Merchant Raiders

Krumenacker · 03-08-06, 12:08 PM

Longtime lurker, first time.....

Anyway I've decided I need to contribute to this forum.

Several weeks ago while playing RuB, my watch officer sighted a merchant. It is spring 1940 and I'm in the North Sea about half-way between England and Norway. Being an old salt with driving a sub(earned a name in the Pacific Theatre a few years back), I know position is everything. I set myself up for a 90 AOB attack, impact at 3 meters. About a second after I flooded the tube and sent the eel on its way I take a second look at the flag. I just targeted one of ours

.
Luckily I had a weapons officer in the Pacific and I don't here. I miss badly. Intrigued I surface to check out my first German vessel in the game besides the harbor escorts. It is a merchant raider headed up over Scapa Flow. I stayed with it about a day until I was getting low on fuel. I really wish I would've been on my way out, I would have followed it as far as I could.

Anyone else see or follow a merchant raider?
If yes, did you ever fight together?

Schpeedy · 03-08-06, 12:40 PM

I've seen german merchants before, and I too have made the mistake of firing on them. So now, I don't fire on anything unless I'm dam sure its an enemy.

My question is, how would I know if a german merchant was actually a merchant raider?
Will it still say 'merchant' even if its actually a merchant raider?

Good idea though, I'll follow one also if find.

Perilscope · 03-08-06, 12:43 PM

Once at wilhemshaven I starter a patrol and a merchant Raider was leaving port as well, I followed him as far as I could, but nothing happenedâ€¦ I detached from him and went on my ownâ€¦ never saw him againâ€¦

Welcome aboard Krumenacker!

03-08-06, 12:45 PM

If you get close enough, the raiders have several 15cm (5.9") deck guns, plus usually an Arado float plane.

I've run into several German merchants in odd places. I usually write them up as Norwegian, because I just don't see how a lone German could survive between Scotland and Norway.

Krumenacker · 03-08-06, 12:49 PM

I was "fairly certain" it was Norwegian initially. The flags do have some similariaty. When I surfaced I was within 100m and checked it out in my recognition manual-kriegsmarine-merchant raider. It was cruising so fast I had to stay at Grosse Fahrt to keep up.

Krumenacker · 03-08-06, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

If you get close enough, the raiders have several 15cm (5.9") deck guns, plus usually an Arado float plane.

I've run into several German merchants in odd places. I usually write them up as Norwegian, because I just don't see how a lone German could survive between Scotland and Norway.

Check, Check, and Check. I believe I saw the float plane before I identified the flag(as Norge). Therefore I took a long shot, I was afraid I'd met a uboot hunter.

U-104 · 03-08-06, 02:03 PM

You are so lucky you missed!

03-08-06, 12:08 PM	#1
Krumenacker Watch Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 19 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Merchant Raiders Longtime lurker, first time..... Anyway I've decided I need to contribute to this forum. Several weeks ago while playing RuB, my watch officer sighted a merchant. It is spring 1940 and I'm in the North Sea about half-way between England and Norway. Being an old salt with driving a sub(earned a name in the Pacific Theatre a few years back), I know position is everything. I set myself up for a 90 AOB attack, impact at 3 meters. About a second after I flooded the tube and sent the eel on its way I take a second look at the flag. I just targeted one of ours . Luckily I had a weapons officer in the Pacific and I don't here. I miss badly. Intrigued I surface to check out my first German vessel in the game besides the harbor escorts. It is a merchant raider headed up over Scapa Flow. I stayed with it about a day until I was getting low on fuel. I really wish I would've been on my way out, I would have followed it as far as I could. Anyone else see or follow a merchant raider? If yes, did you ever fight together?

03-08-06, 02:03 PM	#7
U-104 Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: United States Posts: 797 Downloads: 187 Uploads: 0	You are so lucky you missed! __________________ My heart is steadfast, O God. I will sing and make music with all my soul. Ps. 108:1 Survival of the fittest does not explain arrival of the fittest. we live in a single spoken sentence.. "God said, let there be"

03-08-06, 12:40 PM	#2
Schpeedy Sailor man Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sacramento, Calif Posts: 43 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've seen german merchants before, and I too have made the mistake of firing on them. So now, I don't fire on anything unless I'm dam sure its an enemy. My question is, how would I know if a german merchant was actually a merchant raider? Will it still say 'merchant' even if its actually a merchant raider? Good idea though, I'll follow one also if find.

03-08-06, 12:43 PM	#3
Perilscope Sonar Guy Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Montréal Posts: 399 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Once at wilhemshaven I starter a patrol and a merchant Raider was leaving port as well, I followed him as far as I could, but nothing happenedâ€¦ I detached from him and went on my ownâ€¦ never saw him againâ€¦ Welcome aboard Krumenacker!

03-08-06, 12:45 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	If you get close enough, the raiders have several 15cm (5.9") deck guns, plus usually an Arado float plane. I've run into several German merchants in odd places. I usually write them up as Norwegian, because I just don't see how a lone German could survive between Scotland and Norway.

03-08-06, 12:49 PM	#5
Krumenacker Watch Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 19 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I was "fairly certain" it was Norwegian initially. The flags do have some similariaty. When I surfaced I was within 100m and checked it out in my recognition manual-kriegsmarine-merchant raider. It was cruising so fast I had to stay at Grosse Fahrt to keep up.