Tell us what you are upto in your current campaign

[Jimbuna]

your lucky you weren't fired upon by your own side when entering Bergen...more than 24 hours must have elapsed.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

U-49 in midst of patrol; sank one C3 cargo ship and saved game. Nearly sank another C3 cargo plus a T3 tanker, but torpedoes malfunctioned and deck gun crews were unable to get to deck gun due to absolute BS excuse of "seas being too rough". Fired on tanker using aft tube, but after torpedo room forgot to set target bearing and fish went straight astern. Nearly shot highest-ranking aft torpedo crewman for that one! Plan on transferring several crewmembers and (if possible) demoting others. It appears I was too hasty in handing out promotions, as lately my crew has developed several cases of extreme incompetence.

-OLzS Matthais Suckel
Commanding Officer, U-49

[VONHARRIS]

Patrol No2
Sad news came in: U-103 has been lost after sinking an enemy BB. A salute for these brave men
U-46 on her way to Bergen sank an enemy freighter but her flak gunner fired against friendly aircraft. Fortunately nothing happened.

11 November 1939
09:47 hours U-102 left port to patrol grid BE99

14 November 1939
Grid AN44
16:57 hours Sound contact -merchant (because of heavy seas)
16:58 hours Dived to PD
17:26 hours Positive ID: Ore carrier
17:37 hours 2 TI (bow) fired
17:38 hours Impacts
17:39 hours Ship sunk

25 November 1939
Grid BE99
00:47 hours Ship seen
00:49 hours Positive ID: Passenger/cargo with oil barrels on deck
01:09 hours Engaged with deck gun
01:10 hours Ship sunk after 8 88mm rounds

29 November 1939
Grid CG95
23:31 hours Ship seen - ID: Medium merchant 06
23:42 hours Engaged with deck gun
23:45 hours Ship sunk after 32 88mm rounds

30 November 1939
Grid CG95
06:41 hours Ship seen - ID: Medium cargo
06:47 hours Engaged with deck gun
06:51 hours Ship sunk after 51 88mm rounds

14 December 1939
Grid AM52
17:31 hours Ship seen
17:32 hours Positive ID: Passenger/cargo - dived to PD
17:37 hours 2 TI (bow) fired
17:38 hours Impacts
17:41 hours Ship sunk

15 December 1939
Grid AM52
13:19 hours Ship seen - ID: Small freighter
13:20 hours Dived to PD
13:33 hours 1 TI (stern) fired
13:34 hours Impact - ship broke in two

16 December 1939
Grid AM52
04:36 hours Warship seen - dived to PD
05:05 hours Multiple sound contacts - convoy closing
05:37 hours 1 TI (bow) fired
05:38 hours Impact - 1 TI (bow) fired - impact
05:39 hours Impact
05:40 hours 1 TI (bow) fired - diving to 100m - impact
06:42 hours Periscope depth
06:46 hours Heavy merchant 01 DIW
07:02 hours 1 TI (stern) fired - impact - started reloading tubes
07:21 hours Tube 1 ready - 1 TI (bow) fired
07:22 hours Impact
07:23 hours Ship sunk - diving to 100m undetected
07:46 hours Depth 100m - still undetected
08:21 hours Distant breaking up noises - Heavy merchant 01 sunk
09:50 hours Surfaced - started return passage

21 December 1939
U-102 returned to port
41 days at sea
8 ships sunk
43249 tons
No damages or casualties

Took command of U-65 IXB U-boot. (I hope I will be luckier than R/L U-65)

7.maj.41
BF61
2223: Undreway from Lorient.
Initial Destination: AK55.
Torpedoe Loadout: 2 x TI G7A (Tubes 3 & 6). 12 x TII G7E.
7 X TI G7E in upper decking.
All torpedoes preset to 3 meters AZ (Impact Pistol).

8.maj.41 BF19 2037: Dive for Destroyer.
8.maj.41 BF19 2340: Dive for Destroyer. (Full Moon).
14.maj41 AK67 2112: Radio: "Convoy. AK62. ENE. 6 knots."
15.maj.41 AK62 0719: Radio: "Convoy. AK03. ENE. 6 knots."

