Feasible actuality question

3Jane · 03-21-07, 11:16 AM

I am currently faced with a large convoy a few hundred miles off the coast of Spain, in extremely stormy conditions. No rain. but heavy fog and very rough sea state. Some of the merchants are burning, indicating a wolfpack involvement, although nothing is indicated on the map updates I presume it was before I arrived on the scene.
I have carried out two attacks on this convoy up to now, the rough sea allowing me to match the convoy speed and reload torpedos without being detected at 140 metres. I ended up overwriting these attacks and going back to a previous save point because the whole thing, including the four sinkings left me dissatisfied. The reason being that I was uncertain as to how credible these attacks were in terms of historical actuality. I only play 67% realism anyway, so total accuracy isn't a great bug-bear with me. But even so it's only possible to streatch credibility so far before it breaks. The attacks I carried out were at periscope depth, even with the sea state as it is I was able to acquire the targets for long enough to launch torpedos. What really bothers me is that throughout the attacks the top of the conning tower kept being exposed as it would do in the rough sea. The escorts didn't spot me with the weather as it is, but I wasn't happy as it all felt toaly unrealistic. The nub of my question is, what would have been more likely to happen in actuality. Would the commander have: Tracked the convoy hoping for calmer weather and then attacked (having just gone through six continuous days of the same weather, I can't see any weather change on the near future). Waited until dark, working the boat in to the midst of the convoy on hydropone contacts then carried out a surface attack having reconnoitered possible targets before hand. Carried out the attck at periscope depth and managed as best as possible with the circumstances. Or tracked the convoy and if there was no change in conditions, sent a contact report and abandoned the convoy. This last one I found most doubtful though.
My own thoughts are to wait until dark and pop up in the convoy lanes and try for what possible targets I have spotted during the daylight hours.

03-21-07, 11:16 AM	#1
3Jane Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: York. Northern England. Posts: 1,004 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Feasible actuality question I am currently faced with a large convoy a few hundred miles off the coast of Spain, in extremely stormy conditions. No rain. but heavy fog and very rough sea state. Some of the merchants are burning, indicating a wolfpack involvement, although nothing is indicated on the map updates I presume it was before I arrived on the scene. I have carried out two attacks on this convoy up to now, the rough sea allowing me to match the convoy speed and reload torpedos without being detected at 140 metres. I ended up overwriting these attacks and going back to a previous save point because the whole thing, including the four sinkings left me dissatisfied. The reason being that I was uncertain as to how credible these attacks were in terms of historical actuality. I only play 67% realism anyway, so total accuracy isn't a great bug-bear with me. But even so it's only possible to streatch credibility so far before it breaks. The attacks I carried out were at periscope depth, even with the sea state as it is I was able to acquire the targets for long enough to launch torpedos. What really bothers me is that throughout the attacks the top of the conning tower kept being exposed as it would do in the rough sea. The escorts didn't spot me with the weather as it is, but I wasn't happy as it all felt toaly unrealistic. The nub of my question is, what would have been more likely to happen in actuality. Would the commander have: Tracked the convoy hoping for calmer weather and then attacked (having just gone through six continuous days of the same weather, I can't see any weather change on the near future). Waited until dark, working the boat in to the midst of the convoy on hydropone contacts then carried out a surface attack having reconnoitered possible targets before hand. Carried out the attck at periscope depth and managed as best as possible with the circumstances. Or tracked the convoy and if there was no change in conditions, sent a contact report and abandoned the convoy. This last one I found most doubtful though. My own thoughts are to wait until dark and pop up in the convoy lanes and try for what possible targets I have spotted during the daylight hours. __________________ Fate opposes me in vitality and morality, forced ever onward, burdened, always in shackles. So this very moment, without tarrying, pluck the quivering strings. Because fate punishes the one who plays, all lament with me. (http://hosted.filefront.com/KatherineRowan)