Circumnavigation KTB: What was I Thinking?!

Kaptlt.Endrass · 10-22-14, 08:23 PM

So yeah. Had this crazy idea pop into my mind last week while plugging 105mm gifts into a convoy off of Cape Horn. So, returned to Lorient and decided to follow through. Donitz was edgy, but gave me the go ahead. So, starting next time, we'll be headed out to meet up with U-Tanker U-459, refueling there before heading east. This will be at 85% realism: just map contacts, ship and external cam, and that's it.

This is the KTB of the submarine U-181. Her mission: To circumnavigate the world for the Fatherland, to push the limits of the U-boats, to brave the trecharous waters of the Pacific, to boldly go where no U-boat has gone before.

(No, I couldn't resist the Star Trek reference.)

WilhelmSchulz. · 10-22-14, 08:27 PM

How are you going to refuel in the pacfic?

Kaptlt.Endrass · 10-22-14, 08:54 PM

Refuel as close to the Date Line as possible and rely on the IXD2's fuel capacity to get around the cape. Stay tuned to find out how it goes!

WilhelmSchulz. · 10-22-14, 09:48 PM

Looking foward to it!

banryu79 · 10-23-14, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaptlt.Endrass

Refuel as close to the Date Line as possible and rely on the IXD2's fuel capacity to get around the cape. Stay tuned to find out how it goes!

Do you plan to agonize the crew with extended periods of submerged runs on batteries or do you have a different startegy in mind?

Sailor Steve · 10-23-14, 10:22 AM

Before you start you might want to know that SHIII doesn't have the whole world. You can do it in SHIV, but not in Three.

Kielhauler1961 · 10-23-14, 10:27 AM

Sailor Steve is bang-on. I started a similar trip back in 2008 and stopped shortly after reaching the Galapagos Islands.

Part of the reason was because I was informed the game wouldn't allow me to cross the International Date Line but the main reason was a dinosaur ate most of my crew...

The first part of my thread (from Ubi forum) is here but the back end of it seems to be missing:

http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php...ype-VII-Forums

VirtualVikingX · 11-16-14, 03:03 AM

Get well soon!

WilhelmSchulz. · 11-16-14, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualVikingX

Get well soon!

Ditto!

Kaptlt.Endrass · 11-27-14, 05:39 PM

Finally beat that flu. Good timing too; I'd hated to miss Thanksgiving dinner. On the other hand, the bedrest gave me plenty of time to determine our route around the Cape of Good Hope.

17 September 1942, 0233 hours
Kapitanleutnant zur See Otis von Bismarck
U-181

Finished refueling and resupplying with U-459 at 0217 hours, cast off at 0225. Set speed for 7 knots and plotted a 42-day course around the cape and between Madagascar and the mainland. We will end up at the Horn of Africa after ~13000 kilometers have been crossed.

13 October 1942, 1053 hours
Kapitanleutnant z. S. Otis von Bismarck
134 km. ESE of Cape Town, U-181

Spotted two armed merchants at 1036 hours and submerged when 3500 meters out. Weather was overcast with medium winds and 3-5 foot waves, and we remained undetected. Closed to 500 meters and identified. Lead ship was a British Empire Freighter; second was a British small merchant. Fired tubes 1 and 2 (G IIIa G7e, II G7e) at the Empire, and tube 3 (IIIa G7e) at the merchant. Two hits scored on Empire, sunk at 1048 hours (6.5k GRT). Small merchant took neglible damage and escaped at high speed.

21 October 1942, 0939 hours
Leutnant z. S. Hans Gerbach (IWO)
Entrance to Madagascar-Africa channel, U-181

Reached our first trial of the passage. Dove to periscope depth before Kaluen Bismarck retired, feeling unwell. Ship's medic reported the cold, and he is to remain quarintined until it passes.

21 October 1942, 1446 hours
Leutnant z. S. Hans Gerbach (IWO)
3/4 through Madagascar-Africa channel, U-181

Surfaced in order to air out and charge batteries.

21 October 1942, 1458 hours
Leutnant z. S. Hans Gerbach (IWO)
<50 km from Indian Ocean, U-181

Spotted two Hawker Hurricane aircraft at 1453, manned flak guns. Both shot down, gave pilots the spare raft and pointed them home.

27 October 1942, 0026 hours
Kapitanleutnant z. S. Otis von Bismarck
259 km. ESE of the Red Sea, U-181

Recovered from cold. Reached the end of the 2nd leg of our journey. We have spent 60 days at sea as of today, and will set a course for a Japanese base in the next hour. Sent contact report to BdU. Morale is high, and the external torpedoes have ben moved.

Guess what the BdU's reply was.

So, second leg down! We've already surpassed the normal date that U-boats spent on patrol, and we still have an entire ocean to cross. Also, where do you suggest I put in when we reach Asia?

Thanks for watching (reading?)

lecrop · 11-28-14, 03:31 AM

Amazing trip!

banryu79 · 12-01-14, 04:21 AM

Whoa!
Is the gramophone still working?

