Goodbye VIIC/42, hello XXI!

cawimmer430 · 10-11-09, 06:24 PM

Hey guys,

My operating base Brest is now in Allied hands and I am now operating out of Bergen. The date is late December 1944 / early January 1945. For the most part of my career I've been operating a VIIC submarine and have upgraded her to the max. I like this submarine and I've gotten used to her.

So on my first mission out of my new port, I felt bold for some reason and decided to attack Scapa Flow. I managed to sink a Flower Corvette halfway there and then snuck into the harbor. Scapa Flow in late 1944 seems lightly defended. I creeped towards the port near the coastline and only picked up five warships. Anyway, once inside the harbor it is pitch dark and there's a big fat Fiji Light Cruiser in anchor. I line my submarine up facing its middle at a distance of 2.8 km, fire three torpedoes, have my guys reload the tubes as fast as possible while sneaking towards the inside of the harbor coastline to wait it out. My eels impact and the Fiji Cruiser goes under on its port side. However, she doesn't fully sink but I still get credited with the kill. The destroyers outside the harbor go crazy and as expected, they head towards the coastline to listen. Perfect for me.

I creep out of the harbor and come across a V&W destroyer near the coastline in listening mode. I'm 1.5 km away. I manually set the normal torpedo for a straight run at a depth of 1 m since the destroyer is in extreme shallow water. He goes under.

I repeat this process for the two other warships (another V&W and a J-Class) and score kills.

Then I proceed to creep out and a mixture of fast and slow speeds avoiding two warships that have appeared east of Scapa Flow. Before heading back to Norway I also come into contact with some merchants and two airplanes. It has to be said that the weather was terrible which probably explains the lack of air patrols I encountered throughout the mission.

My results for this mission: a Fiji Light Cruiser (10,000 tons+), a J-Class Destroyer and 2 V&W Destroyers, 1 Flower Corvette, two Liberty cargo ships, 1 coast merchant and 2 Short Sunderlands. Not bad for a 1944/1945 career.

So anyway, now I have upgraded to the XXI. My first mission with it was a success. Three warships sunk (including a Dido class which I encountered north of Scapa Flow in rough weather) and 10 merchants. What I like about this submarine is its underwater speed. 17 knots! Damn!

On the other hand, I do miss the deck gun (it comes in useful as I can still pick off armed merchants from a distance) and the FLAK positions are difficult to man since they provide a limited field of view. I really need to rely on my watchman officer for details regarding air attacks. Also, this submarine is HUGE. Also, in some missions that are deep inside enemy territory I always hugged the coastline in shallow waters to make it through - this is impossible with the large XXI. The lack of a stern torpedo is also a frustration at times. Since the availability of Falke and Zaunkoenig torpedoes I always deliberately attracted the attention of a warship and let him chase me from the rear where I would calmly fire away a Falke or Zaunk... torpedo, go silent and watch him get hit and sink 9/10 times. I did encounter more warships with the XXI but the lack of a stern torpedo tube and homing torpedoes made me play it safe.

I know this boat is highly advanced and will give me and my crew more chances at surviving, but I guess what I am saying is: I miss my old VIIC/42.

Anyone think I should go back to it? I know the VIIC/42 inside and out - what she does well and what she doesn't and I find her to be the ideal boat for me. The deck gun and stern torpedo and the nice setup of the three FLAK cannons makes it an ideal A/C killer.

Pohl · 10-11-09, 10:53 PM

you will eventually love the XXI, you can get 20 knots on it.....just rise snorkel and go to 15 meters....full ahead, watch her fly through the water

Scape · 10-12-09, 05:10 AM

How can you not love that?

evan82 · 10-12-09, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cawimmer430

So anyway, now I have upgraded to the XXI. My first mission with it was a success. Three warships sunk (including a Dido class which I encountered north of Scapa Flow in rough weather) and 10 merchants. What I like about this submarine is its underwater speed. 17 knots! Damn!

On the other hand, I do miss the deck gun (it comes in useful as I can still pick off armed merchants from a distance) and the FLAK positions are difficult to man since they provide a limited field of view. I really need to rely on my watchman officer for details regarding air attacks. Also, this submarine is HUGE. Also, in some missions that are deep inside enemy territory I always hugged the coastline in shallow waters to make it through - this is impossible with the large XXI. The lack of a stern torpedo is also a frustration at times. Since the availability of Falke and Zaunkoenig torpedoes I always deliberately attracted the attention of a warship and let him chase me from the rear where I would calmly fire away a Falke or Zaunk... torpedo, go silent and watch him get hit and sink 9/10 times. I did encounter more warships with the XXI but the lack of a stern torpedo tube and homing torpedoes made me play it safe.

