Extremely Aggressive Attack on the Convoy

Hello all Kriegsmarine Aces

Just again sharing my impressions on an extremely aggressive convoy attack,I commenced on January 4th,1940 with my Type VIIB U-49.

Interception was made in BF operations area.After getting a report from BDU,saying large target group bearing South,heading course East I lied on exact interception course and started shortening distance at about 16 knots speed,on surface.

After first sonar contact I submerged to periscope depth and again,on "Full Forward" continued my fast advance on the head of convoy.Actually,I was spotted by convoy escorts,and they immediatly started intercepting me.

They came very close,I was receiving constant messages from radio man "We are detected",and similar warnings.

I decided not to dive,and stay on periscope depth,with periscope initially retracted.
After,that I started such evasive maneuvering:

1.Engine "pulsation".That actually means that,general engines mode is "Full Silent",but is very frequently (approximately each 3 seconds) turned on "Full Forward".That visually results that,"stealth indicator" frequently changes it's colour from Red,through Brown to Green.I made I conclusion that,such engines usage,actually spoils the sonar detection ability of a destroyer.

2.Frequent course changes.My initial goal was to come as close as it possible to a destroyer so that his depth charges would explode away and below U-49 position.
Destroyer,was actually trying to ram me ,but that showed no effect for him.

The result of those actions was that my lovely U-49 came into ideal torpedo firing course onto convoy main ships.There were T3 tankers,merchants and so on.

Then even more interesting.Escorts have blocked firing lines on the convoy,exposing themselves to my torpedo fire.

I started the attack.Fired first 4 torpedoes in just four seconds,with chaotic targeting (cannot rise up my periscope for more than couple seconds as escorts would have blown it out with their deadly gun fire).Nevertheless,after this attack four enemy ships were hit (100 percent acurracy - thanks to great gas operated T-I torpedoes).

After that,making the same aforementioned maneuvering I reloaded all four bow launchers in "Safe in Silent mode".Fired them all within just seconds.Two ships destoryed (50 percent accuracy).

Convoy started splitting escorts separated from remaining ships,while those started moving north.

I dived down to 200 meters and finally evaded all escorts,lyed on the course of the rest of convoy.

Night was ending and it was calm at sea.Observation officers on the deck (I have already surfaced to recharge batteries) spotted - a remaining three ships of night convoy.One C2 was actually on-fire.

Fast pursuit,accurate 88 mm deck gun fire and I ended the convoy massacre of 4th January,1940.

9 ships were sunk in total:

2 Warships:
Destroyer
Fregate

7 Commercial Ships:
Two T3 Tankers
Various transports

Total patrol tonnage:44 900 tonns.

I have a little question.Type VIIB submarine has got external torpedo reserves (you can view them in weapons officer menu).How could I transfer them into bow launchers sections?Thanks for advices.

I would be very glad to read your comments on such convoy interception method.Notice the fact,all action was at night.

Good Hunting to all Kriegsmarine Aces of the Deep

[melnibonian]

Originally Posted by Genghis Khan

I have a little question.Type VIIB submarine has got external torpedo reserves (you can view them in weapons officer menu).How could I transfer them into bow launchers sections?Thanks for advices.

Fantastic results. Keep up the good work

To get the external loads you must:
1. Be on the surface
2. Disable Silent Running
3. Have enough crew to the torpedo rooms
4. Go to the Weapons Managment Screen and drag and drop the external torpedoes to the internal tubes.

[Crazy Ian]

Originally Posted by Genghis Khan

Hello all Kriegsmarine Aces

Just again sharing my impressions on an extremely aggressive convoy attack,I commenced on January 4th,1940 with my Type VIIB U-49.

Last VII campaign I did... that was my boat... sadly lost with all hands to 3 sunderland bombers in June 1942.

Originally Posted by Genghiskhan

I have a little question.Type VIIB submarine has got external torpedo reserves (you can view them in weapons officer menu).How could I transfer them into bow launchers sections?Thanks for advices.

You need to be on the surface, then Left mouse button drag them into the internal reserve slot. Once they've been transferred into internal reserves (About 50/60 minutes with a full torpedo room as I recall) then you can load them into the tubes.

NOTE: The stern one cannot be transferred to the for'ard torpedo room.

[P_Funk]

Originally Posted by Genghis Khan

I have a little question.Type VIIB submarine has got external torpedo reserves (you can view them in weapons officer menu).How could I transfer them into bow launchers sections?Thanks for advices.

Press 'I', ensure that you are surfaced and have crew in the torpedo rooms, and then just drag the torpedo to an open slot in the torpedo reserves. You can only however put a forward external store into the forward room and vice versa.

Good luck Kaleun.

EDIT. IAN YOU BUGGER! Beat me...

Oh,thanks guys.Those external reserves are desperately needed during long patrolling.

[Crazy Ian]

Originally Posted by P_Funk

EDIT. IAN YOU BUGGER! Beat me...

LOL.... and just to think I'm using 56K!

[Canovaro]

I reloaded all four bow launchers in "Safe in Silent mode".

I know what silent running is but what do you mean by "safe in silent mode"?

Canovaro,

"Safe in Silent" is the mode when you can reload torpedoes (don't have those those crosslined icons),this is the engineer's,engines icon right to "Full Silent".
You can recognize that,when crew is talking normally,not silently.

[Crazy Ian]

Originally Posted by Genghis Khan

Canovaro,

"Safe in Silent" is the mode when you can reload torpedoes (don't have those those crosslined icons),this is the engineer's,engines icon right to "Full Silent".
You can recognize that,when crew is talking normally,not silently.

Sorry.. what mod's are you running?

Crazy Ian,

No mods.Silent Hunter III U-Boat:Battle in the Mediterranean.German Version (The only one I managed to get in my location) .Original name:"U-Boote: Seeschlacht im Mittelmeer"


Do you have other engine controls?

[P_Funk]

Originally Posted by Genghis Khan

Do you have other engine controls?

You can use either the engine telegraph, or the number keys on your keyboard to determine speed. You have limited ability to direct the Chief Engineer in whether to recharge batteries or not. Thats about it.

[Brag]

Congratulations, Kaleun Genghiskhan!

Those are the mine controls:

Speed telegraph (knots/modes (Fast,Normal,Full Forward,Reverse))
Depth meter (20m/260m can be switched)
Course (also can be switched be button below).

Engineer:

Engine Modes:
Standard Engine Mode
Battery Recharge
Silent
Safe in Silent

Other modes:
Periscope Depth
Emergency Orders

and other all represented by white icons.

I'am sorry,as I use German version my exact English translations might be not accurate,although I am not frequent German speaker

[P_Funk]

Originally Posted by Genghis Khan

I'am sorry,as I use German version my exact English translations might be not accurate,although I am not frequent German speaker

I could read it all well enough.

But,of course main maneuvering is done always with three those dials.For example,when evading convoy escorts engine telegraph is the main issue,which engine power is set.And even an order,given to engineer to turn on "Silent Mode",
is not effective if you do set "Full Forward" by telegraph.