Convoy Discussion

[drowssapma]

Just wanted to make a thread regarding what your expectations are when you see a convoy. I am getting better, but still don't have the hang of it. So, right now I'm in a Type VIIB and let's say I encounter a convoy of 10-12 ships. I look for the biggest and juiciest target and fire tubes 1 and 2. I will then look for smaller targets and fire tube 3 to one, and 4 on the other. If I get REAL lucky and something is behind me, tube 5 will be fired. Expectations on this are usually 1 to 2 ships. Destroyers will then keep me at bay for quite a while, so any additional shots are not happening. The convoy will be long gone before I can put my head up again, so no more attacks. So how's your luck given this scenario?

[Fifi]

Always trying to infiltrate convoy rows, firing 2 torp to best target, 2 others to someone else, rear one to one behind and...escape.
If convoy is running medium or slow, and weather not too bad, i try to catch him again and repeat.
Always from front or 3/4 front.
Always submerged even at night (Kretschmer surface tactic is not doable in SH3, other than making all ships almost blind at night)

[drowssapma]

So, you go in the middle (or one of the rows) as opposed to on the outside?

[Fifi]

Yes, i enter external (right or left) row by front, then turn to be almost perpendicular to ships...usually...at least until end 42.
Of course if escort don’t spot me before. Sometime, quite rarely, i have to abort because spotted.
Can fire when 300m close.

[Anvar1061]

I usually summon a wolfpac. But if it is not there, then I go into battle on my own.

[A Soviet Fanboi]

Originally Posted by Anvar1061

I usually summon a wolfpac. But if it is not there, then I go into battle on my own.

I always inform Bdu about the convoy but everytime it tells me to attack on my own. Is there any trick so that when I inform the Bdu about the convoy, the other uboats join with me to attack?

[A Soviet Fanboi]

Originally Posted by Fifi

Always trying to infiltrate convoy rows, firing 2 torp to best target, 2 others to someone else, rear one to one behind and...escape.
If convoy is running medium or slow, and weather not too bad, i try to catch him again and repeat.
Always from front or 3/4 front.
Always submerged even at night (Kretschmer surface tactic is not doable in SH3, other than making all ships almost blind at night)

Attacking from front always results in a torpedo going dud. And if your trying to change depth of the torpedo to 1m below the keel of the target, then there is a high chance that the Magnetic detonators won't explode or atleast 2 out of 4 won't explode or would prematurely explode while reaching the target. So how do you manage this? I have tried going perpendicular after I am in the convoy, sometimes it works and sometimes I get very close to my target.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Fifi

Always trying to infiltrate convoy rows, firing 2 torp to best target, 2 others to someone else, rear one to one behind and...escape.
If convoy is running medium or slow, and weather not too bad, i try to catch him again and repeat.
Always from front or 3/4 front.
Always submerged even at night (Kretschmer surface tactic is not doable in SH3, other than making all ships almost blind at night)

Forgive me as I have little experience with SH 3, mostly SH 4 in the pacific. However, SH 4 is basically a clone of SH 3 from what I gather, I mean the fleet boats in SH 4 are actually just U boats with a facade lol (Thus, only two independent engines not four etc) .

I have modified SH 4 in paritcular the mod TMO where can pull off surface attacks, including moving inside columns such as Kretshmer did in the Atlantic, which US subs did on larger convoys in pacific as japanese began sailing in larger convoys.

The vessels are not blind, just use a darker nights mod (nights in SH 4 were way too light) with proper settings in sim.cfg for the light factor.

Of course Allied radar was much better than Japanese so not sure how to deal with that in the ATO. Just surprised no one has found this work around (or have they?) in SH 3.

[Fifi]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

Forgive me as I have little experience with SH 3, mostly SH 4 in the pacific. However, SH 4 is basically a clone of SH 3 from what I gather, I mean the fleet boats in SH 4 are actually just U boats with a facade lol (Thus, only two independent engines not four etc) .

I have modified SH 4 in paritcular the mod TMO where can pull off surface attacks, including moving inside columns such as Kretshmer did in the Atlantic, which US subs did on larger convoys in pacific as japanese began sailing in larger convoys.

The vessels are not blind, just use a darker nights mod (nights in SH 4 were way too light) with proper settings in sim.cfg for the light factor.

Of course Allied radar was much better than Japanese so not sure how to deal with that in the ATO. Just surprised no one has found this work around (or have they?) in SH 3.

Yes, that’s what i meant.
To infiltrate convoy at night still surfaced like kretschmer did, merchants should not see you more than 150m away! (Rows are generally 500m spaced)
So merchants should be almost blind at night...that is not the case presently in any SH3 megamod.
Only way to represent this, is to modify the Sim.cfg night settings (and probably fog factor too for different weather types) and maybe the AI sensors dat visual adjustment...not easy task to get the correct settings for all kind of weather, keeping in mind warships must keep some better visuals at night (slightly better than merchant, but still lower than actually)
To me, and according to what Kretschmer wrote in his testimony, cargo ships should not see you surfaced at 150m when dark night, and warship should not see you surfaced at 300/400m!

