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Post by Holtz on Apr 29, 2005 12:08:54 GMT
A question:
I'm in patrol #6 (late January '40) out of Wilhelmshaven and have yet to come across a convoy. So far just loner merchants. I understand the historical "neutrality" of the United States at this point of the war, but any idea why I'm not snagging any British convoys via England and the Mediterranean?
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BlitzPig_Rivet
Junior Member
Grunt, Snort, and other pig type noises
Posts: 58
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Post by BlitzPig_Rivet on Apr 29, 2005 12:54:43 GMT
It was around that stage that I started to meet my first convoys. I think at that time, the area you're most likely to meet a convoy is the Western Approaches just North of Ireland.
This is where 4 convoy routes converge on their way into Liverpool. Try to avoid the English Channel on your way there, it can get a bit, well, busy around the Dover Strait ;D.
When I was based at Kiel, I patrolled my assigned grid and then if I had the fuel and torpedoes, I sat around where the convoy routes converged and waited. It pays off occasionally, and when it does - you know what was meant by "The happy time".
Good hunting
Rivet
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Holtz
New Member
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Post by Holtz on Apr 29, 2005 13:37:30 GMT
Good to hear. I snuck through the Straits of Dover in an earlier patrol, but I am loathe to do it again if I can help it. I'll keep an underwater ear out for those convoys...
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BlitzPig_Rivet
Junior Member
Grunt, Snort, and other pig type noises
Posts: 58
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Post by BlitzPig_Rivet on Apr 30, 2005 1:35:55 GMT
Yeah it's ok on the first patrols in 1939 and early '40, but it gets very dangerous very quickly from mid 1940 onwards. If you haven't already done so, read my post "Big trouble in Patrol 11". I only just made it back. Fore-warned is fore-armed  |
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Post by faamecanic on May 2, 2005 0:35:03 GMT
More like impossible after the Mid 40's. I think it was Dom that pointed out an actual General Order from HQ that told all Uboats to avoid the straights of Dover from late 1939 to early 1940.
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BlitzPig_Rivet
Junior Member
Grunt, Snort, and other pig type noises
Posts: 58
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Post by BlitzPig_Rivet on May 2, 2005 1:00:41 GMT
It seems I really was lucky to get away with it then. The postman never got through to my base with that one  . I won't be making that mistake again ;D. |
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Post by faamecanic on May 3, 2005 16:07:00 GMT
Yeah you were REAL lucky. I tried it once one my base switched from Williamshaven to Brest. I got just a bit past dover when I was spotted by a torpedo boat.
Within 1 hour I had THREE Tribal Destroyers circling my postion ping pinging away until they triangulated my position (in 25 m of water) and proceded to unload all three ships worth of depth charges on me ;D
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BlitzPig_Rivet
Junior Member
Grunt, Snort, and other pig type noises
Posts: 58
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Post by BlitzPig_Rivet on May 4, 2005 1:17:16 GMT
Ouch!! I bet that hurt. Those Tribals are pretty tenatious, and as for the torpedo boats ........  . You'd better have fully charged batteries or be a marksman extraordinaire with the deck gun ;D. I've been meaning to ask someone this, but do the DD's actually run out of DC's at some stage or is it the usual case of AI has unlimited ammo? Just wondering. I usually try not to stick around too long to find out, . |
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. I won't be making that mistake again ;D.
. You'd better have fully charged batteries or be a marksman extraordinaire with the deck gun ;D.