The Final Patrol

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

Date: 30 April 1945
Loccation: Bergen U-boote Pens
Time/Weather: 0032, 37 degrees Celcius
U-2501, Korvettenkapitan Hans Mueller

The band playing on the docks, alongside the ever-faithful nurses corps, help us hide our sorrow. We know this is it. Berlin is surrounded, our Furher dead. We will continue the fight, until the end. Long live the Fatherland!

"All ahead one-third. Adolf chart course for the Rockall Banks."

We are underway.
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This is it. My final patrol, in a career older than the war, when I had only the U-5. Haven't died yet, and I plan to keep it as such. 100% realism, even map contacts off. The war is almost over.

[Admiral Halsey]

You've survived up until the last few days of the war without dying? No offense but I don't believe it.

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

It is...

Helps that I've spent lots of time with repairs in port. The medic also found we happen to all be allergic to aircraft, depth charges, Hedgehogs, and radar, so we avoid those as much as possible.

Having a Type XXI helps too.

[P_Funk]

What kinds of success have you had in the last few years of the war? How does a typical late war attack work for you?

Would be interesting for you to comment on how you've found the changes come on.

[Rebel]

I've been playing silent Hunter 11.. Silent Hunter 111 and silent Hunter 111 with GWX. I have just started playing the careers I've tried starting different career games and am now in my best choice the 7/13th-1939 at 100% all files equaling true. I also play once the game starts. I only look at where I. Am after I've attacked the British ships that are located in different locations . I've chosen to reproduce the game Map and follow my journey on the map that I reproduce. I found that I could not stay interested for long periods of time with the only involvement was, changing the crew.the way that I play is in my opinion keeps my attention on where I am. I have my own way of firing my torpedoes manually with great success. It was boredom , that always cause me to attack when avoiding was the best answer to survive . I did have a problem with my first career after reaching each port that had British ships at Anchorage and spending 24 hours in my patrol area. I was approaching my starting port, my countrymen fired at my submarine. I played this game several times with the same results. I finally removed the entire game. Reinstall everything, making sure that the files for my career had my name on it which fix,s the problem .I found the greatest problem was playing by the rules of war. only attack your enemies. Getting close enough to identify the possible enemy ship required me to get very, very close. Then moving at the greatest distance to give myself as much time for my plan of escape.PS jimbuna . If you feel like posting a picture of me, feel free to do so. In fact, it would be nice to see the pictures of the meeting, we had in Texas that was so gracefully given by Neil Stevens.

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

Originally Posted by P_Funk

What kinds of success have you had in the last few years of the war? How does a typical late war attack work for you?

Would be interesting for you to comment on how you've found the changes come on.

It is HARD. The results vary; sometimes I'll hit a convoy, sink 15000 tons, and come off scot-free, or I'll be detected before I attack and spend hours evading.

Since January 45, my largest ship sunk has been a Bouge CVE, which was part of an immense convoy (71 hydrophone contacts at the height, I believe). I was promptly knocked down to 67% hull integrity as I made a few more attacks.

[desirableroasted]

Glad to hear it is possible. I struggled into 1944, once... at least long enough to finish off the New Year Eve champagne.

But I fiddle with mods too much, and leave the game for 2-3 months. A piker, I am, compared to most of the people here.

What mods are you playing, Endrass?

[banryu79]

Awsome endeavor, Kaptlt.Endrass!

[maillemaker]

You've survived up until the last few days of the war without dying? No offense but I don't believe it.

It is possible. I have done it once at "100%" realism, but with map contacts still on. I am now trying with complete 100% realism with all options set to maximum realism.

I made it to mid 1944 before dying so far.

I do "cheat" in that I edit the files so that I have effectively infinite renown so that I can "buy" any hardware I want.

The keys to survival I find are these:

Stay out of shallow water. During evasion, you need to be able to go to 200-220 meters.

Never attack anything where escorts are around without 100% hull integrity. During evasion, you need to be able to go down to 200-220 meters and with a weak hull you can't, so you'll die.

As soon as homing torpedo are available, load up. I fill my aft tubes and internal storage with them. Make your convoy attack, and then take out the hard-charging escorts with the homing fish. It can be hard to make sure the homing fish follow the escorts and not merchants.

