AOD Patrol Reports

[Sailor Steve]

Well, I did it. I haven't been playing SH3 because I want to run all the latest greatest mods and I have to wait for a new computer. I don't like waiting for the long loading times just so I can sit and whine about all the stuff I'm missing.

I haven't been playing SH4 because, while it's better than SH3 in most departments, it doesn't have all the cool mods, so the harbors look naked and that drives me nuts.

I haven't been playing SH5 because I refuse to buy it until the DRM is completely gone.

So my solution, after reading Howard313's thread on torpedo problems, is to play Aces Of The Deep again.

Why? It looks awful.
Answer: looks aren't everything.

It sounds awful.
Answer: Not really. It's got nothing on the modern games, but everything's there.

If you don't play the others because of the missing goodies, why play one that has none of those at all?
Answer: Because it doesn't pretend to. In the SH series the goodies help make up for the lack of gameplay. In AOD the gameplay is nearly perfect, so the other stuff is not needed.

It's old.
Answer: It loads in about 15 seconds, it saves well every time, Time Compression works perfectly, the AI is so random it seems real. It may not look so hot, but it still plays as well as anything out there.

Truth to tell, I'll probably drop it as soon as I have a newer computer, but for now this is fun.



So, here is my first patrol report.



Gerhard Ansel
U-113: Kiel

5.10.39
1638 Departed Kiel.

6.10.39
0548 Passed Brunsbuttel locks.

7.10.39
0600 Report: AN4896. Course 300, 9 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea rough.
2220 Arrived AN4499.

8.10.39
0600 Report: AN4459. Course 305, 3 kts. Heavy fog, Sea light.
0929 Destroyer sighted, very close. Periscope depth, slow speed. Course 090.
0930 Merchant bearing 050 relative, 4 kts, 3550 meters. Escort, 8 kts, 2870 m.
0932 Sound reports 1 merchant and 4 escorts!
0937 Can see 2 merchants and 3 escorts.
0944 Lining up on medium tanker, 4 kts.
0947 Fired 2 eels.
0948 Both duds!
0952 Have determined tanker to be in 9000-ton class. Fired last eel, diving to 70 m.
0953 Heard it hit!
0955 They're looking out in front of us. Seem to be safe, ordered reloads. No breaking-up noises. Sound reports 3 merchants, 2 escorts.
0956 Depth charges, far off.
1002 Merchant propellor sounds approaching.
1006 He's directly overhead, barely faster than we are.
1007 Sound now reporting 4 merchants, plus the two escorts.
1008 Propeller noise becoming fainter. Coming to periscope depth.
1013 How wrong could I be? We're in the middle of a big convoy! At least 10 merchants and 4 escorts!
1019 Both torpedoes now loaded.
1021 Plotting intercept course on small tanker.
1024 Fired tube 1.
1025 Got him!
1026 Escort coming! Diving to 70 m. Depth charges nearby.
1028 Heavy pinging.
1032 One of them is right on top of us. Evading. Sound reports breaking-up noises.
1033 Heavy depth-charging nearby. Some of them close enough to shake us.
1034 They seem to have moved off. Ordered silent run.
1035 They're coming back! Ahead flank, hard starboard, 110 meters.
1036 Several bombs, one very close.
1037 Silent run.
1039 They're back for more. Ahead flank, hard starboard, 130 meters.
1045 Ahead slow, back to 80 meters, course 180, trying to stay in contact with convoy.
1047 They're coming back again. Flank speed, hard port, 100 meters.
1048 Still turning, 120 meters.
1054 Twisting and turning, 150 meters. They're all over us. Silent run.
1055 They're moving off again.
1100 They're far off now. Coming to 70 meters.
1125 Periscope depth.
1128 Escorts about 8000 meters off. Resuming patrol course.
1130 No damage to boat.
1700 Surfaced.

9.10.39
0600 Report: AN4416. Course 090, 3 kts. Light fog, Sea smooth.

10.10.39
0600 Report: AN4497. Course 265, 3 kts. Partly Cloudy, Sea medium.

11.10.39
0600 Report: AN4417. Course 100, 3 kts. Heavy fog, Sea moderate.