15.maj.41 AK03
0858: Corvette sighted. 254 R. Course almost paralel to our own.
0859: Remaining surfaced. Suspect Corvette to be Stb Escort.
0938: Reversing course inward of the Corvette (no longer visible).
0947: Destroyer sighted 011 R, at 4500 meters. New depth 15 meters.
0948: Wow! Merchants are close! Periscope depth. Silent Speed.
1005: Destroyer was menacing, at short range.
1006: Preset TDC: AOB 90 Port, 6 knots.
1006: Estimated course 058, 6 knots is given.
1007: Open tubes 1, 2, 4, and 5. (Inside the box. Front row only.)
1008: 2 degree spread for a triple shot on C2 Cargo.
1009: Tube 5 goes to first targetable merchant at/near 1000 meters.
1011: Fire 1, 4, and 2! Fire 5! (Few degrees early, but range looks perfect).
1011: Down scope. New depth 101 meters!
1012: Impact! Small Merchant Romper screwed up the shot, and sunk.
1013: Impact! Tube 5 (Targeted Small Merchant).
1014: Impact x 2! (C2, at about 3000 meters). Damn romper!
1017: Passing 40 meters. 5 degrees Left Rudder.
1026: Small Merchant (astern) sunk!
1033: Passing 100 meters. Steady up on 283.
1053: Bow on to warship at short range.
1115: Warship at long range, moving fast toward convoy.
1120: All clear. Reloading torpedo tubes.

1301: Report sent:
AK0373
Two 2000 tonners sunk.
Contact lost in heavy rain & fog. 7 M/S.
Last contact 058, making 6 knots.
2 air, and 8 electrics available.
7 air in upper decking.

1326: Continue toward AK5535.

17.maj.41 AK5535 1933: On station. Medium fog. Report sent.
17.maj.41 AK5535 2003: BDU: Occupy AK8312.
18.maj.41 AK8312 1419: Report: On station.
18.maj.41 AK8312 1454: BDU: Proceed toward BC4311, at most economical speed.
19.maj.41 AK8415 2154: Light fog. 1 M/S.
19.maj.41 AK8415 2155: Moving 1 bow, and 1 stern external in.
20.maj.41 AK8415 0001: 8 electric, and 4 air available. 5 externals untouched.
25.maj.41 BC23 0758: Radio: "Convoy. BC29. ENE. 6 knots."
25.maj.41 BC23 0800: Responding in heavy fog.
25.maj.41 BC29 1357: Submerging in heavy fog.
25.maj.41 BC29 1800: Convoy unfounded.

27.maj.41. Light fog. 3 M/S. Save & Exit.

U102 is single handedly sinking the entire british merchant fleet.
U103 is presumed lost during a convoy engagement.

Originally Posted by sublynx

BdU's KTB 25.7.1940

U-103 has not reported since 18.7. and the enemy has reported in their radio news to have sunk a U-boat in the area U-103 last reported from. It must be presumed that the boat has been sunk on it's maiden voyage with all hands on board after sinking a battle ship and 30000 BRT of merchant shipping.

Oh, man!
What happenned?

[Fish In The Water]

Originally Posted by ijnfleetadmiral

It appears I was too hasty in handing out promotions, as lately my crew has developed several cases of extreme incompetence.

Resting a little too much on their laurels...

[ijnfleetadmiral]

U-49 PATROL 6

Commanding Officer: OLzS Matthias Suckel

START DATE: 4 March 1940

9 March 1940:

SS Queen (C3-Cargo) - 7,950 tons; 62 crew, 39 dead
MV James J. Maguire (T3 tanker) - 11,654 tons; 53 crew, 34 dead
SS Cavalier (C3 Cargo) - 7,952 tons; 38 crew, 21 dead

10 March 1940:

SS Jussi H. (Coastal Merchant) - 2,047 tons; 26 crew, 15 dead
SS Sea Nymph (C2 Cargo) - 6,449 tons; 40 crew, 37 dead
SS Monarch of the Seas (C2 Cargo) - 6,450 tons; 39 crew, 10 dead

END DATE: 14 March 1940

TOTAL SUNK: 42,502 tons; awarded Iron Cross 1st Class


Went ahead and promoted everybody that could be promoted. Question: on SH3 Commander, does it allow you to promote NCOs to Officer and / or Enlisted to NCO if you transfer your current Officers or NCOs out?

-Matt

[sublynx]

Originally Posted by Snestorm

Oh, man!
What happenned?