I know this boat is highly advanced and will give me and my crew more chances at surviving, but I guess what I am saying is: I miss my old VIIC/42.

Anyone think I should go back to it? I know the VIIC/42 inside and out - what she does well and what she doesn't and I find her to be the ideal boat for me. The deck gun and stern torpedo and the nice setup of the three FLAK cannons makes it an ideal A/C killer.

First time on the XXI is always strange [if this is first time] but this is very good sub. You can be still underwater for long time. You don't need to use periscope anymore.
I know. This sub haven't got a stern torpeedoes, but maybe You should attack different. Try to attack 2-3 escorts first, and after this - ships.

karamazovnew · 10-12-09, 05:58 AM

I'd stick to the good old VII. The Type XXI's best known mission was the evacuation of civilian population in east Prussia. The boats may not have been fit for combat, but they could slip undetected under the entire russian airforce and navy

Freiwillige · 10-12-09, 10:41 AM

Isn't the XXI able to attack on sonar bearings alone? never surface but still fight! I love it.

XXI is new tech and should let you do more offensively and defensively over the old VII

evan82 · 10-12-09, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freiwillige

Isn't the XXI able to attack on sonar bearings alone? never surface but still fight! I love it.

This is it!

[I mean XXI not MJ]

Pohl · 10-12-09, 10:13 PM

I once took a Type XXI to 275 meters before hull started to take a bit damage...just amazing

Also the really fast reload of the tubes makes it up (if you play in 100% realism) 11 minutes on Type VII per tube vs 2-3 minutes in Type XXI per tube
And remember that there's no need for u to surface to reload extra eels, since you have them already inside the sub.

cawimmer430 · 10-14-09, 11:17 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the tips and advice.

Played again today. The XXI is indeed a great submarine but I still do miss that deck gun. It does come in handy. I also dislike the FLAK firing position as the view is very limited. In my last mission just a few moments ago, I had sunk 10 ships (including a Flower Corvette and a Tribal Class Destroyer) and was out of torpedoes. When coming across unescorted multiple merchants, I usually only went for the big fat ships like the Liberty, C3/C4 and big oil tankers. I ignored the coastal merchants or small merchants. The big ships require at least 3 torpedoes to go down. Anyway, on the way back to Bergen I came across three massive oil tankers - unescorted and no aircraft activity - but I was out of eels. If I had a VIIC I would have surfaced behind the last tanker at a safe distance and blasted away with the deck gun while my FLAK crew would have been on alert. I am still mad at this missed opportunity!

I wanted to go back to the VIIC but my renown is at 2900 at the moment because I've been loading up my submarine with Zaunkoenig I's and II's and these babies cost you an arm and a leg!

It's March of 1945 in my game. The war will be over soon and I want to have some fun before that happens! After the next mission I am seriously going for a VIIC again.

Also, in some of the territorial waters around the UK, cruising at periscope depth with the XXI is suicidal as the ocean floor in some of those areas is literally scratching at my belly.

It's final: I'm going back to the VIIC.

10-11-09, 06:24 PM	#1
cawimmer430 Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 114 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Goodbye VIIC/42, hello XXI! Hey guys, My operating base Brest is now in Allied hands and I am now operating out of Bergen. The date is late December 1944 / early January 1945. For the most part of my career I've been operating a VIIC submarine and have upgraded her to the max. I like this submarine and I've gotten used to her. So on my first mission out of my new port, I felt bold for some reason and decided to attack Scapa Flow. I managed to sink a Flower Corvette halfway there and then snuck into the harbor. Scapa Flow in late 1944 seems lightly defended. I creeped towards the port near the coastline and only picked up five warships. Anyway, once inside the harbor it is pitch dark and there's a big fat Fiji Light Cruiser in anchor. I line my submarine up facing its middle at a distance of 2.8 km, fire three torpedoes, have my guys reload the tubes as fast as possible while sneaking towards the inside of the harbor coastline to wait it out. My eels impact and the Fiji Cruiser goes under on its port side. However, she doesn't fully sink but I still get credited with the kill. The destroyers outside the harbor go crazy and as expected, they head towards the coastline to listen. Perfect for me. I creep out of the harbor and come across a V&W destroyer near the coastline in listening mode. I'm 1.5 km away. I manually set the normal torpedo for a straight run at a depth of 1 m since the destroyer is in extreme shallow water. He goes under. I repeat this process for the two other warships (another V&W and a J-Class) and score kills. Then I proceed to creep out and a mixture of fast and slow speeds avoiding two warships that have appeared east of Scapa Flow. Before heading back to Norway I also come into contact with some merchants and two airplanes. It has to be said that the weather was terrible which probably explains the lack of air patrols I encountered throughout the mission. My results for this mission: a Fiji Light Cruiser (10,000 tons+), a J-Class Destroyer and 2 V&W Destroyers, 1 Flower Corvette, two Liberty cargo ships, 1 coast merchant and 2 Short Sunderlands. Not bad for a 1944/1945 career. So anyway, now I have upgraded to the XXI. My first mission with it was a success. Three warships sunk (including a Dido class which I encountered north of Scapa Flow in rough weather) and 10 merchants. What I like about this submarine is its underwater speed. 17 knots! Damn! On the other hand, I do miss the deck gun (it comes in useful as I can still pick off armed merchants from a distance) and the FLAK positions are difficult to man since they provide a limited field of view. I really need to rely on my watchman officer for details regarding air attacks. Also, this submarine is HUGE. Also, in some missions that are deep inside enemy territory I always hugged the coastline in shallow waters to make it through - this is impossible with the large XXI. The lack of a stern torpedo is also a frustration at times. Since the availability of Falke and Zaunkoenig torpedoes I always deliberately attracted the attention of a warship and let him chase me from the rear where I would calmly fire away a Falke or Zaunk... torpedo, go silent and watch him get hit and sink 9/10 times. I did encounter more warships with the XXI but the lack of a stern torpedo tube and homing torpedoes made me play it safe. I know this boat is highly advanced and will give me and my crew more chances at surviving, but I guess what I am saying is: I miss my old VIIC/42. Anyone think I should go back to it? I know the VIIC/42 inside and out - what she does well and what she doesn't and I find her to be the ideal boat for me. The deck gun and stern torpedo and the nice setup of the three FLAK cannons makes it an ideal A/C killer.

