Rethinking the use of the IIA

[MarshalLaw]

Hello all,

I have completed 6 patrols with my little tin can IIA boat, and I have come to realize a few interesting facts:

1. I am completing a patrol and ready to sail again in a 3 week time frame. With a Type VII boat the time frame is around 2 months. I'm getting in 2 patrols in less than 2 months, racking up qualifications, metals and promotions in the same time period. In fact I have 2 promotions that I cannot give out because the experience meter is not high enough yet.

2. I have racked up over 5700 renown so far with 6 patrols and it's only 2/27/40. True I only sink a average of 2-3 ships a patrol, but the renown I'm gaining ranges in the 700-800 range for the most part. To equal that in a VII boat I need to be pulling down 15-1600 per patrol. Possible but not easy to do.

3. So far the farthest I have had to go is AN41 about a 1100 KM from base. So I'm done with a patrol in a week to 10 days on average. In a earlier career out of Kiel it took 2-3 days just to get to the North Atlantic.

4. So far I have not spent a dime on my little tin can, although upgrades are available now. My plan is to keep sailing the IIA until the base moves out of Wilenshaven, and goes to Lorient or Brest. At that time the IX boats should be available and I can upgrade at that time without draining my renown down to zero.

The only thing I wish I had on my little tin can is a deck gun. So far I have had to leave two C2 merchants that where crippled but would not go down. Being out of Weapons in a situation like that sucks.

To sum it up, if you are starting a new career consider the little tin can. You may be pleasantly surprised

[Dominico Baggio]

I usually start in one, but have only managed 2 sinkings in one patrol. You must be a damn good shot! I normally come away with only one sinking or so. But its fun and makes you appreciate the quality of the type 7 and 9 later on

Dont you find it embaressing as you sail out of port in one of those They are like mini rowing boats heheh. I always hide in the command room till im out at sea

[MarshalLaw]

Not that good of a shot at all. Maybe just lucky so far. The other thing that I think helps is that you cannot rely on the deck gun for finishing off crippled ships or just taking them out altogether. I believe that will help you to not be too greedy later on. Plus by 1944 the deck gun is useless, because you are not on the surface hardly at all for fear of air attack.

[Dominico Baggio]

Yeah the type 2 is wicked for air attacks, can hide so quickly and is such a tiny target its hard to hit.

I bet you dare not stay in it all through the war

[MarshalLaw]

That's true it is a small target indeed. As far as staying with it through the whole war, I wonder if the game would let you, if I remember reading in the guide by 1941 all the type II's were pulled from service and used as training boats. Have to try it sometime in the future.

[MarshalLaw]

Update on the adventures of my little tin can:

I have completed 9 patrols now and up to 7900+ of renown. The last 3 patrols Have been in Norwegian waters AN35,AN38 & AN36. The picking have been few and very small. Mainly coastal merchants and smaller. I'm up to June 9th 1940, and ready to start my 10th patrol. Hoping to get assigned closer to England this time. Also France should be falling very soon so that dreaded Null patrol should be coming up soon. I'll post again after a few more patrols or after the Null patrol.

[MarshalLaw]

Update :
It is 9/29/1940 Just finished my Null patrol went through the channel (only choice with the tin can) and am now stationed in Brest. Disappointed there is no IX boats available yet and I cannot transfer yet. So I guess I have a patrol or 2 left in the tin can. A little under 13 months and I have 12 patrols under my belt. The 3 week turn around time increased to 4 1/2 weeks on average. I have over 9700 in renown as well. Not to shabby for a boat you can't swing a cat in.......

I'll update again once I transfer and or move to a new boat. Then I'll give the final numbers for the little tin can.

[Dominico Baggio]

What speed do you patrol at in that thing? I could only get a few hundred miles out of it unless i moved at a crawl and giving chase burnt all my deisel lol

[MarshalLaw]

I cruise at 1/3 but you can only go about 10kts on average with standard, mainly went after slow moving ships. (Only ones I could catch) If you conserve your fuel you can go a long way. I went from Wilenshaven to Brest for my null patrol. Good peice and still had fuel left. (went through the channel)

[Dominico Baggio]

Well you motivated me to start a campaign. So i made the space and started in a type II

Fired off one torp by accident because of the damn enter key! (need to edit controls again)
and then nothing for 2 weeks patrolling off Norway

Then picked up a radio contact on the way home, chased it in a terrible storm, and through some amazing manouvering followed till midday. Then fired my last 4 torps at her.

2 duds (bad range? Magnetic probs?) and 2 hits. She just kept steaming on, water smashing over the front of her as she went down a bit at the bow

I followed for an hour but the crew must have got the flooding under control. So back to base with no kills

If only i had not pressed enter! Maybe i would have had a C2 on my list . Well i just treat it as though my uboat had 1 malfunctioning torp (thats 3 alltogether!)

[Dominico Baggio]

ps i forget how to make screenshots.... Can anyoen remind me :/

Ctrl F11 The search function in these forums work

[MarshalLaw]

Yeah my Norway patrols were slim pickings as well. The only thing I saw were coastal merchants and smaller and had to travel up to Bergan to see that! Im sure they will send you near England soon there you'll see plenty of targets.

[Dominico Baggio]

lol i just died trying to sneak into Scapa flow

Ok what are you supposed to do about submarine nets, i thought they had a gate in them to let ships through, or were not right up to the surface, but i couldnt get over it.

Also when i tried to go round inbetween islands it was also netted and because i was in high speed time i died lol.

How are you supposed to go about bypassing nets? As there are no bouys to notify you on the surface and you cant see anything when underwater! In real life they used to nose against them in the hope they would find an opening somewhere. Bit gutted

[MarshalLaw]

Sorry to hear, I'll Keep a eye out for those nets.

Well I have traded in the Little tin can. Final tally:
10426 renown
13 Patrols
Ending on 10/28/1940

I have transferred to the 2nd Flottia out of Lorient. Man I hate Lorient such a pain to get in & out of . I have me a shiny new IXB boat Drained my renown down to 1600 or so but my sinkings should increase. plus after a few patrols I plan to transfer out of Lorient.

[Dominico cookies died]

Sweet! Whats so wrong with lorient? Is it a long way out of the harbour?