PBNA-Boosher
Coming straight from IL2, I have a tendency to control my submarine like a bomber aircraft. In terms of running silent it is very effective. However, since I'm new to the game, I tried last night to do the "Naval Academy's" Convoy Attack mission.
Here's how it went. I started out near the convoy, and so I submerged the sub and brought up the periscope. I situated myself effectively behind the last part of the patrol, a C2 cargo ship, and fired my first torpedo. I sank the boat in 1 hit, and after congratulating a happy crew, We moved toward the next target. By this point the Destroyers had obviously noticed us and our periscope was quite visible, so I had us dive down to 30 meters, still moving forward. The destroyer started searching around for me, and took a wrong turn so I decided to continue with my attack. I blew the ballast, resurfaced rather quickly, manned the deck gun and hid myself between 2 other cargo ships, firing at each one alternately with the deck gun. When the Destroyer was back on course, and able to fire at me without endangering his convoy, I resubmerged. Moving in behind the cargo ships I destroyed them with 2 more torpedoes. I blew the ballast again at this point, as the destroyer was right behind me, and then firing 2 aft torpedoes (firing one, then loading and firing a second one) the second of the 2 connected and disabled the destroyer. Submerging again to keep myself hidden from the target, I moved toward the last cargo ship at a heavy depth of 45 meters. (I love many meters) I planned to do the normal surprise attack by coming up right next to the ship and blowing the ballast tanks, catching them off guard and then using the deck gun to rip them apart.
What ended up happening was a lot more comedic. I blew the ballast tanks and started coming up, I brought the throttle to Emergency power and I could tell I was movin fast. Then I heard a loud clank, and my boat sunk.
I had hit the bottom hull of the ship I was trying to sink!
Talk about stupidity!
Reply With Quote
Here is one of my battles in that scenario. I get myself in position to fire three torpedos. 1 at the furthest away coasty, 1 at the tanker, and finally the last one at the C2. I try to set it up so they all hit at one time or very close to it so the merchants don't dodge my shots after the first one is hit. After they are all hit, I spin my attack scope around and select tube 5. I fire that off at one of the two coasties passing behind me. Its a hit too. Its my lucky day! This leaves one coasty, one armed trawler, and one destroyer. Play hide and seek with the escorts for a lttle while, let them run off after the convoy, finish the C2 off and this draws the trawler back. I surface and fire the deck gun at the trawler, hitting him a few times and leaving him listing and on fire. This brings the destroyer back quickly, so I dive quickly and go silent to hide from him. It doesn't take many hits at the waterline for the trawler to eventually roll over and sink, though it takes almost an hour game time before he looses the battle to stay afloat. Play hide and seek again from the very angry Hunt 1. He gives up and races off to catch up to the survivor. I surface and chase the survivor down, setting up at night for an attack. They're moving very slowly in the night, with the Hunt using its searchlight to spot torpedos or periscopes near the merchant. I dive to periscope depth just in case. The Hunt doesn't seem all that interested in self preservation since the spotlight seems to be panning behind it, just looking out for the merchant's safety. Whoops, he sped up and turned my way. Did he hear me? I order silent running. Down periscope and wait! With the seas calm like this, he'll spot a raised periscope in that light for sure. I listen to his prop noise getting closer, closer, then turning away. Raise scope, he's headed back to the merchant but I still need to be careful because now that searchlight is searching in my direction. As it slowly turns toward my scope, I quickly duck the scope below the surface, raising it a few seconds later to watch. Slowly the range closes. Finally, with the Hunt at just 2 knots and only 750 meters away, I give him a fast running gas torpedo set with a magnetic pistol. He never saw it since his searchlight had just past me when I fired. Goodbye Hunt, hello surface attack with the deck gun on the last surviving coasty. Kiss that little convoy, escorts included, goodbye!