10-11-09, 10:53 PM	#2
Pohl Sparky Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 157 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	you will eventually love the XXI, you can get 20 knots on it.....just rise snorkel and go to 15 meters....full ahead, watch her fly through the water __________________ Current Careers: U-177 Type IXD2, 10th Flotilla March 13, 1943 U-3502 Type XXI, 7th/13th Flotilla April 14, 1942 100% realism, GWX 3.0, SH3 Commander 3.2

10-12-09, 10:13 PM	#8
Pohl Sparky Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 157 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	I once took a Type XXI to 275 meters before hull started to take a bit damage...just amazing Also the really fast reload of the tubes makes it up (if you play in 100% realism) 11 minutes on Type VII per tube vs 2-3 minutes in Type XXI per tube And remember that there's no need for u to surface to reload extra eels, since you have them already inside the sub. __________________ Current Careers: U-177 Type IXD2, 10th Flotilla March 13, 1943 U-3502 Type XXI, 7th/13th Flotilla April 14, 1942 100% realism, GWX 3.0, SH3 Commander 3.2

10-12-09, 05:10 AM	#3
Scape Gunner Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kanada Posts: 92 Downloads: 57 Uploads: 0	How can you not love that?

10-12-09, 05:58 AM	#5
karamazovnew The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,403 Downloads: 151 Uploads: 0	I'd stick to the good old VII. The Type XXI's best known mission was the evacuation of civilian population in east Prussia. The boats may not have been fit for combat, but they could slip undetected under the entire russian airforce and navy

10-12-09, 10:41 AM	#6
Freiwillige The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phx. Az Posts: 1,458 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Isn't the XXI able to attack on sonar bearings alone? never surface but still fight! I love it. XXI is new tech and should let you do more offensively and defensively over the old VII

10-14-09, 11:17 AM	#9
cawimmer430 Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 114 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Hi guys, Thanks for all the tips and advice. Played again today. The XXI is indeed a great submarine but I still do miss that deck gun. It does come in handy. I also dislike the FLAK firing position as the view is very limited. In my last mission just a few moments ago, I had sunk 10 ships (including a Flower Corvette and a Tribal Class Destroyer) and was out of torpedoes. When coming across unescorted multiple merchants, I usually only went for the big fat ships like the Liberty, C3/C4 and big oil tankers. I ignored the coastal merchants or small merchants. The big ships require at least 3 torpedoes to go down. Anyway, on the way back to Bergen I came across three massive oil tankers - unescorted and no aircraft activity - but I was out of eels. If I had a VIIC I would have surfaced behind the last tanker at a safe distance and blasted away with the deck gun while my FLAK crew would have been on alert. I am still mad at this missed opportunity! I wanted to go back to the VIIC but my renown is at 2900 at the moment because I've been loading up my submarine with Zaunkoenig I's and II's and these babies cost you an arm and a leg! It's March of 1945 in my game. The war will be over soon and I want to have some fun before that happens! After the next mission I am seriously going for a VIIC again. Also, in some of the territorial waters around the UK, cruising at periscope depth with the XXI is suicidal as the ocean floor in some of those areas is literally scratching at my belly. It's final: I'm going back to the VIIC.