How to intercept a convoy?

JoeCorrado · 03-18-08, 03:41 PM

My method is to get ahead of the convoy and to place myself in a good position for insertion. Ahead and to one side of the convoy, close enough (but not foolishly close) that I can sit quietly and await the passing of the lead escort with engines at idle and at a depth that I know my conning tower will not broach the waves. The current yaer has much to do with how close, is too close. Detection abilities increase as the war goes on.

Once the lead escort passes by I proceed rigged for silent running and at very slow (manually selected at 2 knots) speed, moving toward the convoy at an angle of about 30 degrees from their heading. This allows for a good angle to fire and also allows sufficient room to avoid the less vakuable outer ships. The most valuable prizes will be located in the middle of the convoy and not on the edges.

I raise and lower the periscope for brief periods during the approach (never at more than 1x TC) and will choose two or maybe three of the choicest targets. The targets selected are based upon value, location in convoy, having a clear shot at a reasonable angle (sometimes traffic can be a problem) and weather conditions.

In calm, clear conditions I will use magnetic triggers since the damage inflicted is more effective and a single torpedo can sink or cripple a ship (leaving it helpless and awaiting your convenience) more often, in rough seas- I use impact instead. If using impact triggers I target just two ships and send two torpedos set for appropriate depths and at a 1.5 degree angle. Don't forget to use the "Q" key to open torpedo doors before firing.

After my initial salvo, I will immediately switch off of silent running to allow my crew (which I have fresh and at 100% capacity) a little time to reload a torp or two while under cover of the noise and confusion. I will also consider any targets of convenience for my rear torpedo. I will not wait or seek out a target, but will take a quick shot if one is there for the taking.

Do not become so consumed with your targets that you fail to keep close tbs on what is happening around you in terms of the escorts or any smaller ships that are nearby and who may decide to ram you if you are sited- or just happen to be in their path. If there is threat of immediate detection by passing ships or escorts be very vigilant and remember descretion is the better part of valor!. Usually you will have a few minutes grace before the escorts get turned around or are able to close. Use the time wisely.

it is just a matter of your skill and confidence in how far you push your luck but this has been a good strategy for me. My initial tagets either die quickly or are left helpless awaiting my next run. That is the key... you do not have to eat the whole elephant at one sitting. Take the best targets and then escape / evade and set up for your next attack.

Sometimes, in very bad weather- you must follow the convoy just out of site for a day or two until weather gives you the opportunity you are looking for. High waves and bad visibility are a bad combination. Smooth water and less than optimal visibility are your friends. You do present a smaller footprint than your prey so stealth is your best ally... use this strength, but be careful to not get stepped on in your eagerness.

danurve · 03-18-08, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCorrado

My method is to get ahead of the convoy and to place myself in a good position for insertion. Ahead and to one side of the convoy, close enough (but not foolishly close) that I can sit quietly and await the passing of the lead escort with engines at idle and at a depth that I know my conning tower will not broach the waves. The current yaer has much to do with how close, is too close. Detection abilities increase as the war goes on.

Once the lead escort passes by I proceed rigged for silent running and at very slow (manually selected at 2 knots) speed, moving toward the convoy at an angle of about 30 degrees from their heading. This allows for a good angle to fire and also allows sufficient room to avoid the less vakuable outer ships. The most valuable prizes will be located in the middle of the convoy and not on the edges...

Spot On.

Rest of the post was good to but I use a very similar method. Been picking out good tonnage and getting to depend on electrics, including the early homing eels. (They have on occasion gone off and blasted the wrong target.) And yeah escape/evasion mid `42 and on is getting tricky.
"The Brittish have stopped making mistakes."

Jimbuna · 03-18-08, 04:36 PM

You'll get plenty of advice here....we were all in your position at some time or other

frenema · 03-19-08, 10:06 PM

Thanks for all the valuable tips guys! I guess I just need more practice and learn from each tries.

ReM · 03-20-08, 06:29 AM

About the choice of targets, one piece of advice from the U-Boat Commanders Handbook:

It is better to destroy little than to damage much.

That's why I think it is better to pump 2 eels into each target, than to only use one. It does happen that a ship blows up after the first hit and thus that the second torp is a waste, but I think it is a calculated waste. If there are (big) tankers in the convoy, I always target them first, if not i go for the biggest vessels (they give you the most tonnage, and the goal of a Kaleun is to sink as much tonnage as possible)

There is also a rather crude method I use to make sure that torpedoes hit at approximately the same time; because the speed of a torp is about 30 knots I make this simple calculation: distance / 30.

