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12-19-21, 06:38 AM

Feel like a Med Cruise! Warm sunny beaches, good wine, pretty Italian girls; Get a tan and probably the clap too!! Where do I sign up!?

The game is geared for battle in the Atlantic. No surprise there and the primary targets for U-boats were Merchants. However, what U-boat Kapitan would pass up a warship if given opportunity? So, let’s get there.

First, getting through the Straits of Gibraltar wasn’t easy and in game play it’s probably a lot easier than real life. Still, you don’t waltz through and getting in is a lot easier than getting back out. Remember, in real life, no U-boat was successful getting back into the Atlantic.

What I have found is, sticking to a certain time frame and time of day for my Mediterranean excursions. Escorts are in two groups, those at the western entrance and those inside, more adjacent to “the Rock”.
I prefer going in the spring of 1941. Sun’s out but not until 2130hrs, flowers are in bloom, Prien, Kretschmer and Schepke are not having a good time and won’t be around when you get back. Send Otto a postcard!

Things to consider:

Current’s: The currents run about 4-5 knots and are typically stronger in the autumn and weaker in the winter months. You can go deep (190m) and ride the current doing full speed if necessary by following a deep narrow ridge on the northern side of the strait but keep a watchful ear on sounding below your keel or you will hit rock if you deviate too much. At 190m at full speed, your pumps still work and you can outrun most depth charges if they find you and … they will.

There is no way you are getting back out submerged, unless you have a Type XXI boat. The current runs as fast as or faster than any Type VII or Type IX can do submerged. All you do is drain your batteries and they usually die out about midway through the strait. Remember, it’s about 25 miles distance.

I usually try the Das Boot approach. Start out on the surface and inch my way in, watching and identifying what kind of escorts I see. Remember, you can outrun corvettes but, you don’t see what’s down the road and most are destroyers. Try to wait until it’s good and dark and hope for low visibility. I’ve made it through on the surface in low vis, but it’s hairy and lots of zig-zagging to avoid escorts and then … they often get you in the shoal waters and trap you where you can’t dive. End of story. I recommend surface approach, staying close to the deep areas and when you simply can’t evade – DIVE!

Getting back out, is along the lines of getting in as far as approach but, time your actual strait passage only after the visibility drops to under 1000m. Flank speed and play James Bond with a speedboat weaving in and out of the mist. Hopefully… If you find yourself not making it, go back and wait, and then try again.

I recommend prior to leaving, load up on torpedoes’ and be prepared to sink some of the escorts guarding the passage, at least on the eastern (Rock) side. Once you’re in the western escort group, RUN and you’ll make it out.

Escorts: I try to time my Mediterranean holiday prior to mid-1941 as the escorts are fewer then. After the U.S. comes into the war and certainly after OP Torch, the amount of escorts guarding the strait almost doubles. I’ve counted nine once! Getting out is near impossible! Mostly destroyers, what kind you ask—THE FAST KIND and it’s a mix and match. Later, you add the Frigates and Sloops; it’s a real ****-storm. I once had to sink seven escorts on the eastern side just to get out!

Also, of note: There will usually be a convoy transiting the area soon after you get west of the strait, so having torpedoes is a good thing. Want to show something to the boss upon return to France when he asks “Where the hell have you been?!?!”

General Info: Don’t be worried about aircraft, it will be dark. When entering the Mediterranean, day or night, be ready for a quick, probably two Lt. Cruiser convoy heavily escorted. They will either be 7,000 ton Dido Class or 10,000 ton Fiji Class and usually a torpedo each will suffice but they move quick (25-35kts)! Get as close as you can to the formation, dive to periscope depth and try to get under at least 2,000 meters. Use an offset – Good LUCK!

Q: How do you sink those fast moving warships?
A: The same way you get to Carnegie Hall; Practice, practice, practice!

I’ll put some attachments up of the Strait area with some tidbits for those interested in a couple posts to follow.