12.10.39
0600 Report: AN4449. Course270, 3 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea rough.
2203 Destroyer spotted.
2205 Two of them. Moon rising, 1 eel left. Think we'll give this one a pass.
2222 Apparently a small task force - no merchants in sight.

13.10.39
0600 Report: AN4451. Course 000, 3 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea rough.
0654 Lookouts report smoke on the horizon.
0730 Lost sight of it. Pursuing with no luck.
1408 Lookouts report ship closing on us. Seems to be a lone merchant.
1420 He's definitely heading our way. Setting up intercept.
1525 Range now under 8000 meters. Going to periscope depth.
1540 Freighter, about 4000 tons.
1708 Fired last eel. HIT! He's sinking quickly!
1724 Target sank. Heading home.

14.10.39
0600 Report: AN4347. Course 135, 8 kts. Sky clear, Sea calm.

15.10.39
1640 Passed Brunsbuttel, into Kiel Canal.

16.10.39
Tied up at Kiel

Final Report: Six days at sea.
SS President Sergent (French tanker) 5309 tons.
MV Alfred Jones (British freighter) 4000 tons.
Total 9309.
Career Total 9309.




ps If you're playing, feel free to join in the fun! Patrol Logs, stories, screenshots...well, maybe not screenshots.

[FIREWALL]

ShII had some things that weren't turned on in SH3 or weren't added. You know what they are SS.

And imho were a loss for SH3. And maybe for SH4.

[Howard313]

U-54, Patrol 8 - Convoy encounter report
"22, June 1940"
----------
06:11

Small convoy in sight.
Grid - AM9217
Course 320*, speed 10 knots
Lightly escorted
----------
06:29

Range from convoy - 10900m
-In position to intercept, no destroyers in sight.

*Dived to periscope depth
----------
06:42

Range from convoy - 5400m
- Two destroyers spotted

*I remain undetected, proceeding with attack course.
----------
06:56

Target Ship Merchant - 10,000 tons
Range - 776m
Tubes 1-4 fired
Dived 130m
two explosions heard, merchant sunk

*Traveling underneath convoy and proceeding with same course
----------
07:01

Pinging heard
----------
07:06

Returned to periscope depth
Target Ship: Merchant - 6,000 tons
Range - 554m
Stern Tube fired
Dived 150m
Explosion heard, merchant sunk

*Pinging continues, destroyers observed

*Silent routine ordered
----------
07:11

Destroyer heard overhead
Ordered new depth 175m
changed course to be heading opposite of that of the convoy's

*praying
----------
07:13

Distant depth charges heard
-Pinging intensifies
-----------
07:15

Depth Charges heard - uboat shaken, no damage
-Pinging decreases

*Destroyers seem confused, I may get out of here undamaged
----------
07:25

Ordered all stop and hid on the ocean floor

Depth - 197m

(Yeah it's an old trick but I swear I'm the one who came up with it.)
----------
08:03

Pinging ceases, men breathe a sigh of relief.
----------
08:38

Compressed air low, blew ballast, ordered emergency surface
----------
08:49

Breached surface

Resuming Patrol

Convoy attack results:
*Two merchants sunk for 16,000 tons.
*No damages

*U-54

Just two pictures, got lazy.
Picture 1 - enroute to intercept convoy
Picture 2 - First Merchant (10,000 tons) shortly before firing.



*This will be my last post for a while, I'm going on vacation and will not return for a few weeks. You'll have to sink them for me while I'm gone Steve, happy hunting.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Howard313

07:25

Ordered all stop and hid on the ocean floor

Depth - 197m

(Yeah it's an old trick but I swear I'm the one who came up with it.)

Unless you were playing ten years ago I doubt it. Have you gotten stuck in the mud yet? I died that way once, and came close a couple of times.




Have fun getting away from it all.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

ShII had some things that weren't turned on in SH3 or weren't added. You know what they are SS.

And imho were a loss for SH3. And maybe for SH4.

It's true, they keep dropping the things that work. But I don't miss SH2 at all, given all the crappy things that didn't work. The original, on the other hand...well, if I keep at this until I get to 1942 I'll be loading up SH1 as well.

[TorpX]

I never played AOD, but this is making me nastalgic for SHCE.

ShII had some things that weren't turned on in SH3 or weren't added. You know what they are SS.