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Fifi

Yes, that’s what i meant.
To infiltrate convoy at night still surfaced like kretschmer did, merchants should not see you more than 150m away! (Rows are generally 500m spaced)
So merchants should be almost blind at night...that is not the case presently in any SH3 megamod.
Only way to represent this, is to modify the Sim.cfg night settings (and probably fog factor too for different weather types) and maybe the AI sensors dat visual adjustment...not easy task to get the correct settings for all kind of weather, keeping in mind warships must keep some better visuals at night (slightly better than merchant, but still lower than actually)
To me, and according to what Kretschmer wrote in his testimony, cargo ships should not see you surfaced at 150m when dark night, and warship should not see you surfaced at 300/400m!

Exactly. I was saying surprised none of the mods have made this possible in SH 3. Then again, I was surprised no one had made it happen in SH 4 as well. As said, SH 4 is basically a clone of SH 3, so sure it can be done.


Definitely complicated and took many hours of testing. The first step is making sure the nights are dark enough. SH 3 and 4 by default the nights even without moonlight war just way too bright. Likely done to make visual identification easier at night for player but it kills realistic night surface attacks. Mods improved it but still far too light. Once changed the environment at night with the darker nights mod with proper settings in .cfg to balance things, have desired result.


I am wondering if the darker nights mod for SH 4 would work with SH. Hmmm. I do not have SH 3 installed currently or I would check. In near future I do plan to get back into SH 3, take a little break from the pacific after a year plus working to update some things. Only modding will do in Sh 3 will be the try and make the Kretschmer style surface attacks happen, if it is not done before. Of course , if one does not exist will need someone to do the darker nights (if the SH 4 mod does not work) as that is beyond my knowledge base at moment.

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

Exactly. I was saying surprised none of the mods have made this possible in SH 3. Then again, I was surprised no one had made it happen in SH 4 as well. As said, SH 4 is basically a clone of SH 3, so sure it can be done.


Definitely complicated and took many hours of testing. The first step is making sure the nights are dark enough. SH 3 and 4 by default the nights even without moonlight war just way too bright. Likely done to make visual identification easier at night for player but it kills realistic night surface attacks. Mods improved it but still far too light. Once changed the environment at night with the darker nights mod with proper settings in .cfg to balance things, have desired result.


I am wondering if the darker nights mod for SH 4 would work with SH. Hmmm. I do not have SH 3 installed currently or I would check. In near future I do plan to get back into SH 3, take a little break from the pacific after a year plus working to update some things. Only modding will do in Sh 3 will be the try and make the Kretschmer style surface attacks happen, if it is not done before. Of course , if one does not exist will need someone to do the darker nights (if the SH 4 mod does not work) as that is beyond my knowledge base at moment.

Fwiw, moonlight has no effect on SH3 visibility.

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by drowssapma

Just wanted to make a thread regarding what your expectations are when you see a convoy. I am getting better, but still don't have the hang of it. So, right now I'm in a Type VIIB and let's say I encounter a convoy of 10-12 ships. I look for the biggest and juiciest target and fire tubes 1 and 2. I will then look for smaller targets and fire tube 3 to one, and 4 on the other. If I get REAL lucky and something is behind me, tube 5 will be fired. Expectations on this are usually 1 to 2 ships. Destroyers will then keep me at bay for quite a while, so any additional shots are not happening. The convoy will be long gone before I can put my head up again, so no more attacks. So how's your luck given this scenario?

If desired, it is easy to regain contact with a convoy. Simply note the time you lost contact to the current time and then using their speed and course, plot where they should be and go there.
I.e., if it's been two hours since you lost the convoy, they're heading 270 degrees at 6 knots means they'll be approx. 22 km away. Plot a course to go after them.
Also, night surface attacks are easy to do in the game from outside the convoy, as are day submerged either inside or outside.

[drowssapma]

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

If desired, it is easy to regain contact with a convoy. Simply note the time you lost contact to the current time and then using their speed and course, plot where they should be and go there.
I.e., if it's been two hours since you lost the convoy, they're heading 270 degrees at 6 knots means they'll be approx. 22 km away. Plot a course to go after them.
Also, night surface attacks are easy to do in the game from outside the convoy, as are day submerged either inside or outside.

I should give that a try, but I usually give up and go for some single merchants unless another convoy approaches. P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by drowssapma

I should give that a try, but I usually give up and go for some single merchants unless another convoy approaches. P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.

Nothing to apologize for. My sincere condolences.

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by drowssapma

I should give that a try, but I usually give up and go for some single merchants unless another convoy approaches. P.S. I know that I don't know anyone here. I posted this thread on the morning of my 50th birthday. It was going to be a good birthday. I then got a call later on that I don't wish on anyone. My nephew...who was just the very best kid you could ever meet, was shot and killed. Someone who thinks they are some sort of a thug was shooting at another kid and my nephew was coming out of the grocery store. He suffered a single gunshot wound and died 45 minutes later. I don't really know why I am writing this, but I don't know how to feel. Playing this kinda helps me get my mind off the events. My whole family is broken right now. I'm sorry. I don't want to drag the thread down. I just want as many people to know what a good kid my nephew was.

Very sorry for your loss, and I hope justice is served quickly.