Best convoy attack in 0M/sec seas?

[MarkShot]

I've come to see in a 15m/sec seas that your scope is practically invisible to the escorts (especially when you are already behind the lead escorts).

However, in a 0m/sec sea, your scope draws fire almost the instant it breaks the water. I realize that there are techniques for shooting on sound bearings only. However, given that I haven't mastered that. Does anyone have an optimal approach for convoy attacks when the sea is as calm as a lake?

Thanks.

[Keelbuster]

Stay far away - take a shot from 3 or 4 kms. Pattern runners help. If you get detected in still water, well, lates.

[Tomcattwo]

From Doenitz's UBoat Kommandanten Handbuch:

100.) Favorable conditions for attack.
a) With the sun behind: The torpedo control officer [the officer in charge of the discharging of the torpedoes is not dazzled, but can clearly see the sharp outline of the target. From the enemy ship, the periscope, raised no more than is absolutely necessary, is not to be seen among the reflections of the bright sun in the water; and also a trail of bubbles can not usually be seen until it is too late.
b) From the weather side (windward). The periscope should move with the sea. The waves, coming from behind, always wash over a periscope which is in the right position, that is to say, in a low position; and the splashes and spray water of the periscope are not easily made out. In addition, the enemy look-out to windward, especially in a strong wind, or in heavy rain, meets with difficulties.
As regards the weather side (windward), if the wind is moderate, torpedoes discharged from the stern form an exception (i.e., to the above inasmuch as the submarine, In moving with the waves (that is, in this case to leeward) comes near to riding on the waves, whereas to windward - driving against the sea - the periscope may cause conspicuous splashes even when the submarine is traveling at low speed. In a keen wind, however, the windward side is also more favorable for the stern launching of torpedoes, because the enemy, as a matter of course, then keeps a better lookout to leeward, and observation is better.
c) Wind 3 to 4 and sea 2 to 3 are most favorable for making the attack, because the sea then washes over the low-lying periscope, without interfering with the view of the target, while the action of the underwater (depth) steering gear is not adversely affected.
101.) Unfavorable conditions for attack.
a) Heavy seas or swell: It is difficult to keep the submarine at the right depth for attack, especially when the attack has to be carried out against the sea. According to the qualities (efficiency) of the underwater steering gear of the boat, this will soon put a limit to the possibilities of underwater attack (see Section I, D, No. 78). It is in a rough sea that an attack in a direction parallel to the waves is more likely to succeed most favorable for the underwater steering of the submarine and the depth course of the torpedo).
b) Sea as smooth as oil: The slightest ripple even of the low periscope is noticeable, and easily observable by the enemy. Exceptions: enemy coming out of a bright sun; conditions of twilight; moonlit nights.
c) Attack with dark thunderclouds in the background; even the most efficiently camouflaged (painted) periscope will then appear white against e dark black clouds. d) Against the sun: the estimation of speed, position and distance (range) is considerably more difficult; besides which, if the attack is carried out against the sun, there is the danger of attracting attention by the flashes of light proceeding from the objective (lens system of the periscope).

[onelifecrisis]

Originally Posted by Keelbuster

Stay far away

Or wait until it's dark, if you're brave, and if there's deep water to run to, and it's early in the war, and the convoy is lightly escorted...

Actually, just stay far away.

[MarkShot]

I think I will have to work on the 4km attack with electrics.

I've worked a lot screen penetration. I now need to work out appropriate positioning for an outside shot.

---

Granted hunting lone merchants is the prudent thing to do late war, but U-88 hunts convoys. That's the way it has always been and that is the way it will be. We will keep the pressure on and force the Allies to commit resources to the Atlantic so that same resources are not committed to supporting the land war.

[Jimbuna]

During daylight I tend to fire at a max distance of 2k with electrics (because of their limited speed).
At night you can usually get a little closer without upping the odds against you too much.

[Pablo]

Hi!

I generally get in really close for single ships, but a couple of kilometers out for convoys unless they're so lightly escorted I can take out the escort with the first salvo.

The best position is off to the side and ahead, using electric torpedoes fired perpendicular to the convoy's course, so if you miss a ship in the first row maybe you'll hit one in the second or more distant rows.

Don't stick around to watch the fireworks: turn and start to evade as soon as the last fish leaves the tubes. You may not get the big ships in the center, but you'll get away to fight again another day.

Pablo

[Sag75]

Hi! in calm sea even with sun, I usually keep attack periscope (that have a smaller head than observation one) just 1 meter or less over water surface..

I sow that in this manner, I can be stealth by DD!

I don't think that GWX simulates sun flashing reflections to detect your periscope, rather it uses periscope hight from water surface to assign a visibility level parameter (maybe in addition with a diffuse day/night light intensity parameter, too).
So check your periscope hight by using water level column!

Anyway, my tactic is stay deep as I can and let the lead DD goes over me.. than i go on periscope depth in silent running (DD can't listen me anymore because I am on its stern) and just watch for a beautyful target... Sometimes it works..sometime no!

good hunting!

Sag75