Silent Hunter III

[Helmi]

Yep, I'm using a Type II. And you're right about the batteries draining faster than an alcoholic with a bladder control problem. I'll keep your recommendation in mind until I get a better boat.

If you transfer from Wilhelmshaven to Kiel you can use the Type VII boats early on IIRC.
It just requires you to finish one mission before you can submit the transfer request.
The only disadvantage is that you'll have to sail around the Skagerrak each time you try to get to the North Sea (Wilhelmshaven is much easier accessible).
You can, of course, transfer back, one the VII is available in your original port.

 

[Gunfan9x19]

Please tell me that you get better at using torpedoes with practice. I've spent the whole day wanting to throw my computer onto the ground and shoot it out of the anger and frustration that's associated with inputting all the target data and missing all day long!

 

[odin1899]

Are you doing it fully manually? Or using the weaps officer? TBH I'm still using the weapons officer, doing all the estimations myself ends in missing everything..

 

[Gunfan9x19]

I'm trying to do it myself. It just seems like using the weapons officer takes away the challenge. Of course, I guess real U-boat captains had their weapons officers create solutions for them rather than actually finding it themselves. I don't know. I'll sleep on it.

 

[Pycckuu]

Don't worry, you'll get better at torping things rather quickly. For starters, try using the gas propelled torpedoes at high speed from relatively short range. It will give you alot more room for error as there will be more of the ship to hit. Also try aiming for the mid section of the transport ships for easy one shot kills: even if you miss the fuel tanks, you'll still slow them down considerably (manually move the periscope ahead of the target while doing your calculations).

 

[SnotRocket]

Use the torpedo map and like Pyckuu said, make sure you set them to high speed every time. Buy the trail-less torpedoes if you can, they help out a lot. Also try not to hit the target ship from an angle.

 

[Coey]

Also stay atleast 300 meters out from your target, any closer and the torpedo might not arm, and with only 3 torp tubes and a very limited supply of extras on a type II that's not a good thing to happen. Optimum range for me is 700 for the larger ships and 400-500 for medium ships.

Also, if you encouter a convoy with escorts the best thing I find to do is to set my engines to ahead flank for a few seconds so I get picked up. The Destroyers hone in on my last position while I silently make my way towards th convoy at 2 knots. Sometimes it works like a charm, other times they lock me and I have to go to 200 meters and wait them out. Don't do this past 1941 though, you'll get locked on straight away.

 

[Pycckuu]

Buy the trail-less torpedoes if you can, they help out a lot.

Really? I actually found that the gas propelled torpedoes work best, atleast very early in the war. The enemy sailors seem rather untrained and if you fire from close range against an individual ship, by the time he reacts it will be too late.

By the way, don't shoot neutrals, they add to your tonnage but detract from your renown. Another thing is try to get torpedo specialized officers in the torp rooms as soon as possible, they help reload times which increases your chances of attacking and sinking more ships if you are going against a convoy.

 

[Coey]

Fill your engine room up with machinist petty officers, you get a bit more speed with diesels and a longer lasting battery.

 

[odin1899]

Anyone taken a look at Dangers from the Deep? Open source WWII sub sim. Looks pretty good, downloading it right now. 't Is still in alpha state though.

Screenshots

 

[[CoFR]BooBoo]

The Type II is quite a good boat as long as you remember it is a coastal vessel and adapt your tactics. Only 3 torpedo tubes and 5 total torpedos, limited battery life, lower speeds both surfaced and submerged, and limited dive depth mean you have to be very particular about the targets you engage. The small size of the Type II helps you get closer to your target before being spotted. Extremely valuable since the closer you are the greater your margin of error in setting up your torpedo attack.

When I'm in a Type II I use the steam torpedo (G-7a) exclusively. I try to get into position to make a torpedo attack at about 700m for a high-speed torpedo run, maneuvering for a zero offset shot aimed for the target's midships section. Try very hard to get a perfectly perpendicular shot. It is VERY important to get your depth setting right by using the target ID book. If you're on full realism you pretty much have to stick to the impact detonators until well into '41 or '42. Impact detonators are finicky beasts requiring as close to a 90

 

[Coey]

If your leaving Wilhemshafen in a Type II go west as soon as you get out into the sea. There should be a sort of Island chain along the coast of Germany/Netherlands, follow it to the exit and park your boat there. I guarentee a tanker will come past nearly every day for the first few months of the war. There's a port there but I can't for the life of me remember it's name.

 

[Gunfan9x19]

Damn. I'm on my second patrol now. Orders were to patrol the coast of England for 24 hours. I used a 75% of my diesel fuel just getting there. I sunk a British cargo ship, but I'm now out of diesel AND battery power. I have to go back to Wilhelmsaven, which is the nearest port, and I'm cruising at less than 1 knot . Going to be a lot of time compression in the days to come.

 

[[CoFR]BooBoo]

Yep, you really have to watch your fuel in the II. Cruise at 2/3 or 1/3 to extend your range. Once you're on station you can just sit for 24 hours to achieve that goal, then use what fuel you have left to hunt for ships. Quite often I am able to intercept merchants on the way out and back in, even if my patrol area is a dry hole.

 

[Bobdog]

Anyone taken a look at Dangers from the Deep? Open source WWII sub sim. Looks pretty good, downloading it right now. 't Is still in alpha state though.

Screenshots

THEY HAVE A MAC VERSION




This shall keep me busy until my cheap PeeCee for Ostfront, SH3 and Il2 comes through ^_^

 

[karl stiner]

i still play this game all the time

 

[Deeival]

I totally **** at sub games but I tried that open source one - it's tough.

Does anyone know a half descent tutorial?

 

[Reddog]

SH3 is one of those games I always wanted, but sadly I don't want Starforce.

 

[odin1899]

So far I've been unable to even fire a torpedo in Danger of the Deep..

 

[Deeival]

Lock on a target with Space, fire with Shift + 1 ... 6