How do I sneak into a port if the water is so shallow?

[kasperl]

Read in some posts here that sometimes you will find some juicy targets anchored in some ports. So in the first patrol in Aug 1939 before war is declared I did some reconnaissance to some principal ports like Plymouth. However I discovered that after I get to several kilometers far from the anchored ships the water is only about 10 meters deep, not even enough to let me dive to periscope depth. And I doubt that it is possible to sneak into a port surfaced, so how should I do it?
Thanks in advance.

[David I]

On a moonless night, deck's awash (depth 7m), slow speed, and with little hope of seeing your loved ones again.

DavidI

[Tom]

Originally Posted by kasperl

the water is only about 10 meters deep, not even enough to let me dive to periscope depth.

How did you check the depth? By asking the navigator for depth under keel? If so, then there is enough water for diving. When you're on the surface, your keel is already at 5 meters or so. With 10 meters of water under the keel, that makes a total of 15 meters. Periscope depth puts your keel at 13 meters, leaving a safety margin of 2 meters.

As this wasn't historically done (except once, at Scapa Flow), I haven't done much harbor raiding, but the few times I did try it out of curiosity, I was always able to sneak in at periscope depth. Getting out proved to be the difficult part.

[kasperl]

So it still could be done?
And I believe it is not a must to get into 1km to hit several sitting ducks.

[Commander Gizmo]

You'll likely find that there are more things to prevent your successful attack over distance than just depth...

And like it's been said, getting in is the easy bit.

[Dissaray]

One thing you could try doing is finding the shiping chanle for the port. Most ports in reality have a deep chanle cut into them so the larger cargo and naval ships can get in and out. I don't know if they are modled into the game or not though.

A word of advice from my two failed attempts at port attacks: Mark your path in so you can falow it out. Ports are beset with mines and anti-sub and torpido nets. So if by chance, skill or luck you make it in and make an attack you will need to avoid them on your way out and you know that your way in was cleer of them so you might as well use that.

Also while you are right that you don't need to be close to hit a target that is moored at port it is a good idea to get in to at least 1500m range as it minimizes the chance of your torpido striking any nets.

[Brag]

Port raiding, heh?
Leave your grsmophone, money and your girlfrind's telephone number with me.

[Kimmers]

in my opinion port raids aren't worth the risk, the tonnage you get in there is never worth 40 dead men and a career, as i've learned several times

[Ping Panther]

At any rate, kasperl, keep us posted of your raids.
Good Hunting!

[kdv]

Once you do get into a port, make sure to set your torpedoes to the minimum depth, to go over any anti-sub/torp nets.

It's best to fire from a long distance anyways, allowing you to get turned around and heading out before the torpedoes reach their targets. Most torpedoes will run about 5km's before running out of power.

[Sailor Steve]

In real life there were only two harbor raids: Prien's on Scapa Flow, which was carefully planned by Doenitz himself, and one in the Caribbean (I think). Being able to raid harbors in the game is entirely...well, gamey. The water was indeed shallow, and the defenses were much better than even in GWX.

I wouldn't do it, but then I'm a coward.

[flag4]

DON'T!

but you could try a polish port, they're all rather sleepy in '39.

you may sink the odd one but you may not get away alive.

[KeptinCranky]

It's not all that difficult to be honest...
I've done quite a few of these raids, there really tough ones are Liverpool and some of the southern British ports, I believe Plymouth has such a narrow channel you cannot realistically attempt.

Anything else can be done, if you really want to,
you just have to be ready to take out some patrolling nastys if necessary and take your time.

a good beginners' port to raid would be Danzig and Hela in september 39, just to get a feel of it. then go for the ones that bag you something big like Dunkirk, Loch Ewe, or New York St Helena is Easy too but watch out for the minefield....

I do have to say that I feel port raiding is silly, I just had to do a lot of it for GWX testing..... Had to make sure they were all alright, no mispaced ships and such...
it just invites you to exploit the limits of SH3s programming where escorts are concerned. they're much easier to avoid in a narrow channel where they can't move properly than in open water, That's why Liverpool was doable.

I much prefer a convoy attack in the western approaches.

[Jimbuna]

Deep water is your ally.....stay out in the open seas

[Ancient Mariner]

I have only raided two ports succesfully & had one go horribly wrong....

Scapa Flow in a type VIIb in early 40,only bagged an auxilliary cruiser,managed to hit the Nelson but she didn't count as a sinking...shallow water & put 4 eels into the Hood during the same raid,same outcome as Nelson...had to do it to prove I could.

Curacao-1942 in A Type9,easy port with plenty of fat juicy tankers Not many DD's or ASW trawlers,subnet in main entrance,go deep under the net Think I pulled 50K tonnage on this missions raid

Freetown-1943......Possibly the dumbest raid I've attempted,hit a mine field that was my last harbour raid,sticking to the convoy hunts now