The FC Barcelona of Escorts?

VonApist · 03-13-12, 06:37 AM

I hate to whine , but this was a first. December 1940, my VIIB patrol grid is AM23. Incoming BdU report tells me a large convoy is some 200Km away heading slowly my way, course East. I have done the exercise many times (as I am pretty sure most of you). Given the size of the convoy and the time (late 1940) I felt pretty sure that the convoy wont be very lightly escorted. Since the weather was brilliant, I decide to position myself some 3 Km away from the expected path of the convoy, to avoid early detection, at an angle of 90degrees. My intention is to do long distance shots (2.5-3km) and try to evade as quietly as possible.
So I race towards my attack position, dive at 80m and turn my Uboat towards the direction of the convoy to provide the minimum available sonar target. Im standing there, 80m deep, silent running, checking on the hydrophones to assert the path. As expected they are on time and in pretty much the bearing/ path I was expecting them to follow.
So I sit tight, silent, waiting for the escorts to move forward before I go to periscope depth for the attack. And then the first escort is coming my way. I use no external camera so I was relying on the hydro. And after some minutes I get pinged. I stay still. Then hydrophones report that another escort is coming my way.
Now, the expression, "how the *** did they find me" creeps into my mind.
Its still 1940, late but 1940 for crying out loud. After a couple of minutes the escorts start their runs. At the first depth charge barrage I order depth 220m ,a depth that I reached uneventfully. And Im stuck there for 1.5 hour game time getting depth charged.
I survived, it was fine. And later I repositioned myself ahead of the convoy at night for a surface attack this time, which was successful (1 ammunition ship, 1 Large Merchant).
It still bugs me how I got detected in the first place-; BUT THAT'S THE REASON I LOVE THIS GAME. Its so freaking AWESOME!!!
PS I have checked, Bernard wasnt singing "Nessun Dorma" while on silent running. I had him tied and gagged up on the periscope tube from the beggining
Any ideas?

03-13-12, 06:37 AM	#1
VonApist Navy Dude Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 175 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	The FC Barcelona of Escorts? I hate to whine , but this was a first. December 1940, my VIIB patrol grid is AM23. Incoming BdU report tells me a large convoy is some 200Km away heading slowly my way, course East. I have done the exercise many times (as I am pretty sure most of you). Given the size of the convoy and the time (late 1940) I felt pretty sure that the convoy wont be very lightly escorted. Since the weather was brilliant, I decide to position myself some 3 Km away from the expected path of the convoy, to avoid early detection, at an angle of 90degrees. My intention is to do long distance shots (2.5-3km) and try to evade as quietly as possible. So I race towards my attack position, dive at 80m and turn my Uboat towards the direction of the convoy to provide the minimum available sonar target. Im standing there, 80m deep, silent running, checking on the hydrophones to assert the path. As expected they are on time and in pretty much the bearing/ path I was expecting them to follow. So I sit tight, silent, waiting for the escorts to move forward before I go to periscope depth for the attack. And then the first escort is coming my way. I use no external camera so I was relying on the hydro. And after some minutes I get pinged. I stay still. Then hydrophones report that another escort is coming my way. Now, the expression, "how the *** did they find me" creeps into my mind. Its still 1940, late but 1940 for crying out loud. After a couple of minutes the escorts start their runs. At the first depth charge barrage I order depth 220m ,a depth that I reached uneventfully. And Im stuck there for 1.5 hour game time getting depth charged. I survived, it was fine. And later I repositioned myself ahead of the convoy at night for a surface attack this time, which was successful (1 ammunition ship, 1 Large Merchant). It still bugs me how I got detected in the first place-; BUT THAT'S THE REASON I LOVE THIS GAME. Its so freaking AWESOME!!! PS I have checked, Bernard wasnt singing "Nessun Dorma" while on silent running. I had him tied and gagged up on the periscope tube from the beggining Any ideas? __________________ "Submariners are a special brotherhood, either all come to the surface or no one does. On a submarine, the phrase all for one and one for all is not just a slogan, but reality.” -- VADM Rudolf Golosov Last edited by VonApist; 03-13-12 at 07:09 AM.