usually carry two. The others never even bothered. The earlier patrol, for which I enlisted your assistance, was muuuuuch harder. I think I have learnt a bit from this. Next time, I shall try and follow your instructions to the letter and see if I can survive AND score some tonnage.

Anyway, thank you all for helping me out. I'll use the remaining months of the war (it's 11-'44 now) to learn a few more evasion tricks in heavy convoy battles. Hoepfully, that will prepare me for a 100% DID NYGM/GW campaign in Type IX boats...

Kind regards,

Eichenlaub