Mistake number 1, greed and overconfidence:
I got sighted by a destroyer while trying to finish my end run running on surface. (Shallow sea waters and air patrolled areas were closing, so I thought I was in a rush.)

Mistake number 2, greed and lack of skills:
I dived only to PD, because I estimated that I might still get a decent chance of a shot against the merchants or the destroyer steaming towards me. I didn't shoot at the destroyer since I had only one torpedo in stern tubes and I couldn't get an accurate estimation of the speed and course of the destroyer.

Mistakes number 3 and 4, greed and overconfidence and lack of skills:
I tried to evade in PD but got pinged. And then last one of my mistakes: I had read from Gordon Williamson's book U-boat tactics in World War II that the turning radius of submarine was something like 500 meters and that a destroyer's turning radius would be two to three times longer and that sometimes U-boats evaded destroyers using the better turning radius. Well, it didn't work out, DC's were dropped and then immediate

So a typical SH3 death. One initial smallish mistake followed by other gradually bigger and bigger mistakes. I'd better learn to respect the enemy more - even if it's just stupid AI

Originally Posted by sublynx

Mistakes number 3 and 4, greed and overconfidence and lack of skills:
I tried to evade in PD but got pinged. And then last one of my mistakes: I had read from Gordon Williamson's book U-boat tactics in World War II that the turning radius of submarine was something like 500 meters and that a destroyer's turning radius would be two to three times longer and that sometimes U-boats evaded destroyers using the better turning radius. Well, it didn't work out, DC's were dropped and then immediate

So a typical SH3 death. One initial smallish mistake followed by other gradually bigger and bigger mistakes. I'd better learn to respect the enemy more - even if it's just stupid AI

This was a very educational post. (A big advantage we have over the real Kaleuns).

The AI tends to lull us into disaster. Some of it does "nothing" for so long, as to lull us into a feeling of indestructability. That's when it happens. Pow! They suddenly know how to hunt uboats, or if they're already Elite (as in my game), their equipment suddenly becomes effective.

The turning circle advantage only works if:
You're on the surface at Flank Speed.
You're already inside their turning circle, and at extremely short range.

In the real world small boats, and even uboats could get close enough that a DD sized ship couldn't depress their main battery low enough. (I don't think that's modeled in SH3).

SH3 either lulls us to death, or uses our conscience against us (This is realy stupid to attack but, I might be labeled a coward for not carrying through).
One way or the other, our carreers rarely endure long term.

That's what makes SH3 a great sim, no?

[sublynx]

Originally Posted by Snestorm

This was a very educational post. (A big advantage we have over the real Kaleuns).

Exactly. They would never have known what went wrong - or they would have, but either got killed or were taken POWs. I bet it would have been interesting to hear the stories that the survivors told in veterans' meetings after the war.

Originally Posted by Snestorm

The AI tends to lull us into disaster. Some of it does "nothing" for so long, as to lull us into a feeling of indestructability. That's when it happens. Pow! They suddenly know how to hunt uboats, or if they're already Elite (as in my game), their equipment suddenly becomes effective.

That is what makes SH3 a great simulation, you're right about that If I would be able to just sink ship after a ship with no problems I would be bored to death in no time and would move to another game.

Originally Posted by Snestorm

The turning circle advantage only works if:
You're on the surface at Flank Speed.
You're already inside their turning circle, and at extremely short range.

I know that now... My VIIB is really not a Zero flying against a P-38 I'll never try that again...

Originally Posted by Snestorm

SH3 either lulls us to death, or uses our conscience against us (This is realy stupid to attack but, I might be labeled a coward for not carrying through).
One way or the other, our carreers rarely endure long term.

I have already realised the lulling us to death bit (and yet I still get caught and killed because of it), but I hadn't thought about the conscience/fearing labeled coward bit. I guess I need to be more aware of when to let the enemy go and then return to fight another day

Originally Posted by sublynx

I have already realised the lulling us to death bit (and yet I still get caught and killed because of it), but I hadn't thought about the conscience/fearing labeled coward bit. I guess I need to be more aware of when to let the enemy go and then return to fight another day

Ah, but can we realisticly do that?

Example:
Convoy attacked.
Boat survives in good condition. Crew & CO shaken.
Do I conduct a persuit?
Can I face BDU if I don't?

There's my problem.
The thought of facng a disappointed Onkel Karl is more frightening than what Tommy & Sam might do to me.