Once hedgehogs are available, unless you have a load of homing fish and a Type XXI sub where you can run from pursuing escorts while spiting out homing fish, your best bet is to attack from long range with pattern running torpedoes and hope for the best for hits. Launch from 5000+ meters out and head to 220 meters silent. With luck, they will never find you. If they do find you and you have no homing fish you're screwed.

Steve

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

Glad to hear it is possible. I struggled into 1944, once... at least long enough to finish off the New Year Eve champagne.

But I fiddle with mods too much, and leave the game for 2-3 months. A piker, I am, compared to most of the people here.

What mods are you playing, Endrass?

GWX gold, with some smaller ones thrown in.

Date: 3 May 1945
Location: 10 km NNW of the Rockall Banks
Time/Weather: 0826, heavy rains and high seas.
U-2501, Kvtkpt. Hans Mueller

Large convoy report recieved at 0819. Dived and pursued by hydrophone. Sighted at 0823 with observation scope.

Date: 3 May 1945
Location: 11.3 km N of Rockall Banks
Time/Weather: 0856, high seas

Idenified one large tanker, one Victory ship, and small or coastal merchant. Penetrated escort screen at 0839 and began attack. Two TIII G7es fired at tanker and cargo, one at coastal merchant. Dived to 75 meters at 0844 and commenced silent running.

Date: 3 May 1945
Location: 11.3 km N of Rockall Banks
Time: 0903, Weather N\A

Confirmed multiple torpedo impacts between 0841 and 0843. Two ships, sunk presumably coastal merchant and tanker from location. Detected at 0852 and depth-charged. Insignificant damage incurred, dove to 150 meters and left area. Surfaced at 0900, 8 km W of last contact. Charted new course for BE11 patrol grid.
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The escorts gave up rather quickly, hmm?

Did this one as I played ;-)

[VirtualVikingX]

Excellent stuff. Please do post until the end!

[banryu79]

Hey Kaptlt.Endrass, with your experience you can spill out some suggestions and tactics you have lernt along the way for the younger kaleun here (like me, for exampe). It would be nice to hear some stories of your patrols...
Sit down, take a beer and tell us about your adventures!

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

Originally Posted by banryu79

Hey Kaptlt.Endrass, with your experience you can spill out some suggestions and tactics you have lernt along the way for the younger kaleun here (like me, for exampe). It would be nice to hear some stories of your patrols...
Sit down, take a beer and tell us about your adventures!

Will do, though they aren't too different from maillemaker's.

Date: 9 May 1945
Location: 342 km W of Casablanca
Time/Weather: 1102, moderate seas
U-2501

"Kapitan, we have a transmission."

My U-boat men! Six years of submarine warfare lie behind us. You have fought like lions! A crushing material superiority has forced us into a narrow area. A continuation of our fight on the remaining basis is no longer possible.

U- boat men! Undefeated and unblemished, you lay down your arms after a heroic battle without equal. We remember in deep respect our fallen comrades, who have sealed with death their loyalty to Führer and Fatherland.

Comrades! Preserve your U-boat spirit, with which you have fought couragously, stubbornly, and imperturbably through the years for the good of the Fatherland.

Long Live Germany!

Your Grand Admiral.


"Set course for Freetown."
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We fought like lions! Awesome! But next time, fight like U-boats. Lions can't sink ships.


It's not over yet.

[Kaptlt.Endrass]

"Half a week after the Krauts surrendered, a strange, lone u-boat was sighted outside of Freetown, flying the flag of surrender over the German naval ensign."

Date: 13 May 1945
Location: Freetown, West Afrika
Time/Weather: 1126, Calm seas

The U-2501, having gone through a local tropical cyclone, surrendered at Freetown harbor in Afrika.

"A V&W and C-class escorted the sub into the harbor, where it docked. I, along with a few other men from the Victory ship's crew, went to assist with the unloading."

Two destroyers were dispatced to escort us inside the breakwater, where we were told to dock and disembark. For the last time, U-2501 has weighed anchor.

Long live sacred Germany.

Kvtkapt. Hans Mueller

"As the crew left their ship, many unwillingly, I noticed a familiar face, from when I worked a large cargo in the early years. I walked up to the captain, who was running his hands along the tower. He was the same one who had sunk my old ship, who stayed and gave food and water, pointing us home. I re-introduced myself, and like two old friends, we walked to the nearest tavern, 45 German sailors in tow.
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That is it. Time to join the Bundesmarine!

I know sailors were interned usually, but go with it. I think its a good (if cliché) ending.

[RConch]

Great story-thanks for the read.