And imho were a loss for SH3. And maybe for SH4.

Please, give details!

[U56]

Nice trip down memory lane reading those reports! I can't get caod to work on my modern rig, but I still regularly play the theme tune as I managed to get hold of it converted by someone to mp3. One of the most evocative tunes of them all

Regards all, and good luck with the move SS.

[CTarana]

Originally Posted by U56

Nice trip down memory lane reading those reports! I can't get caod to work on my modern rig, but I still regularly play the theme tune as I managed to get hold of it converted by someone to mp3. One of the most evocative tunes of them all

Regards all, and good luck with the move SS.

This should bring back some memories too, from the old forums!
CAOD Patrol #5 - The Enemy Behind!

Patrol: 5
Outbound:
C Tarana 18 MAR 40
U-64 Type IX/B Port:
Patrol Quadrant:AL41 Bolds: 0
Deck Gun:220 Rounds
Next sunset:2007
Summary :
23 Mai 40 - Underway on the surface, no contacts.
24 Mai 40 - Underway on the surface, no contacts.
1200 - Empfange funckspruch, Herr Kaleun!

To intensify action against Britain and France, U-boats are
now permitted to operate unrestrictedly in the area west of Scotland
and the whole area off the French Atlantic coast, zones E and F, all
ships are now allowed to be attacked on sight, without warning. This
includes unescorted nuetrals and passenger ships, though caution
should still be taken to avoid action against American and friendly
neutral ships (Russian, Japanese, Italian, Danish and Spanish).
Attacks are to be made unobtrusively and submerged in order to
preserve the illusion of mine hits. Outside these areas, the Prize
Regulations remain in force when engaging neutrals. Ships taken over
by Britain after the occupation of Norway, Belgium, and Holland are
to be considered as enemy vessels, but attacks on sight are only
permitted if these ships are seen to be armed. The rules of
neutrality remain in force against United States,Danish, and other
friendly neutrals.

25 Mai 40 - Underway on the surface, no contacts.
26 Mai 40 - Underway on the surface, no contacts.
27 Mai 40 - Underway on the surface, no contacts.
28 Mai 40 -
0300 - Patrol area reached. Fog, Fog, Fog!

1345 - Rauchsaulen am Horizont, Herr Kaleun! Bearing 30'
Escort spotted, speed 16, range 20200 meters.
Convoy spotted, speed 10, range 26000 meters.

1350 - Äusserste kraft voraus, turning to 235' to intercept.
Huge hole in screen will allow me to slide between the escorts and the ships.

1355 - Diving to pericope depth, turning to 270' to attack
troop ship at back of convoy.

1400 - DD aft of me is turning to investigate. Firing tubes
1, 2, and 3 at troopship - Bearing 20', speed 06, course 130.
Torpedo 1 & 2 were duds, #3 hit, troopship still floating. Firing tubes 5 & 6 at DD. Bearing 210, Range 720, speed 16 kts, Course 270. Both hit the DD amidships. He's heeling over and sinking fast!

1405 - Fire tube #4 at troopship, bearing 340', speed 06, course 180, range 1000 yards.

Der torpedo is nacht explodiert, Herr Kaeun!

1410 - Now in middle of convoy, course 130, speed 07 knots.
Diving to 150 meters to reload.

1500 - Rising to periscope depth to look for targets.

1510 - Two more DD's searching area. Firing tubes 5 & 6 at
lead DD, bearing 180, speed 22kts, range 900, course 135.

Both tubes missed. Taking DC's close aboard from second DD.

Wasserbomben abgeworfen, Herr Kaleun!
Schaden im bugtorpedoraum, Herr Kaleun!

1515 - Turning to the north to exit convoy and evade ecorts,
own course 000, own speed 7knots, own depth 12 meters.

1600 - Boot ist aufgetaucht, Herr Kaleun. Boot lauft mit dieselen.
Äusserste kraft voraus! Heading 360', Speed 18 knots, depth 000 meters.

Kontakt steuerbord achteraus, Herr Kaleun! Ecort
spotted bearing 170', speed 18 knots, range 6000 meters, course
000'.

Deckgeschutz besetzen!

1610 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD.