10-22-14, 08:23 PM	#1
Kaptlt.Endrass Sonar Guy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: No Longer On A Big Grey Floaty Thing Posts: 395 Downloads: 116 Uploads: 0	Circumnavigation KTB: What was I Thinking?! So yeah. Had this crazy idea pop into my mind last week while plugging 105mm gifts into a convoy off of Cape Horn. So, returned to Lorient and decided to follow through. Donitz was edgy, but gave me the go ahead. So, starting next time, we'll be headed out to meet up with U-Tanker U-459, refueling there before heading east. This will be at 85% realism: just map contacts, ship and external cam, and that's it. This is the KTB of the submarine U-181. Her mission: To circumnavigate the world for the Fatherland, to push the limits of the U-boats, to brave the trecharous waters of the Pacific, to boldly go where no U-boat has gone before. (No, I couldn't resist the Star Trek reference.) __________________ "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.

10-22-14, 08:27 PM	#2
WilhelmSchulz. The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Virgina Beach Posts: 1,301 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	How are you going to refuel in the pacfic? __________________ "Some ships are designed to sink… others require our assistance."

10-22-14, 08:54 PM	#3
Kaptlt.Endrass Sonar Guy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: No Longer On A Big Grey Floaty Thing Posts: 395 Downloads: 116 Uploads: 0	Refuel as close to the Date Line as possible and rely on the IXD2's fuel capacity to get around the cape. Stay tuned to find out how it goes! __________________ "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.

10-22-14, 09:48 PM	#4
WilhelmSchulz. The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Virgina Beach Posts: 1,301 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Looking foward to it! __________________ "Some ships are designed to sink… others require our assistance."

10-23-14, 10:22 AM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Before you start you might want to know that SHIII doesn't have the whole world. You can do it in SHIV, but not in Three. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

10-23-14, 10:27 AM	#7
Kielhauler1961 中国水兵 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East of the Firth of Forth Posts: 273 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Sailor Steve is bang-on. I started a similar trip back in 2008 and stopped shortly after reaching the Galapagos Islands. Part of the reason was because I was informed the game wouldn't allow me to cross the International Date Line but the main reason was a dinosaur ate most of my crew... The first part of my thread (from Ubi forum) is here but the back end of it seems to be missing: http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php...ype-VII-Forums

11-16-14, 03:03 AM	#8
VirtualVikingX Captain Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 262 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	Get well soon!

11-27-14, 05:39 PM	#10
Kaptlt.Endrass Sonar Guy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: No Longer On A Big Grey Floaty Thing Posts: 395 Downloads: 116 Uploads: 0	Finally beat that flu. Good timing too; I'd hated to miss Thanksgiving dinner. On the other hand, the bedrest gave me plenty of time to determine our route around the Cape of Good Hope. 17 September 1942, 0233 hours Kapitanleutnant zur See Otis von Bismarck U-181 Finished refueling and resupplying with U-459 at 0217 hours, cast off at 0225. Set speed for 7 knots and plotted a 42-day course around the cape and between Madagascar and the mainland. We will end up at the Horn of Africa after ~13000 kilometers have been crossed. 13 October 1942, 1053 hours Kapitanleutnant z. S. Otis von Bismarck 134 km. ESE of Cape Town, U-181 Spotted two armed merchants at 1036 hours and submerged when 3500 meters out. Weather was overcast with medium winds and 3-5 foot waves, and we remained undetected. Closed to 500 meters and identified. Lead ship was a British Empire Freighter; second was a British small merchant. Fired tubes 1 and 2 (G IIIa G7e, II G7e) at the Empire, and tube 3 (IIIa G7e) at the merchant. Two hits scored on Empire, sunk at 1048 hours (6.5k GRT). Small merchant took neglible damage and escaped at high speed. 21 October 1942, 0939 hours Leutnant z. S. Hans Gerbach (IWO) Entrance to Madagascar-Africa channel, U-181 Reached our first trial of the passage. Dove to periscope depth before Kaluen Bismarck retired, feeling unwell. Ship's medic reported the cold, and he is to remain quarintined until it passes. 21 October 1942, 1446 hours Leutnant z. S. Hans Gerbach (IWO) 3/4 through Madagascar-Africa channel, U-181 Surfaced in order to air out and charge batteries. 21 October 1942, 1458 hours Leutnant z. S. Hans Gerbach (IWO) <50 km from Indian Ocean, U-181 Spotted two Hawker Hurricane aircraft at 1453, manned flak guns. Both shot down, gave pilots the spare raft and pointed them home. 27 October 1942, 0026 hours Kapitanleutnant z. S. Otis von Bismarck 259 km. ESE of the Red Sea, U-181 Recovered from cold. Reached the end of the 2nd leg of our journey. We have spent 60 days at sea as of today, and will set a course for a Japanese base in the next hour. Sent contact report to BdU. Morale is high, and the external torpedoes have ben moved. Guess what the BdU's reply was. So, second leg down! We've already surpassed the normal date that U-boats spent on patrol, and we still have an entire ocean to cross. Also, where do you suggest I put in when we reach Asia? Thanks for watching (reading?) __________________ "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.

11-28-14, 03:31 AM	#11
lecrop Watch Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: St.Pierre-la-Rivière Posts: 22 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	Amazing trip! __________________ Uboote Wargaming .... JTS Wolfpack scenarios

12-01-14, 04:21 AM	#12
banryu79 Samurai Navy Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Italy Posts: 554 Downloads: 82 Uploads: 2	Whoa! Is the gramophone still working?