Convoy hunting...how far do people go?

Heibges · 02-21-07, 05:11 PM

If I find a convoy I generally can sink 5 to 7 ships.

I will conduct 3 attacks over the course of 36 hours.

I will usually fire 2 fan shots of 2 eels each, then spin around and fire my aft tube and a target of opportunity.

Then I break off the engagment, move away from the convoy, reload my torpedoes, and start the overhaul maneuver again.

OneTinSoldier · 02-22-07, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heibges

If I find a convoy I generally can sink 5 to 7 ships.

I will conduct 3 attacks over the course of 36 hours.

I will usually fire 2 fan shots of 2 eels each, then spin around and fire my aft tube and a target of opportunity.

Then I break off the engagment, move away from the convoy, reload my torpedoes, and start the overhaul maneuver again.

That's pretty much what I do too. I like to take out one of the escorts if I can, otherwise I find it can be hard to get my foot in the door.

RawRecruit · 02-22-07, 09:32 AM

I usually try to wait till dark and go in on the surface. I get in position dead ahead of the side escort and match his speed, far enough away so I'm not seen. As soon as he starts his weave out to the side, I turn in and begin my attack. My last attack got me a C3, a T3 and a Whale Factory ship for 4 torpedoes!

My best attack was an East-bound convoy that was only guarded by a lead and rear escort. I attacked in the side and scored two C3. The escorts tried to find me but I evaded them. So I reloaded,went in again, fired a single torpedo at each of my four targets and sunk a T3 and disabled a C3 and a small merchant. I hit a large merchant, too, but it kept going. I dived and the escorts ran about before going back to the convoy. I waited for a while, submerged and skulking about the stationary ships, and reloaded my last torpedoes (only 2 left at this point). After the convoy had moved on a bit, I surfaced and torpedoed the C3 and deck gunned the small merchant into oblivion. I then hit flank speed and headed South before East, thus sidestepping the escorts that raced back to find me. I sped on past them and caught back up with the convoy and dashed in at the damaged Large Merchant and finished her with my last torpedo. I did this rather hurriedly whilst under fire from some guns on a freighter. I about turned and scarpered for home! It was totally exhilerating and, at just shy of 80k tonnes, my best patrol to date!

XXi · 02-22-07, 09:43 AM

Depends... on the weather, year, situation, the Uboot I have.
Recently, I `ve intercepted a small convoy of 8 tankers and 2 large cargo ships in the Caribbean, mid 1942 while navigating IXD2. It was night and weather conditions were good - I stayed on surface and attacked from the starboard, firing a salvo of 4 torpedoes to 4 targets, then I moved a little bit and fired 2 aft torpedos at a merchant - set deep because of the angle and risk of a dud torpedo.

In two nights battle I managed to destroy all convoy except one cargo and both DDs - they were very unexpierienced and ran out of DCs in the first night. It made all the attacks on the next night so damn easier

If the weather is bad enough, I tend to remain surfaced ( or submerge only for short ) and make surface attacks within the convoy at high speed. Of course, such tactics is OK until 1941-2 then it`s just too risky.

In general I adjust the tactis to suit the situation, but there are several things I try to avoid.
I never ever attack in shallow water, that is if there`s less than 75-100m. Preferable areas for daring attacks are 100-200m deep. It`s deep enough to hide and if everything fail there is a slight chance you`ll stay at the bottom and still manage to repair and surface instead of beeing crushed. Of course, it`s just a slight chance.
I avoid attacks in heavy fog and rain - sometimes I use it for getting into a convoy, but on the other hand, there is a risk.
And of course I don`t like areas where patrol planes are often met - if I`m closing a convoy and get spotted by a plane, everything messes up.

RawRecruit · 02-22-07, 09:50 AM

Yeah I should have mentioned that the above was in early-mid 1941...any later and that would have been suicide!

danurve · 02-22-07, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heibges

...

I will usually fire 2 fan shots of 2 eels each, then spin around and fire my aft tube and a target of opportunity.

Gaarrrrrrr ..

High Voltage · 02-22-07, 02:27 PM

I tend to play it safe and attack only fishing boats and unarmed tugs. My last attack cost me 6 torps but netted me almost 2000 tonnes...

robbo180265 · 02-22-07, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by High Voltage

I tend to play it safe and attack only fishing boats and unarmed tugs. My last attack cost me 6 torps but netted me almost 2000 tonnes...

I'm having one of "those" patrols at the moment

Doc1234 · 02-22-07, 05:43 PM

Hi all,

I am playing 100% realism, with GWX mod. i will shadow a convoy for hours, diving and listening on the hydrophone when I lose visual contact. Sometimes I will encounter a convoy at 0800 and shadow until it gets dark 2300!!!! sometimes. I then will try to get within 400-500 meters and will shoot two fish per vessel. I aim for the closet vessel. Most of my attacks are on the surface. So far, one career without dying I have sunk 85,000 tons. Got lucky one mission and encountered a battleship and sent her to the bottom. Hope i don't die before reaching the magic 100,000 ton mark (more or less when U-Boat captains were awarded the Knight's Cross) Good Hunting to all!

