Jack: You CAN just start out in a Type VII if you hook up with the 7th Flotilla right from the start. Have to transit around the Jutland peninsula every patrol, though, until the bases are moved the France.
Now, as to that convoy....
Finally got some free time and made my attack. Was planning on doing an end around and submerging in front of the convoy, but I misjudged their course and ended too close, too soon, on the surface. I submerged, and since attacking or pulling away posed about an equal challenge, I worked my way in towards the convoy.
I slipped past the Black Swan (pretty ships, those), and had a clear run to the northern flank of the convoy. I'm pretty sure they sighted my periscope when I was checking my position, because the Tribal-class destroyer out in front turned and started heading towards me, as did the Swan. I cranked it up to flank speed with the intention of eating up enough range to make a decent shot before going deep to evade.
Unfortunately, my chose target was off behind a coastal merchant, and I couldn't get a clear shot. I spun the scope around, looking for a worthy substitute, and saw a T2 just ahead of the T3 I'd wanted to kill. I turned toward her, opened my tubes, and fired two Type I torpedos on a medium speed setting at about 3500 yards.
I dodged and ducked the Black Swan (The Tribal had to run through the convoy to get to me) long enough for the torpedos to either hit and miss...I upped scope, and saw both torpedos hit the aft end of the tanker. She slowed rapidly (I didn't look long enough to see if she stopped) and her aft end burst into flames...I downed scope, figuring if she sank I'd hear it. Then I dived to 160 meters (would've went deeper but I had some hull damage), went silent, and zigged and zagged, and tried to get away.
I did get away, but not before a very close DC attack snapped my radio antenna, destroyed my deck gun, damaged my radio set and hydrophones, and generally scared the crap out of me.
It was nearly nightfall by the time I risked returning to periscope depth. I trailed the convoy for a time, hoping to see an immobilized tanker off behind it, but I never got a confirmation of the kill, if she did indeed sank. I got close enough to see that she was no longer in the convoy, but I knew that wouldn't be enough...for me, or for BdU. Out of torpedos and ammo and without a workable radio, I headed for home.
On the way though, I ran into a British tugboat which, for some unknown reason, was chugging along near the coast of Spain. I let my torpedomen man the flak guns and sent her to the bottom.
Didn't get the tanker (or did I), but it all felt so real that I didn't care.
Topic: Anyone playing Silent Hunter III? (Read 76025 times)