For instance , 2 targets one 1800 and the other 1500....the calculation gives a rough travelling time of about 60 and 50. So you fire the torps at the 1800 target and at the other one 10 seconds later. They should explode not long after another, in any case before a zigzag becomes effective.

Happy hunting!

SmokinTep · 03-20-08, 06:48 AM

I always send 2 eels per target. Rather have a chance of sinking 2 ships than having 4 with a little damage.

predavolk · 03-20-08, 10:29 AM

Being in similar shoes, here's some advice from a fellow newbie learning to demo convoys:

1- NEVER use time compression. Silent Hunter has a GARBAGE bug that gives destroyers an advantage if you use time compression. Yes, time compression isn't realistic, but many of us have lives that don't allow for 2 hrs waiting for the convoy to appear. If you must use time compression, use it as far away as possible from destroyers. What happens is the destroyers, on TC, don't find you exactly, but seem to know that there is a sub in the are and start pinging. Then they find you, and game over!

If they do detect you, dive deep. 150 - 200M. Or, alternatively, go to flank and run in on the convoy anyhow. At flank speed, it's not too tough to dodge their depth charge runs. Read my thread here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=132644

for my own convoy challenges as a beginner, and some good advice from others (some repeated in this thread).

2- Pick out targets of opportunity that are easily approached. Fine, you miss the 10K tanker and get a 5K medium merchant or something, but that's a lot better than missing both and getting depth charged! Also, expect to make a certain kind of attack. Go in knowing when and where you want to fire (especially with respect to AoB).

3- What I like to do is carry a mix of electric and gas torps. Let the electrics go first, then the gas (on fast). They'll hit close enough together for you to hit the merchants before serious zig-zagging occurs. Furthermore, you should be hitting targets close enough that zig-zagging doesn't make a big difference if you're inside the convoy.

Finally, I have done all the training missions on 100% realism (vanilla, not GWX). I used assisted targeting to get the hang of AoB, but the rest is really easy. And actually, the manual way of targeting speed (plotting target over 3:15 minutes/seconds) is easier and more accurate than using the scope. I manually guess AoB, but I either set up my attack, or I'm close enough that small errors don't matter, or I'll send a spread of torpedoes to hedge my bet. One area that really helped, and continues to help me, is sending gas torps at 1M. Yes, the ships can see them, but I've never seen anything other than a destroyer dodge one. What it does do is give you a nice clear line to show where your torp headed, giving you feedback on your aim. Good luck!

03-18-08, 03:41 PM	#1
JoeCorrado Weps Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 366 Downloads: 176 Uploads: 5	My method is to get ahead of the convoy and to place myself in a good position for insertion. Ahead and to one side of the convoy, close enough (but not foolishly close) that I can sit quietly and await the passing of the lead escort with engines at idle and at a depth that I know my conning tower will not broach the waves. The current yaer has much to do with how close, is too close. Detection abilities increase as the war goes on. Once the lead escort passes by I proceed rigged for silent running and at very slow (manually selected at 2 knots) speed, moving toward the convoy at an angle of about 30 degrees from their heading. This allows for a good angle to fire and also allows sufficient room to avoid the less vakuable outer ships. The most valuable prizes will be located in the middle of the convoy and not on the edges. I raise and lower the periscope for brief periods during the approach (never at more than 1x TC) and will choose two or maybe three of the choicest targets. The targets selected are based upon value, location in convoy, having a clear shot at a reasonable angle (sometimes traffic can be a problem) and weather conditions. In calm, clear conditions I will use magnetic triggers since the damage inflicted is more effective and a single torpedo can sink or cripple a ship (leaving it helpless and awaiting your convenience) more often, in rough seas- I use impact instead. If using impact triggers I target just two ships and send two torpedos set for appropriate depths and at a 1.5 degree angle. Don't forget to use the "Q" key to open torpedo doors before firing. After my initial salvo, I will immediately switch off of silent running to allow my crew (which I have fresh and at 100% capacity) a little time to reload a torp or two while under cover of the noise and confusion. I will also consider any targets of convenience for my rear torpedo. I will not wait or seek out a target, but will take a quick shot if one is there for the taking. Do not become so consumed with your targets that you fail to keep close tbs on what is happening around you in terms of the escorts or any smaller ships that are nearby and who may decide to ram you if you are sited- or just happen to be in their path. If there is threat of immediate detection by passing ships or escorts be very vigilant and remember descretion is the better part of valor!. Usually you will have a few minutes grace before the escorts get turned around or are able to close. Use the time wisely. it is just a matter of your skill and confidence in how far you push your luck but this has been a good strategy for me. My initial tagets either die quickly or are left helpless awaiting my next run. That is the key... you do not have to eat the whole elephant at one sitting. Take the best targets and then escape / evade and set up for your next attack. Sometimes, in very bad weather- you must follow the convoy just out of site for a day or two until weather gives you the opportunity you are looking for. High waves and bad visibility are a bad combination. Smooth water and less than optimal visibility are your friends. You do present a smaller footprint than your prey so stealth is your best ally... use this strength, but be careful to not get stepped on in your eagerness. __________________ ============= My Game starts with GFO - Keepin' it real as it needs to be!

