Harbour Attack Gone Wrong

Slateford-5 · 09-12-08, 08:43 AM

I am not usually one to bother with the harbour attach malarkey, but when bored last night I thought I would give it a go.

It's Agust 1940 in a VIIB. Through the straights of Gib we go: nothing in sight. Got within 12 km Gib harbour when I decided to dive to PD as 5pm. So far so good. Gently slip over the first AS net without breaking the surface (but only just).

On external cam, there are 3 Southamptom types in a staggered row up ahead in the northern end of the bay as well as assorted merchants at anchor. Only mobile ships around are 2 MTB and a ASW trawler, all by now a good 5 km south of me.

It's growing dark as I slip through the little gap between the harbour wall at the second lighthouse and the second AS net. Still stealth meter stays apple green. All this at 1 kt, 15 m deep. CO2 is rising a bit by now, but it's pitch dark. I turn very gently before the net does a right angle north, coming around slowly to line up my shots. Planning on 2 each for the farthest two warships: could be 21 K of warship coming up...

BUT...

Sonar man says "warship, bearing 91 deg, long distance, closing fast". I ignore this at first, as it's a long way off. The boat is taking an age to turn in this tight space. I go to external cam. The stealth meter immediatley goes red, the destroyer is less than 1 km away and shooting! All this while the moored warships do nothing, no lights, no movement and three previously closer anti sub ships have just continued on their merry way! Then all the lights come on...

As it turned out, I hit the wall on the way out and sank. I know it was a bit silly, but I was left wondering how a destroyer that was heading east 8 km away suddenly decided to head straight for me at high speed, all guns blazing, when at least 6 ships much closer by had done nothing.

Anyway, I'm not going back until I've upgraded to frogmen equipped with wirecutters in a detachable mini-sub for the nets.

meduza · 09-12-08, 10:54 AM

Why don't you try surfaced approach? It worked fine for me in June '41.

Brag · 09-12-08, 11:13 AM

The crews of the ships in the harbour were ashore getting drunk :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

nirwana · 09-12-08, 12:57 PM

Umm did u play it from a saved game being already close to the harbor ? The catch of it is usually that the game is treating u as being spotted. I made this experience first time on a night raid of gibraltar. All fortresses opened fire and 20+ dds rushed to my position.

Erich dem Roten · 09-12-08, 02:58 PM

Hmmm, are you positive it wasn't a contact that your sonar man missed...or perhaps a DD drifting after a sprint (do they even use sprint and drift tactics?)?

I was able to clear Loch Ewe with some careful planning in May '41. Bagged a Southampton, its escorting destroyer, a modern tanker, medium cargo, small merchant, and a "neutral" troop ship (I don't consider you neutral if you're parked in my enemies port, lights out, carrying troops).

09-12-08, 08:43 AM	#1
Slateford-5 Watch Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 30 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Harbour Attack Gone Wrong I am not usually one to bother with the harbour attach malarkey, but when bored last night I thought I would give it a go. It's Agust 1940 in a VIIB. Through the straights of Gib we go: nothing in sight. Got within 12 km Gib harbour when I decided to dive to PD as 5pm. So far so good. Gently slip over the first AS net without breaking the surface (but only just). On external cam, there are 3 Southamptom types in a staggered row up ahead in the northern end of the bay as well as assorted merchants at anchor. Only mobile ships around are 2 MTB and a ASW trawler, all by now a good 5 km south of me. It's growing dark as I slip through the little gap between the harbour wall at the second lighthouse and the second AS net. Still stealth meter stays apple green. All this at 1 kt, 15 m deep. CO2 is rising a bit by now, but it's pitch dark. I turn very gently before the net does a right angle north, coming around slowly to line up my shots. Planning on 2 each for the farthest two warships: could be 21 K of warship coming up... BUT... Sonar man says "warship, bearing 91 deg, long distance, closing fast". I ignore this at first, as it's a long way off. The boat is taking an age to turn in this tight space. I go to external cam. The stealth meter immediatley goes red, the destroyer is less than 1 km away and shooting! All this while the moored warships do nothing, no lights, no movement and three previously closer anti sub ships have just continued on their merry way! Then all the lights come on... As it turned out, I hit the wall on the way out and sank. I know it was a bit silly, but I was left wondering how a destroyer that was heading east 8 km away suddenly decided to head straight for me at high speed, all guns blazing, when at least 6 ships much closer by had done nothing. Anyway, I'm not going back until I've upgraded to frogmen equipped with wirecutters in a detachable mini-sub for the nets.

09-12-08, 10:54 AM	#2
meduza Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: on patrol Posts: 1,035 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	Why don't you try surfaced approach? It worked fine for me in June '41. __________________

09-12-08, 11:13 AM	#3
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	The crews of the ships in the harbour were ashore getting drunk :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

09-12-08, 02:58 PM	#5
Erich dem Roten Electrician's Mate Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 134 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	Hmmm, are you positive it wasn't a contact that your sonar man missed...or perhaps a DD drifting after a sprint (do they even use sprint and drift tactics?)? I was able to clear Loch Ewe with some careful planning in May '41. Bagged a Southampton, its escorting destroyer, a modern tanker, medium cargo, small merchant, and a "neutral" troop ship (I don't consider you neutral if you're parked in my enemies port, lights out, carrying troops). __________________

09-12-08, 12:57 PM	#4
nirwana Sonar Guy Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 380 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Umm did u play it from a saved game being already close to the harbor ? The catch of it is usually that the game is treating u as being spotted. I made this experience first time on a night raid of gibraltar. All fortresses opened fire and 20+ dds rushed to my position.