Hospital ship in RND patrol results

[Wulfmann]

I am posting the results of my first patrol with hospital ships here because the original thread was taken over by X-1 related shenanigans. :rotfl:

Iambecomelife’s hospital ships can cause serious changes in SH3 more than one might initially think. Good changes, if you like thing more complicated, as I do!
I added the NHOS throughout my RND mission file both as part of convoys and as single ships. I had already done this with Serg’s 2 ships and it is having Serg’s transport that makes the hospital ships so interesting and even scary.
Now they can pop up in the middle of a convoy but look like Serg’s transport until you ge close enough to ID them and as a single that is not as easy as one might think, particularly at night and with bad weather.
Consider the 10th patrol of the U-94.
After sinking 3 single ships, I patrolled off Gibraltar. Intercepting a convoy with many escorts (my other edit adding more escorts all 3 or 4 rated) I slipped past the DD and got into the convoy. Because I have reduced the tonnage for all the ships, I spotted 3 of Serg’s lined up and knew they could be sunk with a torpedo each, if hit correctly. As I lined up the first transport I had set up perfect for a 90 shot to take him out and then angle the boat to make a 30 degree shot so to hit the second transport square.
The first was hit perfectly and he was destroyed. I angled my boat for the second and realized it was a hospital ship.
Damn, the escorts are coming from every direction and I must wait until the third ship comes around. I damaged a C2 with my stern tube and was able to sink the KGN with one fish as 2 Frigates opened fire on my scope. I hit flank and hid behind a C3 trying to get close enough for a shot on the damaged C2 but the risk was too great as a corvette was coming at me from the bow with another from starboard. 4 is more than one should have to deal with, IMO so I crash dived in hopes of another shot at the C2. I made a couple turns I knew would put me under and beside merchants to 120 and came back up in hopes of a shot.
Instead, I came up next to a Frigate, with another close by. Something moved on the Frigate. It must have been hedgehog throwers as DCs hit the water near by but over shot as I was so close. I crash dived and did a 90 but was hit by DCs and my hull was down to 69% so I felt a real Kaleun would think of the risk to the men and luckily evaded (although I thought I was a goner!!)
I set sail for Brest and half way home got the notice of a ship. It was dark, with heavy seas and wind with moderate visibility. It was a transport but which one? I could not risk a hospital and that -10,000 renown. I had to be sure. I made an intercept course and kept looking through the UZO until I was so close I ran into the damn ship. Emergency reverse!!! I was pretty sure it was not a hospital and could not have gotten closer. The ramming caused serious damage and my hull integrity was 1%!!!! Not a misprint, that is one percent!!! I fired a fish and took it down. The kill was 3800 tons (I told you I reduced the tonnage!!) and the Hospital would have been 12,000 so I knew I was OK as long as a bird did not crap on the boat and sink me!! I made it home with 4 fish in the tubes but at 1% I could not risk any further damage.
The Hospital ship adds a dimension of hesitation that was nearly a disaster once and cost me a ship or 2 in the convoy and a couple that I would have gone for on the way home.
It was what dictated the patrol to a great extent.
That makes it a very important add on, IMO
But, unless it is added (along with Serg’s transport) to the RND file that is meaningless. Jason, take note!!

Wulfmann

Even i good lighting positive ID is not that positive until close enough to be sure.