Sailor Superstitions

Scout614 · 05-23-14, 12:44 AM

Knowing that we men of the sea are quite superstitious, do you have any at sea rituals?
I personally leave harbour the same way every time the gramophone playing, srews at ahead one-third,and in the captain's bunk. I never sail anything but a Type VIIb with G7a torpedos. I also will never go into the open Atlantic tending to stay on the Continental shelf and raiding harbour traffic.

05-23-14, 08:07 AM

I don't know about your superstitions.

G7a torpedoes aren't really ideal for U-boats because their wake can easily be spotted unless you attack at night or rough seas. The electric TIII models don't leave bubbles thus the target can't sight them.
If you've never been to the Mid-Atlantic, you have missed the essence of the tonnage war against Britain since her lifelines were the convoys sailing from America through the North Atlantic, exactly where U-boats supposed to hunt. Operating in shallow waters near the coast is dangerous especially later in the war and harbour raiding isn't too realistic either.
I suggest you take a trip to the Atlantic along the convoy routes and you'll see the difference.

Scout614 · 05-23-14, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allievo

I don't know about your superstitions.

G7a torpedoes aren't really ideal for U-boats because their wake can easily be spotted unless you attack at night or rough seas. The electric TIII models don't leave bubbles thus the target can't sight them.
If you've never been to the Mid-Atlantic, you have missed the essence of the tonnage war against Britain since her lifelines were the convoys sailing from America through the North Atlantic, exactly where U-boats supposed to hunt. Operating in shallow waters near the coast is dangerous especially later in the war and harbour raiding isn't too realistic either.
I suggest you take a trip to the Atlantic along the convoy routes and you'll see the difference.

I never get the TIIIs so the TI is best i have. I also enjoy having the different speed settings on the TI. Some times I wish i had a Schnellboot commander instead of an Unterseeboot captain. The Schnellboots would be better at harbour raiding.

Sailor Steve · 05-23-14, 04:33 PM

As a real-life sailor I never had any superstitions. I don't have any in my gaming life either.

Kaptlt.Endrass · 05-23-14, 11:32 PM

I do happen to know ship's cats and dogs were popular back in the Age of Sail. The HMS Hood even had a ship's dog on the night she was sunk.

More superstitions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailors'_superstitions

Jimbuna · 05-25-14, 06:55 AM

I never surface in front of a convoy escort.

b34856 · 05-25-14, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I never surface in front of a convoy escort.

I'm superstitious about gun battles with destroyers.

Jimbuna · 05-25-14, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b34856

I'm superstitious about gun battles with destroyers.

Precisely

Hinrich Schwab · 05-25-14, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scout614

Knowing that we men of the sea are quite superstitious, do you have any at sea rituals?
I personally leave harbour the same way every time the gramophone playing, srews at ahead one-third,and in the captain's bunk. I never sail anything but a Type VIIb with G7a torpedos. I also will never go into the open Atlantic tending to stay on the Continental shelf and raiding harbour traffic.

The only "superstition" I really have is that the more ideal the setup I have against a convoy, the more likely that either Bernard or Murphy will appear to screw it up.

Jimbuna · 05-25-14, 11:32 AM

Real life superstitions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailors'_superstitions

Admiral Halsey · 05-25-14, 11:57 AM

I play "Ride of the Valkyries" on a loop during every convoy attack.

Jimbuna · 05-25-14, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admiral Halsey

I play "Ride of the Valkyries" on a loop during every convoy attack.

SNAP!!

Sailor Steve · 05-25-14, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GalaKev

Not even Magpies?

No. I don't even know what that superstion is. We have a lot of magpies in our area, which is nowhere near the sea, and they regularly stop by on my railing.

Sailor Steve · 05-25-14, 05:35 PM

Ah. Thanks for sharing that. When they land on my railing it's always one. Maybe that explains a few things.

Jimbuna · 05-26-14, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GalaKev

I am ex RN, but my old man was a fisherman out of the Solent. I have known boats not going out till they seen the 2nd or more, when I was younger. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_for...rsery_rhyme%29

Yes, quite common for seafarers in years gone past

05-23-14, 12:44 AM	#1
Scout614 Bosun Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 62 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	Sailor Superstitions Knowing that we men of the sea are quite superstitious, do you have any at sea rituals? I personally leave harbour the same way every time the gramophone playing, srews at ahead one-third,and in the captain's bunk. I never sail anything but a Type VIIb with G7a torpedos. I also will never go into the open Atlantic tending to stay on the Continental shelf and raiding harbour traffic.

05-23-14, 04:33 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	As a real-life sailor I never had any superstitions. I don't have any in my gaming life either. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-23-14, 11:32 PM	#5
Kaptlt.Endrass Sonar Guy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: No Longer On A Big Grey Floaty Thing Posts: 395 Downloads: 116 Uploads: 0	I do happen to know ship's cats and dogs were popular back in the Age of Sail. The HMS Hood even had a ship's dog on the night she was sunk. More superstitions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailors'_superstitions __________________ "That flag and I are twins, born in the same hour from the same womb of destiny. We cannot be parted in life or in death; so long as we float, we shall float together." As much as I dislike it sometimes, I'm a tin can sailor, through and through.

05-25-14, 06:55 AM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,481 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I never surface in front of a convoy escort. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-25-14, 11:32 AM	#10
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,481 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Real life superstitions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailors'_superstitions __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-23-14, 08:07 AM	#2
allievo Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I don't know about your superstitions. G7a torpedoes aren't really ideal for U-boats because their wake can easily be spotted unless you attack at night or rough seas. The electric TIII models don't leave bubbles thus the target can't sight them. If you've never been to the Mid-Atlantic, you have missed the essence of the tonnage war against Britain since her lifelines were the convoys sailing from America through the North Atlantic, exactly where U-boats supposed to hunt. Operating in shallow waters near the coast is dangerous especially later in the war and harbour raiding isn't too realistic either. I suggest you take a trip to the Atlantic along the convoy routes and you'll see the difference.

05-25-14, 11:57 AM	#11
Admiral Halsey Best Admiral in the USN Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: USS Enterprise (CV-6) Posts: 1,740 Downloads: 317 Uploads: 0	I play "Ride of the Valkyries" on a loop during every convoy attack.

05-25-14, 05:35 PM	#14
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Ah. Thanks for sharing that. When they land on my railing it's always one. Maybe that explains a few things. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo