I need a refreshing course with SH3 (question barrage included)

[Loud_Silence]

I was almost at the end of the war on SH4, and it was starting to be just too easy. I remembered the charm of the constant harassment by the RAF bombers and the no-scape-possible shallow depth of the english channel, so i reinstalled SH3 and gave it another try.

But after a lot of time with fleet boat tactics, i somehow forget how to use the VII-C properly. So to put it straight, i have a few questions:

1.- This might be the most irritating question of them all; US fleet boats operated alone most of the time and sometimes they used wolfpack tactics, but wolfpacks were the most powerful way the germans had to use their boats, and most of the major achievements of the U-Boats agains convoys were made using wolfpacks. My question is... how the heck am i going to hit any convoy seriously all alone?

2.- If you're near an axis airbase and you spot an importan target, if you send a contact report they'll send some fighters to help you. So, the correct way of action is spot the convoy, call for help with the radio, shadow the convoy and attack. Is that right?

3.- Im in 1943 and the equipment isn't precisely state-of-the-art, but anyway i already have radar. The FUMO-30 to be specific. Supposedly it has 360º cover, but it doesn't detect a thing. When i use it manually, the contacts appear intermitently and is quite difficult to pick them at the precise moment i sweep over them. And my radioman reports the contacts just a few moments before they enter visual range and my watchcrew spots them. That's because the FUMO-30 is a early crappy radar or that's the way radar works in SH3?

4.- On my last mission, just before entering La Spezia to dock, a recon plane spotted me, followed by a flight of bombers. I ordered ahead flank, made some evasive maneuvers and ordered my watch officer to man the flak guns. I had everything set as usual (engage at will, fire at medium range, target closing targets only), but only one of the two flak gunners fired upon the bombers. The other just stood there watching the beauty of the sea. I manned the flak myself and fired a few rounds, but my aiming is bad and i returned to the observation post. After that, the flak gunners "swapped roles": the one who wasn't firing started firing, and the one who was firing stopped.

5.- Finally, i have one question about tactics. I saw on a documentary about the battle of the atlantic one attack on a convoy where the u-boats moved below the convoy and surfaced inside the formation. Then they started firing everything they had on board. I think i did that one time on SH4 when i got rid off the escorts and the freighters were unarmed. I had a lot of fun. But i'm not sure if something like that on SH3 would be possible or suicide.

I know it's a lot of reading. I wanted to make things clear. Thank you for the help!

[flag4]

Originally Posted by Loud_Silence

I was almost at the end of the war on SH4, and it was starting to be just too easy. I remembered the charm of the constant harassment by the RAF bombers and the no-scape-possible shallow depth of the english channel, so i reinstalled SH3 and gave it another try.

But after a lot of time with fleet boat tactics, i somehow forget how to use the VII-C properly. So to put it straight, i have a few questions:

1.- This might be the most irritating question of them all; US fleet boats operated alone most of the time and sometimes they used wolfpack tactics, but wolfpacks were the most powerful way the germans had to use their boats, and most of the major achievements of the U-Boats agains convoys were made using wolfpacks. My question is... how the heck am i going to hit any convoy seriously all alone?

2.- If you're near an axis airbase and you spot an importan target, if you send a contact report they'll send some fighters to help you. So, the correct way of action is spot the convoy, call for help with the radio, shadow the convoy and attack. Is that right?

3.- Im in 1943 and the equipment isn't precisely state-of-the-art, but anyway i already have radar. The FUMO-30 to be specific. Supposedly it has 360º cover, but it doesn't detect a thing. When i use it manually, the contacts appear intermitently and is quite difficult to pick them at the precise moment i sweep over them. And my radioman reports the contacts just a few moments before they enter visual range and my watchcrew spots them. That's because the FUMO-30 is a early crappy radar or that's the way radar works in SH3?

4.- On my last mission, just before entering La Spezia to dock, a recon plane spotted me, followed by a flight of bombers. I ordered ahead flank, made some evasive maneuvers and ordered my watch officer to man the flak guns. I had everything set as usual (engage at will, fire at medium range, target closing targets only), but only one of the two flak gunners fired upon the bombers. The other just stood there watching the beauty of the sea. I manned the flak myself and fired a few rounds, but my aiming is bad and i returned to the observation post. After that, the flak gunners "swapped roles": the one who wasn't firing started firing, and the one who was firing stopped.

5.- Finally, i have one question about tactics. I saw on a documentary about the battle of the atlantic one attack on a convoy where the u-boats moved below the convoy and surfaced inside the formation. Then they started firing everything they had on board. I think i did that one time on SH4 when i got rid off the escorts and the freighters were unarmed. I had a lot of fun. But i'm not sure if something like that on SH3 would be possible or suicide.

I know it's a lot of reading. I wanted to make things clear. Thank you for the help!

maybe i can help with No.1: go here...http://www.subsim.com/tips/tip_play3.php

hope this works. can't help with the others, sorry.

