Help with convoy attacks!!??

[sparky3153]

Hi all.

There may already be a post about this that I have missed but I will ask anyway.

Can anybody do some kind of walkthrough for a sucessful strike on a convoy??

I always seem to get it wrong (I either over-shoot, miss-time it and miss it completely, get caught on the approach etc).

I think I may be rushing in for the attack too soon or just basically not have the skill needed!!! I would really like some expert advice on this because I now avoid convoys because i'n not confident enough to approach them!! (and that was a u-boat captains bread and butter back then).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks, Mike.

[Brag]

First thing you do: Plot the direction in which the convoy is traveling. Pick a spot along that course that you can reach before convoy arrives (you can use the plotting tool, that will also tell you how long it will take you to reach that point.

let's assume it will take you 7 hours to reach that point. The convoy is traveling at 7 knots (7 x 1.8 = 12.6 Kms.) Measure to see where the Convoy will be in 7 hours.
You want to position yourself for attack at least 20 Kilometers ahead of the convoy.

You dive and listen for it so that you can adjust your position. Go to my website where I describe the attack.

Good hunting

[melnibonian]

If you want to know how to plot an intercept course check out this thread

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88961

[danlisa]

Some expert advice, from an expert.

......The next thing to think about is how you approach a convoy. You can’t just lay in wait and let the convoy run over you while hoping you won't be detected. Find the gap, watch the escorts, and watch their sweeps. After a patient bit of observation, you will see how the escorts will sweep and will likely find a gap. When you DO find that gap... go for it! Put your U-boat inside the escort screen. Once you are in, select the most viable target on the FAR side of the convoy AWAY from you. Take your bearing, get your fix, and shoot two torpedoes. Immediately following your first fish in the water, quickly select the next farthest target closer in. Take your bearing, get your fix, and shoot two torpedoes again.
As soon as you have fired 2 torpedoes per target - DIVE DEEP on the same heading as the convoy. If you have done this correctly, your torpedoes should detonate at roughly the same time. Just before the torpedoes impact, deploy a BOLD. You now have a few seconds to maneuver at "Ahead Flank.” This is also the time to decide, based on the circumstances at hand... as to whether or not you will press the attack again or sneak away.

Now the escorts on the FAR side (where you initially aimed and hopefully hit your targets) will sweep OUT away from the convoy. The escorts on the near side should home in on the BOLD you launched. If you decided to sneak under the convoy... and continue towards the far side that you fired at... you can likely come slowly back to periscope depth to find your immediate vicinity clear of escorts. While the escorts are distracted, you can attack using the above movements in reverse. If you wish, fire your remaining torpedoes at the ships on the side you just left. At the day’s end, you may not have sunk any ships... but you should survive to sneak away and plot your next run into the convoy.

Now if you do get detected by an escort, one thing you can do is to charge straight towards him at periscope depth. As the ship gets within about 300 meters, crash dive. As he passes overhead deploy a BOLD if you have one. Put your rudder hard over to either direction for about 10 seconds. Visualize in your mind where you expect to be is in his baffles. Then center your rudder... and go silent... and always deeper. Maintain your velocity at about two knots to keep the noise to a minimum. With a bit of luck you will now be in his baffles and he will be unable to hear you. As he turns to sweep for you again a ASDIC sweep. If you did employ a BOLD... stop your engines and drift. You should be getting deeper by now... and safer with every meter. With luck the escort will hear the decoy you launched and believe that it is you. If it fools him, he will attack the decoy. As he attacks the decoy, keep your stern pointed at the escort and slowly melt away.....

[sparky3153]

WOW. Some very helpful replies!! Thanks a lot. I'm gonna give your suggestions a go and hopefully become a competent commander!!!!

Thanks, Mike.