1620 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

1630 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD
Firing tubes 5 & 6 at DD, range 2700 yards.
Both shots missed

1700 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

1800 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD
Firing tubes 5 & 6 at DD, range 2700 yards.

Der torpedo is nacht explodiert, Herr Kaleun!

Der torpedo is nacht explodiert, Herr Kaleun!

1900 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

2000 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

2100 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD,
Firing tubes 5 & 6 at DD, range 2700 yards.
Both shots missed

2200 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

2300 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

29 Mai 40 - 2400 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

0100 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD,
Firing tube 5 at DD, Range 2650 yards.

Der torpedo is nacht explodiert, Herr Kaleun!

0200 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

0300 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

0400 -Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

0500 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

0600 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

0700 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

0800 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

0900 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

1000 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

1100 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

1200 - Running from DD on surface, deck gun is firing at DD

1230 - Diving to PD, Speed 2kts, turning hard left to attack
DD.
1235 - Firing tubes 1 & 2 at DD, bearing 330', range 900,
speed 18 kts.

Own course 300', speed 2 kts, depth 13 meters.

Der torpedo is nacht explodiert, Herr Kaleun!

Torpedo #2 hits! DD passing overhead. Turning hard right to attack again.

1240 - Firing tubes 3 & 4 at DD, bearing 40', range 1200
speed 10 kts.

Ziel zerstort, Herr Kaleun!

Both torpedos hit, target sinking fast!

1245 - Boot ist aufgetaucht, Herr Kaleun. Boot lauft mit
dieselen.
Äusserste kraft voraus! Heading 90', Speed 18 knots,
depth 000 meters.

1300 - Heading back to base using northern route over the
top.

02 Jun 40 - 2400

1735 - Signaled for escort, gave status report and battle
results. Played Tipperary for the crew!


Inbound:
02 JUN 40
Oberleutnant C Tarana
U-64 IX/B
Ships Sunk: 2 Destroyers Sunk.
Tonnage:
Score:12051
Career Tonnage: 80839
Career Score: 908536
Crew Quality: Veteran
-----------------------------------------------------
Notes: Lots of duds this time out. Not good! 4 days for repairs and replenishment?

[Sailor Steve]

Second career. Since AOD makes you start in a Type II and work your way up, I always run three careers. One will stay in the Type II, one will take a Type VII when offered and the third a Type IX.

Erich Bosss

U-112: Kiel

9.10.39
0449 Left Elbe.
2208 Ship spotted.

10.10.39
0003 Regained contact after losing him in the fog.
0035 He's a small one.
0053 In attack position.
0055 Fired tube 1. Hit! His mast flew into the air and landed just a few meters away!
0057 Target sank.
2139 Arrived at AN5199.

11.10.39
0500 Report: AN5155. Course 300, 4 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea rough.
0828 Ship spotted.
0932 Periscope depth.
1010 This one's bigger - about 7000 tons.
1058 Fired tube1. Missed.
1059 Fired tube 2. Hit!
1108 Target sank.
1700 Ship spotted.
1748 Tanker, 10000 tons class.
1805 Fired tube 1. Missed.
1808 Following, fired trailing shot from tube 3. Dud.
1809 Heading home.

12.10.39
0500 Report: A5241. Course 120, 8 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea medium.

13.10.39
0600 Report: AN6582. Course 120, 7 kts. Partly cloudy, Sea heavy.
2010 Returned to base.

Final Report: Three days at sea.
Small freighter 2000 tons.
Medium freighter 7416 tons.
Total Two ships 9416.

Career Total Two ships 9416.

[rooivalk]

As a result of this thread I have started playing AOD again, what an immersive simulation really enjoying myself...maybe a little more than SH3

Rooivalk

[Sailor Steve]

Cool! I go back and forth myself. sometimes the pure thrill of AOD is all I need, and sometimes I have to have the feeling SH3 gives when I sail in and out of those fully-realized ports. At see I still like the visuals provided by the newer games, but AOD and SHCE still turn me on.

Oh, and WELCOME ABOARD!

[rooivalk]

Thanks for the welcome, I am struggling with eye candy (SH3 & SH4) versus immersion and I am finding myself gravitating back towards legacy sims (AOD, Janes 688I and SH1) not out of nostalgia but simply that they are more "fun" than what's currently available.

Roovalk