02-21-07, 05:11 PM	#1
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	If I find a convoy I generally can sink 5 to 7 ships. I will conduct 3 attacks over the course of 36 hours. I will usually fire 2 fan shots of 2 eels each, then spin around and fire my aft tube and a target of opportunity. Then I break off the engagment, move away from the convoy, reload my torpedoes, and start the overhaul maneuver again. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

02-22-07, 09:43 AM	#4
XXi Ensign Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Warsaw, Poland / Nagoya, Japan Posts: 227 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Depends... on the weather, year, situation, the Uboot I have. Recently, I `ve intercepted a small convoy of 8 tankers and 2 large cargo ships in the Caribbean, mid 1942 while navigating IXD2. It was night and weather conditions were good - I stayed on surface and attacked from the starboard, firing a salvo of 4 torpedoes to 4 targets, then I moved a little bit and fired 2 aft torpedos at a merchant - set deep because of the angle and risk of a dud torpedo. In two nights battle I managed to destroy all convoy except one cargo and both DDs - they were very unexpierienced and ran out of DCs in the first night. It made all the attacks on the next night so damn easier If the weather is bad enough, I tend to remain surfaced ( or submerge only for short ) and make surface attacks within the convoy at high speed. Of course, such tactics is OK until 1941-2 then it`s just too risky. In general I adjust the tactis to suit the situation, but there are several things I try to avoid. I never ever attack in shallow water, that is if there`s less than 75-100m. Preferable areas for daring attacks are 100-200m deep. It`s deep enough to hide and if everything fail there is a slight chance you`ll stay at the bottom and still manage to repair and surface instead of beeing crushed. Of course, it`s just a slight chance. I avoid attacks in heavy fog and rain - sometimes I use it for getting into a convoy, but on the other hand, there is a risk. And of course I don`t like areas where patrol planes are often met - if I`m closing a convoy and get spotted by a plane, everything messes up. __________________ lasciate ogni speranza... voi, chi entrate

02-22-07, 02:27 PM	#7
High Voltage Chief Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: U-33. Depth Charges...sinking.. Posts: 325 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I tend to play it safe and attack only fishing boats and unarmed tugs. My last attack cost me 6 torps but netted me almost 2000 tonnes... __________________ The new-moon night is black as ink. Off Hatteras the tankers sink. While sadly Roosevelt counts the score-- Some fifty thousand tons--by MOHR

02-22-07, 05:43 PM	#9
Doc1234 Seaman Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 39 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Convoy Attacks Hi all, I am playing 100% realism, with GWX mod. i will shadow a convoy for hours, diving and listening on the hydrophone when I lose visual contact. Sometimes I will encounter a convoy at 0800 and shadow until it gets dark 2300!!!! sometimes. I then will try to get within 400-500 meters and will shoot two fish per vessel. I aim for the closet vessel. Most of my attacks are on the surface. So far, one career without dying I have sunk 85,000 tons. Got lucky one mission and encountered a battleship and sent her to the bottom. Hope i don't die before reaching the magic 100,000 ton mark (more or less when U-Boat captains were awarded the Knight's Cross) Good Hunting to all!

02-22-07, 09:32 AM	#3
RawRecruit Sailor man Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 50 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I usually try to wait till dark and go in on the surface. I get in position dead ahead of the side escort and match his speed, far enough away so I'm not seen. As soon as he starts his weave out to the side, I turn in and begin my attack. My last attack got me a C3, a T3 and a Whale Factory ship for 4 torpedoes! My best attack was an East-bound convoy that was only guarded by a lead and rear escort. I attacked in the side and scored two C3. The escorts tried to find me but I evaded them. So I reloaded,went in again, fired a single torpedo at each of my four targets and sunk a T3 and disabled a C3 and a small merchant. I hit a large merchant, too, but it kept going. I dived and the escorts ran about before going back to the convoy. I waited for a while, submerged and skulking about the stationary ships, and reloaded my last torpedoes (only 2 left at this point). After the convoy had moved on a bit, I surfaced and torpedoed the C3 and deck gunned the small merchant into oblivion. I then hit flank speed and headed South before East, thus sidestepping the escorts that raced back to find me. I sped on past them and caught back up with the convoy and dashed in at the damaged Large Merchant and finished her with my last torpedo. I did this rather hurriedly whilst under fire from some guns on a freighter. I about turned and scarpered for home! It was totally exhilerating and, at just shy of 80k tonnes, my best patrol to date!

02-22-07, 09:50 AM	#5
RawRecruit Sailor man Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 50 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yeah I should have mentioned that the above was in early-mid 1941...any later and that would have been suicide!