Scapa Flow/Loch Ewe January 1945

[predavolk]

I thought some of the big ships might have moved back there by now. It was an easy sail in from the southeast (SSE, not the tiny east passage), past two destroyers, and into the unguarded main channel. All that was in there were two Fiji cruisers, a troop transport, and a couple of tankers. An interesting collection, but not the jackpot I'm looking for. Ironically, it was much easier getting in there now than it was when I did it in early 1940.

So I'm thinking of sliding down to visit Loch Ewe to look for big ships. Anyone ever been there in 1945? If that's a useless stop too, I'll just sit on the Med convoys and hope for a big BB to wander by...

[Letum]

Historically, Scapa was impossible after Prien.

Channels where blocked off with ships and concrete, American sonar buoys where
installed as well as more nets and mines.

[Jimbuna]

I'd stick with the Med convoys

[Letum]

I sank my first battleship last week.

I was sitting in a fjord and up it came escorted by destroyers.

The very next patrol I got my second. It was doing 6knts in a convoy escorted by
only two flower class corvettes. Surely no one had it that easy IRL??
(GWX)

April 1940 near Narvik i guess?

[melnibonian]

Originally Posted by Letum

The very next patrol I got my second. It was doing 6knts in a convoy escorted by
only two flower class corvettes. Surely no one had it that easy IRL??
(GWX)

I know it might sound strange but the most difficult thing in sinking a capital ship in WWII was the fact that they used to travel at high speed. Thus it was almost impossible for submarines to attack them unless they managed somehow to be on the exact path. A battleship in a convoy is a sitting duck so if a submarine can penetrate a convoy escort screen and attack the merchant ships I see no reason why it will be difficult to attack the battleship as well.

Another thing to remember is that in the Pacific the US submarines caused havoc to Japanese aircraft carriers and battleships sinking and damaging a very large amount of them. This is important as the USA were using torpedoes far worse than the German (they were having massive problems with the impact and magnetic pistols and with the depth control) and their torpedoes were equiped with a much weaker warhead than the equivalent german ones. Therefore if the Americans managed to sink and damage so many capital ships with their torpedoes (and all the problems they were having) I see no reason why the Germans couldn't do it.

The main reason for the Germans not to attack enemy warships was that they couldn't get into a firing position (enemy ships were moving very fast) and that most of the enemy capital ships used to be clustered together into task forces and not convoys.

Royal Oak sunk in port U47 1939\ Barham ( Damaged U30 1939 Sunk U331 1941\ Malaya damaged U106 1941\ Resolution damaged by Vichy sub 1940\ Ramillies torpedoed in port by Jap mini sub 1942\ Nelson damaged by U31 1939

All hit or sunk by subs
Though SH3 easier than real life

[predavolk]

Well, I'd never been to Loch Ewe, so better late than never! Defending it were 5 destroyers (3 of which ran aground during my attack ), 2 torpedo boats, and 2 ASW trawlers- who, ironically, were very tough to attack! The homing torpedoes initially ignored them and chased the torpedo boats, and once I even took a near hit from a homing torp that moved off a slow moving ASW trawler towards me! Fortunately, damage was moderate, and I was able to get the boat repaired! Once inside the harbor, there was another destroyer aground, and a TON of bif merchant ships. Only they were all protected by docks.

Then, at very slow speed, I hit the concrete sub wall! Again, minor damage, and worse yet, I almost surfaced! Bad, bad, BAD place to surface with 800 surface guns in the area! My reward was a destroyer escort, a destroyer, and HMS Nelson! Woohoo, my first BB!!

So I sunk her, left, raided Scapa for the two Fiji, and ended a patrol with 65K tons. Only one merchant, a coastal tanker that I engaged with my 20mm guns. I lost my new watch officer in that attack. Ironically, it was my toughest! Being the second watch officer I've lost in recent surface actions with the XXI, I've learned that the gunners are protected, but any officer on deck is highly exposed. IF I try gunning again with the XXI, I'll be sure to leave my officer below decks. Oh, and regular trawlers appear to be immune (or extremely resistant to) 20mm fire.

It's March, so I guess I have time for one more mission. Jimbuna, this one's going hunting for Med convoys!