[Loud_Silence]

That would be helpful with No.5 more than 1. Anyway, that's the methos i used almost everytime in SH4, and the highest number of ships i could hit in a single attack was three.

[Jimbuna]

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

[danlisa]

1) Easily. Especially during the early war years it entirely possible to completely wipeout an entire convoy with multiple attack runs. (Type IX required )

2) Friendly air support occurs in game on a percentage chance. You won't get support every time you radio in. However, when you do it is best to let the Luft do their job and then you pick up the pieces. Otherwise you run the risk of them stealing you kills and tonnage.

3) Just due to the tech. Later models are more advanced and sensitive.

4) Known bug with some conning tower configurations. I can't remember the keyboard shortcut keys but the solution to the 'Lazy Flak Gunner' is to quickly cycle through the Flak Stations, returning to the conning tower each time. Do this and all the gunners will respond. Note, their lazyness does not occur every time.

5) Certainly possible, although only advisable during early war. As soon as merchants become armed with deck weaponry it's suicide. It is also possible, weather permitting, to surface between 2 columns and for the rest of the convoy to not know of you presence until you first attack is complete.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Loud_Silence

I1.- This might be the most irritating question of them all; US fleet boats operated alone most of the time and sometimes they used wolfpack tactics, but wolfpacks were the most powerful way the germans had to use their boats, and most of the major achievements of the U-Boats agains convoys were made using wolfpacks. My question is... how the heck am i going to hit any convoy seriously all alone?

U-boat wolfpacks were only effective until the Allies developed hunter-killer tactics. After that they stopped using them.

As for attacking alone, the reality was that even in a wolfpack you were alone. There was little or no communication between boats, the main advantage being that you could attack freely while the escorts were busy chasing another boat. The disadvantage was of course when yours was the boat they were chasing. Having AI subs attacking at the same time is nice for feelings (and in fact in GWX that happens, although the other boats are limited to surfaced attacks with deck guns [game fault, not GWX]), but your actual experience wouldn't really be too much different, even in a wolfpack.

5.- Finally, i have one question about tactics. I saw on a documentary about the battle of the atlantic one attack on a convoy where the u-boats moved below the convoy and surfaced inside the formation. Then they started firing everything they had on board. I think i did that one time on SH4 when i got rid off the escorts and the freighters were unarmed. I had a lot of fun. But i'm not sure if something like that on SH3 would be possible or suicide.

The reality: They did indeed do that, and you can do it in the game, but it's risky. There are several parts of SH3 that are not accurate, especially the part where sonar goes right through land and other ships, and they detect you almost like magic.

On the other hand they would fire off everything they had and then run, either fast on the surface at night or deep and slow during the day; but they did NOT keep reloading and firing torpedoes while the escorts were counter-attacking. Torpedoes are big and heavy and can break loose and creat havock when the boat is going up and down a lot. They would empty the tubes and escape, then go back for a second attack if possible.

So the game's unreal behaviour hurts you at one point and helps you at another. Not much we can do about that except hope SH5 is better.

[Loud_Silence]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

There are several parts of SH3 that are not accurate, especially the part where sonar goes right through land and other ships, and they detect you almost like magic.

Well... if they can't shoot at me right through land and other ships, things are not so bad. And if they do fire on a freighter when i'm on the other side, then any help is appreciated

Anyway, i have another question. All the radars in the game pick contacts intermitently, or just the early ones?

[Loud_Silence]

About a hour ago, I had TWO lazy flak gunners (the two guns out of my two and one heavy), just when I was under attack by four recon bombers
By moving the crew i managed to get one of the guns firing again, but the other was just watching the landscape

[Draka]

Don't remember which post on this Forum - but I copied down this sequence:

Multiple AA Guns - getting your crew to use all:
[F4] F [F4] G [F4] T [F4]

[F4] = Bridge
I use a VIIC with 2 Flak mounts, and this works for me. This presumes that you have already done the usual WO settings for how to fire. In my case it is Middle Range, Bombers, Closing and Fire Free so as soon as I man them they are good to go. This is done as soon as I leave the dock!

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Loud_Silence

About a hour ago, I had TWO lazy flak gunners (the two guns out of my two and one heavy), just when I was under attack by four recon bombers
By moving the crew i managed to get one of the guns firing again, but the other was just watching the landscape

Number 4 in danlisa's post should resolve the issue

[Loud_Silence]

I hate this radar... during my last patrol, the radioguy reported contacts just a few seconds before the watchcrew spotted them.

And i have some questiong about enemy sound detection. Active sonar doesn't detect you if you're well below and close to the emitter, right? But passive sonar can hear you no matter how deep you are? And after a depth charge or a torpedo explodes, how much time has to pass before enemy escorts can use their sonar again?