Ok, how do YOU attack convoys?

My first big convoy of my career was reported. I found it perfectly in the middle of the night. It had 2 escorts and some American sub surfaced. Ok my question is this. How do I shoot? I shot at the large merchant ( I messed up my speed calculation because I was excited, I was doing dead stop plotting ) but I had saved. So I send 2 torps to two different boats and haul ass? How many should I shoot at the same time before trying to escape? Should I let it pass over me and shoot it in the ass? I know I can't sink it all sadly, but what is the best way to maximize my damage?

Oh, and who is Bernard? People keep mentioning him.

[KeptinCranky]

Hmm, what to do with a convoy.... depends on how you like to handle it and more importantly, what year... early in the war you might get away with repeated attacks, later on you might just get away in one piece...

My prefered strategy between 1939 and 1941 * when faced with a convoy where I'm roughly 90 degrees off the outer lane of ships at 1km or so is to shoot as follows:

1 eel, magnetic, fast at the biggest ship in the center row, usually a tanker or some such

1 eel, impact fast at the lead ship of the 2nd row

1 eel each, impact fast at the 2nd and 1st ship in the closest row, in that order

If you're lucky and you timed it well this will result in 4 sunk or crippled ships

also, always try to sink the tankers and the largest merchants first, use two eels if you want to make sure..


*note: from 1941 onwards I switch to all electrics, even at night

This is 1939 December. I never though to ask such an obvious question until I got into the middle of the convoy.

[KeptinCranky]

December 39....take your shots, 2 eels per ship and 1 with the stern tube, onl;y use impact pistols, magnetics are too unreliable...if you're in the middle try not to shoot at the closest ships but the ones one row removed then drift out the back by going deep and silent, surface as soon as you feel its safe to do so, catch up with the convoy again while reloading your torpedos and begin another attack run... if you time it well you can do 3 attacks in one night...

if the weather is bad, say high winds, you might get away with reloading at periscope depth and doing a second attack right away, but that's a bit risky

[GoldenRivet]

depends on the year of the war... One method that has been working out for me lately is to get directly ahead of the convoy with the lead escort and I going nose to nose. I order 120 meters depth and rig for silent running at 1 or 2 knots... When the lead escort passes and I'm well within his baffels I blow ballast to about 40 meters and order periscope depth and turn left or right so that I'm now 80 - 100 degrees (near perpindicular) to the convoy.

By the tim I reach periscope depth I'm in a near perfect firing position with bow AND stern tubes ready to go! Once all shots are fired I turn toward the tail of the convoy and go deep and silent.

When the escorts give up and return to their stations I surface and reintercept the convoy. BTW my attacks almost always take place at night in fair weather... Even if I have to shadow them for several days to await a weather change

[Tobus]

What to do with convoy?
Why .... KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKI LLKILLKILL!!! Ofcourse!

[Gezoes]

Originally Posted by Mikhayl

...play that das boot konvoy music...