[sublynx]

Originally Posted by Snestorm

Ah, but can we realisticly do that?

Example:
Convoy attacked.
Boat survives in good condition. Crew & CO shaken.
Do I conduct a persuit?
Can I face BDU if I don't?

There's my problem.
The thought of facng a disappointed Onkel Karl is more frightening than what Tommy & Sam might do to me.

Lol, you're absolutely right! If I want to keep it close to historical realism, facing Onkel Karl would be more frightening than the more vague and distant Tommy and Sam.

I would only be allowed to become more afraid of the enemy if I had had a chance of realising what a mistake in a U-boat really means. (The difference between a U-boat man and an infantry man being that the infantry man very probably saw dismembered limbs and dead friends and such things connected to war before his own demise in contrast to the U-boat man who usually saw them only the day he died or got taken prisoner.)

[sublynx]

Lt.z.s. Walter Zantow
U-46, VIIB, "die Elster"
7. Flottille, Kiel
Orders: Patrol grid AL03

9.8.1940
0422 AN12 Clear, visibility 16 km, wind 9 m/s. HMS Nelson escorted by four Hunt I class destroyers on an initial course of 45 degrees, followed by a course change towards north, speed 15 knots. Tried following the convoy, but had to give up after a course change away from us. Engine setting AK gave us only a 15 - 16 knot top speed at the sea conditions.



10.8.1940
1609 AN12 clear, visibility 9 km, wind 19 m/s. A biplane, possibly a Swordfish sighted on northerly course, coming straight at us. Crash dived.

13.8.1940
1546 AM29 cloudy, visibility 9 km, wind 10 m/s. New orders: U 48, U 38 and U 46 ordered to operate against the Halifax convoy picked up by radio intelligence. It is to be in square AL 0316 on 15.8. or 16.8. Speed HF on an interception course.

14.8.1940
2037 AM19 very cloudy, visibility 1 km, wind 9 m/s. A 1800 BRT freighter sighted in a range of 400 - 600 meters. The ship was first lost in the bad visibility and I decided not to pursue as my orders were to try to intercept the Halifax convoy and giving chase to the freighter would have made it difficult to be in the right grid at the right time. The ship however happened to venture to our course again and I decided to try a stern shot. A G7e torpedo was launched, AZ, depth 3, speed 7 knots, AOB BKb 82, gyro angle 10. A dud heard on the hydrophone after a run of 35 seconds indicating a range of 540 meters, which should have been enough for the torpedo to arm. Possibly the angle at which the torpedo hit the ship was too bad. Then I launched Rohr 1 and Rohr 4, AZ, depth 3 meters from a distance of 450 meters, about 90 AOB, gyroangles 005 and 354, bearings 16 and 10. Both torpedoes hit and the ship was devastated by the explosions, catching fire everywhere and sinking under 2 minutes. 11 torpedoes left.

16.8.1940
0047 AL03 cloudy, visibility 9 km, wind 9m/s. New orders: The expected convoy should be 50 sea miles to the north. Speed AK to intercept.

17.8.1940
1906 AL38 very cloudy, visibility 5 km, wind 19 m/s. Contact report. Convoy AL38, course SSE, 8 kn.

18.8.1940
0300 AL03 very cloudy, visibility 5 km, wind 19 m/s. Contact not found.
2209 AM19 clear, visibility 16 km, wind 10 m/s. A 2400 BRT passenger/cargo ship sunk with 33 88cm deck gun shots and 120 20mm Flak gun shots. 187 deck gun shots and 780 Flak gun shots left. Fire opened at a range of 1000 meters.

21.8.1940
0728 AM43 clear, visibility 9 km, wind 6 m/s. Continuing patrol. 11 torpedoes left.

Zantow

[ijnfleetadmiral]

I'm on my third SH3 campaign and the only major warship I've sighted (if you can even call it a major warship) is a Bogue-class CVE. I've never even seen a British CL!

-Matt

Originally Posted by ijnfleetadmiral

I'm on my third SH3 campaign and the only major warship I've sighted (if you can even call it a major warship) is a Bogue-class CVE. I've never even seen a British CL!

-Matt

Sounds like you need to add some ships to your SCR layer. I would suggest, I think it's Hitman's or I forget, individual ship SCR routes. It adds the new ship models to the SCR layer so they show up in campaign, historically accurate too. Try to beef that SCR layer up a bit.

-pditty8811