03-18-08, 04:36 PM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,712 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	You'll get plenty of advice here....we were all in your position at some time or other __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

03-20-08, 06:29 AM	#5
ReM Commodore Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Brewsky, Galore Posts: 618 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	About the choice of targets, one piece of advice from the U-Boat Commanders Handbook: It is better to destroy little than to damage much. That's why I think it is better to pump 2 eels into each target, than to only use one. It does happen that a ship blows up after the first hit and thus that the second torp is a waste, but I think it is a calculated waste. If there are (big) tankers in the convoy, I always target them first, if not i go for the biggest vessels (they give you the most tonnage, and the goal of a Kaleun is to sink as much tonnage as possible) There is also a rather crude method I use to make sure that torpedoes hit at approximately the same time; because the speed of a torp is about 30 knots I make this simple calculation: distance / 30. For instance , 2 targets one 1800 and the other 1500....the calculation gives a rough travelling time of about 60 and 50. So you fire the torps at the 1800 target and at the other one 10 seconds later. They should explode not long after another, in any case before a zigzag becomes effective. Happy hunting! __________________ Daddy cool

03-19-08, 10:06 PM	#4
frenema Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 116 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Thanks for all the valuable tips guys! I guess I just need more practice and learn from each tries.

03-20-08, 06:48 AM	#6
SmokinTep Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Suffolk, Virginia Posts: 1,027 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I always send 2 eels per target. Rather have a chance of sinking 2 ships than having 4 with a little damage.

03-20-08, 10:29 AM	#7
predavolk Weps Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 369 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Being in similar shoes, here's some advice from a fellow newbie learning to demo convoys: 1- NEVER use time compression. Silent Hunter has a GARBAGE bug that gives destroyers an advantage if you use time compression. Yes, time compression isn't realistic, but many of us have lives that don't allow for 2 hrs waiting for the convoy to appear. If you must use time compression, use it as far away as possible from destroyers. What happens is the destroyers, on TC, don't find you exactly, but seem to know that there is a sub in the are and start pinging. Then they find you, and game over! If they do detect you, dive deep. 150 - 200M. Or, alternatively, go to flank and run in on the convoy anyhow. At flank speed, it's not too tough to dodge their depth charge runs. Read my thread here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=132644 for my own convoy challenges as a beginner, and some good advice from others (some repeated in this thread). 2- Pick out targets of opportunity that are easily approached. Fine, you miss the 10K tanker and get a 5K medium merchant or something, but that's a lot better than missing both and getting depth charged! Also, expect to make a certain kind of attack. Go in knowing when and where you want to fire (especially with respect to AoB). 3- What I like to do is carry a mix of electric and gas torps. Let the electrics go first, then the gas (on fast). They'll hit close enough together for you to hit the merchants before serious zig-zagging occurs. Furthermore, you should be hitting targets close enough that zig-zagging doesn't make a big difference if you're inside the convoy. Finally, I have done all the training missions on 100% realism (vanilla, not GWX). I used assisted targeting to get the hang of AoB, but the rest is really easy. And actually, the manual way of targeting speed (plotting target over 3:15 minutes/seconds) is easier and more accurate than using the scope. I manually guess AoB, but I either set up my attack, or I'm close enough that small errors don't matter, or I'll send a spread of torpedoes to hedge my bet. One area that really helped, and continues to help me, is sending gas torps at 1M. Yes, the ships can see them, but I've never seen anything other than a destroyer dodge one. What it does do is give you a nice clear line to show where your torp headed, giving you feedback on your aim. Good luck!