12-19-21, 06:38 AM	#2
Silent Otto Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Feel like a Med Cruise! Warm sunny beaches, good wine, pretty Italian girls; Get a tan and probably the clap too!! Where do I sign up!? The game is geared for battle in the Atlantic. No surprise there and the primary targets for U-boats were Merchants. However, what U-boat Kapitan would pass up a warship if given opportunity? So, let’s get there. First, getting through the Straits of Gibraltar wasn’t easy and in game play it’s probably a lot easier than real life. Still, you don’t waltz through and getting in is a lot easier than getting back out. Remember, in real life, no U-boat was successful getting back into the Atlantic. What I have found is, sticking to a certain time frame and time of day for my Mediterranean excursions. Escorts are in two groups, those at the western entrance and those inside, more adjacent to “the Rock”. I prefer going in the spring of 1941. Sun’s out but not until 2130hrs, flowers are in bloom, Prien, Kretschmer and Schepke are not having a good time and won’t be around when you get back. Send Otto a postcard! Things to consider: Current’s: The currents run about 4-5 knots and are typically stronger in the autumn and weaker in the winter months. You can go deep (190m) and ride the current doing full speed if necessary by following a deep narrow ridge on the northern side of the strait but keep a watchful ear on sounding below your keel or you will hit rock if you deviate too much. At 190m at full speed, your pumps still work and you can outrun most depth charges if they find you and … they will. There is no way you are getting back out submerged, unless you have a Type XXI boat. The current runs as fast as or faster than any Type VII or Type IX can do submerged. All you do is drain your batteries and they usually die out about midway through the strait. Remember, it’s about 25 miles distance. I usually try the Das Boot approach. Start out on the surface and inch my way in, watching and identifying what kind of escorts I see. Remember, you can outrun corvettes but, you don’t see what’s down the road and most are destroyers. Try to wait until it’s good and dark and hope for low visibility. I’ve made it through on the surface in low vis, but it’s hairy and lots of zig-zagging to avoid escorts and then … they often get you in the shoal waters and trap you where you can’t dive. End of story. I recommend surface approach, staying close to the deep areas and when you simply can’t evade – DIVE! Getting back out, is along the lines of getting in as far as approach but, time your actual strait passage only after the visibility drops to under 1000m. Flank speed and play James Bond with a speedboat weaving in and out of the mist. Hopefully… If you find yourself not making it, go back and wait, and then try again. I recommend prior to leaving, load up on torpedoes’ and be prepared to sink some of the escorts guarding the passage, at least on the eastern (Rock) side. Once you’re in the western escort group, RUN and you’ll make it out. Escorts: I try to time my Mediterranean holiday prior to mid-1941 as the escorts are fewer then. After the U.S. comes into the war and certainly after OP Torch, the amount of escorts guarding the strait almost doubles. I’ve counted nine once! Getting out is near impossible! Mostly destroyers, what kind you ask—THE FAST KIND and it’s a mix and match. Later, you add the Frigates and Sloops; it’s a real **-storm. I once had to sink seven escorts on the eastern side just to get out! Also, of note: There will usually be a convoy transiting the area soon after you get west of the strait, so having torpedoes is a good thing. Want to show something to the boss upon return to France when he asks “Where the hell have you been?!?!” General Info:** Don’t be worried about aircraft, it will be dark. When entering the Mediterranean, day or night, be ready for a quick, probably two Lt. Cruiser convoy heavily escorted. They will either be 7,000 ton Dido Class or 10,000 ton Fiji Class and usually a torpedo each will suffice but they move quick (25-35kts)! Get as close as you can to the formation, dive to periscope depth and try to get under at least 2,000 meters. Use an offset – Good LUCK! Q: How do you sink those fast moving warships? A: The same way you get to Carnegie Hall; Practice, practice, practice! I’ll put some attachments up of the Strait area with some tidbits for those interested in a couple posts to follow.