The AI by the "enemy"

[Danelov]

Yesterday in a patrol SE of Scapa Flow I have finded a medium convoy escorted with 4 destroyers.The time Jan.1940.Weather was fine and vissibility acceptable(I have switched back to 8 km atmosphere).My position was quite advantagous and start to make a aproach flank speed to the limit visibility range of the escort forces. Then, periscope deep and "as experiment" I have decided to play hard with this convoy, ships and escorts included.The first Tribal DD had start to explore to my position(I was in Silent running at 2 knts speed, periscope down).He pass by my starboard side, slow at so 300m and continued with same HDG.One G7e was prepared in my stern tube waiting a probable turn of the DD to starboard. Yes, a so 600 m the Tribal start a slow turn to starboard.The tube was open , periscope down fixed in the 180°.Periscope Up,a little, A couple of seconds up to check the position, perfect , launch and bammm!!! One Tribal less.Surface, flank speed ,correcting heading to the head of the probable convoy position and so two minutes after, a second DD sighted, this time a J&K, aproaching with 33 knts.
Periscope deep , silent running and turning to engage.Checking my HDG with shorts periscope up, only so a meter out of the water a correcting the HDG of my boat to present the destroyer always my bow.The DD reduced the speed a 2000m and start a pattern search changing in continuation his HDG. Periscope Up , down, , always one or two seconds and only a meter , checking his aproach mainly after the smoke of the DD and correcting in continuation my HDG. The WO had open the tube 1 , this time with a G7a, I have a second G7e but is still under the deck at reserve.The DD pass my starboard side again and drop some DC quite near ,then turn to starboard to complete a circle allround of my U-boat.Patience, patience, periscope up, bad position, down ,wait, again Up, better but still not ideal , down, wait ,maybe now, up ,yes ,the DD continued to turn starboard, the angle is quite sharp but maybe ..., so 500 m .Torpedo los!!! BAMMMM!!!! .Second DD for the score....Surface again , flank speed and third DD in aproach. The third(another Tribal) was engaged in the same style with the difference, he had collided with my submerged conning tower and give me a damaged of 98% in the hull.Had droped some DC in this moment and was the end of my U-Boat.Another shot with G7a from the tube 2 a so 600m and the second Tribal and third DD go down.Surface ,flank speed and now with the first merchants in sight the last DD(Another J&K) engage me with artillery in extreme range.Periscope deep, silent running , and open tube 3 and 4, with two G7a.This time the emotion was quite great, go this DD down and the convoy is complete defendless.The DD aproach in zig-zag, pinging but was still not sure where to search.He droped some DC at 400 m, turn to starboard , he circled me and go for another circle dropping DC. In the third circle finaly he entry in a acceptable shot position. Torpedo loss , this time for safety with 3 and 4 tubes.BAMMM!!! .The fourth torpedo got him. Adrelanine still running, surface , flank speed and go for the convoy.Artillery to the deck, recharging the torpedo tubes.The next hour was a simple exercise of artillery, like in training, 10 to 15 shells fired to each merchant in the forecastle waterline.12 merchants were sunk, but nothing too big!!!, the biggest a Empire class with 6381 tons, 173 88mm shells expended and two torpedos for a total of 45.148 tons.Of course the artillery team trío of my VIIB had won his 2th class Iron Cross after returned to Willhelmshaven.
About the AI , well, must say, in a situation of this type , with a U-Boat in surface aproaching without escort, the natural choice was to disperse the convoy and each ship taking different HDG to scape with full speed.That was so with the old series of the Burning Stell , but to my surprise, the convoy continued his course, each merchant waiting very happy in his column position the arrival of my U-Boat to take his parts of shells in the waterline.Yes, maybe a little avoid maneuvers but nothing terrible, also no intents to ramming, or drop smokes curtains, reduced speed to reduced the entry of flooding caused by my shells hits in the bow forecastle waterline. That was really, a lot too easy, yes , is early 1940, and the defenses were quite weak, but his convoy had four DD as escorts,and that was quite strong for the time.There was also latter in this patrol a near realistic situation , my U-Boat was sighted by one Anson patrol bomber, and one patrol DD sighted before not so far and avoided with a change of HDG, had taked inmediately the interception of my U-Boat position.With not more torpedos I succeded to scape after a couple of hours of cat-mouse play, the terrible sea conditions help in my scape.Another surprise, near Ireland, my U-Boat was attacked by one Hurricane of the Irish Air Corps. And the neutrality?????

[bigboywooly]

I suspect the Irish attacked you as you had sunk one of their ships in the previous 24 hr
If you hadnt then he was doing his bit to defend the realm

:rotfl:

Unfortunately the AI behaviour is hardcoded
Yes convoys should disperse but they dont and not a thing we can do to make them
Would certainly be a better way to act but - meh - what you gonna do

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

I suspect the Irish attacked you as you had sunk one of their ships in the previous 24 hr
If you hadnt then he was doing his bit to defend the realm

:rotfl:

Unfortunately the AI behaviour is hardcoded
Yes convoys should disperse but they dont and not a thing we can do to make them
Would certainly be a better way to act but - meh - what you gonna do

It's extremely annoying that in "Sub Battle" (from 1989? 1990?) the merchant AI was smart enough to scatter after you had sunk all of their escorts. Now here we are nearly 20 years later and the ships move like trains on a track.

[Dutchie-one]

Originally Posted by iambecomelife

It's extremely annoying that in "Sub Battle" (from 1989? 1990?) the merchant AI was smart enough to scatter after you had sunk all of their escorts. Now here we are nearly 20 years later and the ships move like trains on a track.

Oh yes Sub Batlle that where the day`s ,good old DOSGreetz Dutchie-one