Axis Forces Thread

[Franconicus]

Registered players of the axis team:

AggonyDuck
Csargo
AntiKingWarmanCake88
Motep
Kagemusha
Master Magic Mage
DragOnUL

All others please stay outside until you have signed!

[Franconicus]

Chapter 1 – Autumn 1941

At the French Chateau Karnevel near the base Lorient the Commander of the Submarines (BdU) has his headquarter. Here the information about the missions of the German submarines comes together and from here every single Uboot is controlled.
Eberhard Godt, a 40 years old naval officer, lost in thought, watches the map of the Atlantic Ocean on the table. The positions of the German submarines as well as estimated or proven routes of Allied convoys are marked. He hears someone coming from behind and turns around. “Good morning, Admiral!” Vice-Admiral Dönitz greets the commander: “Good morning, Godt! News?”
“No Admiral! We still do not have enough boats to cut off the Tommies. The ocean is too big!”
Dönitz laughs: “Right, the ocean is big and we do not have enough boats. But don’t despair. Better times may come soon.”
“I wished I could share your optimism, Admiral. I know that our boats caused a lot of trouble at the beginning of the war. They sunk more than 100 ships during the first four months. But although we have more boats now, we are not able to improve our performance significantly. Since the enemy introduced the convoys, it is harder to find them and to fight them.”
“You are right, Godt, but you should realize that the convoys reduce the transport capacity of the British by 30%. A nice success of our few boats, isn’t it?”
“Yes, in deed! Never the less it seems as if we are standing still. The allies opened bases at Iceland and increased the numbers of the escorting ships. The American began to protect the ships in the Western Atlantic. The convoys from and to America are permanently escorted now.”
“I know! I foresaw this and you know that we try to counter this with concentrations of submarines.”
“Right, Admiral. But we do not have enough ships to concentrate the submarines the way we want it.”
“We will. Look, your building program is finally getting momentum. New boats enter the combat almost every week. Lately, we had to send too many boats to the Mediterranean Theatre. I could not do anything against it, it was an order from Berlin, you know. Raeder told me to send some more, but that will be the last ones, he promised. Furthermore we have to keep several boats west of Gibraltar. But the rest is at our disposal. We have to find the right place to attack the British supply.”
“Where will you send them, Admiral?”
“I haven’t decided. We will have to increase the attacks in the Northern Atlantic. However, we will have to avoid the western part. The Americans act as if they were already at war and they attack every boat they detect, while our boats have the strict order not to attack any American ship. Therefore I decided not to send our boats there any longer. Sooner or later America will enter the war and then I will send a group to their west coast. We will have to strike fast and hard, before they can organize their defense. Hitler promised to inform me in time, so our boats can reach the area before war is declared. Until then we have to fight in the Western Approach. Another focus could be the area west of Gibraltar; we have to keep some boats there anyway. And I wonder if we should send a boat or two to Freetown. This would force the British to send some escorts there, too. I tell you, Godt, in 1941, we will be stronger than before and with America on war, we will have more easy targets than ever. The campaign against Russia may be over soon and then we will get all support we need to bring the allies to their knees.”
Task 1: Please discus how you want to act as a team, esp. how you will come to an agreement about strategy and how to make decisions.
Task 2: Decide which orders you want to give to the subs, esp. rules for broadcasting. Also order regarding tactics.
Task 3: Get familiar with the current antisubmarine equipment.

Deadline: 20.January!

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

What are we going to do with the private forum Ducky and team?

[Drag0nUL]

Private forum?

[AggonyDuck]

We have two options; either we can discuss here where we have nothing to hide us from prying eyes or we can move to a private section, made for us, at the Brotherhood of Aggony forums, which can be found here: http://www.brotherhoodofaggony.com/forums/index.php

So if we want to utilise a private forum, then just register there and pm me, either here or there, what your username is and I will give you access. There we can discuss our plans privately and then one of us can pm our decisions to Franconicus.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Sent you a PM on Aggony forum Ducky.

[Motep]

Sent you a PM on Aggony forum Ducky.

As have I. Oh the joy

[Drag0nUL]

PMed you here with my Aggony forum username.

One question for Franconicus: will we be provided with some more detailed info regarding the status (numbers, ship types, location) of both our forces and enemy forces? Or we should research that on our own?

[Franconicus]

You will get your status (numbers, types etc.), but you should make yourself familiar with the weapon systems, tactics and strategies.

BTW, I would prefer if the Axis discusses here, just because I would like to follow and maybe I can interfere if there had been some misunderstanding of my posts. Of course you can use your secret channels if you have something extremely secret!

[AggonyDuck]

Alright, lets discuss matters here then. I haven't really been able to spend the time I would had liked to do some reading and research.

[Franconicus]

Don't forget the deadline!

[Drag0nUL]

I'm studying:)

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Posted on Aggony forum my thoughts.


Go AXIS!! Poor Allies .

[AggonyDuck]

So, I think we should do a diversion attack by 'The Rock' (Gibrtratlr) to think we are attacking their while we attack their main convoy, take out their armed ships then attacked the supply ships.

Perhaps we shall have Subs named after each one of us?

Repeating Warman's post here.

[AggonyDuck]

It's been a while since I read a book about the Battle of the Atlantic and I won't have time to re-read them, so these suggestions might be flawed.

Regarding broadcasting and tactics, the hard part in fighting convoys is finding them in the first place. We should place a line of around 4-8 submarines patrolling a north to south course along suspected convoy routes gained from intelligence. When a submarine detects a convoy, it is to send information about the size, speed and bearing of the convoy to the BdU, where we can coordinate our subs on intercepting courses. If the convoy is spotted during the daytime, the submarine is to shadow the convoy informing the BdU of changes in the bearing and speed until the fall of the night, when she is free to strike. During the night, they are free to attack at will after reporting the information about the convoy.

Regarding ASW equipment, the main means of detection for the Brits are Asdic (Sonar), short-range radar, aerial spotting and the fact that they have cracked Enigma. Regarding means of destroying submarines, you mostly had depth charges at this point.

Anyway we could suggest adding an extra rotor to change the Enigma code, although historically that did not occur until a while later.

Regarding the positioning of our U-boats, I would suggest concentrating on the Mid-Atlantic gap.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Sounds good Ducky.

Also, perhaps we should be careful, because they going to be expecting us to attack and if we do, they may be organizsed. You think they may use different flags and signals to commuincate to other ships if we attack and don't get the jump on them right away?

[AggonyDuck]

If our subs engage the convoys at night and in packs, there is little need to give out any orders of caution. The commanders are well-trained and capable of judging matters for themselves. Our pre-occupation is on organisation, communication and tactics, tactics more in the sense of gathering the forces necessary for a successful attack on a convoy. Our individual u-boats are more than capable of handling matters of how to engage by themselves. The more we try to restrict and order their actions, the less successful they will generally be.

[AggonyDuck]

Anyway regarding our decisions, if all else fails, feel free to take my suggestions as our decisions as the deadline is upon us.

[Kagemusha]

Sorry for my absence, but after i returned from my holiday i caught a terrible flu and only now im getting back at shape. To me if all our plans are out on the open it would seem we are terribly exposed here in the general thread. Franc, please create two social groups. One for Axis and one for Allies which both you moderate and allow people to join.This way you can see what both sides are planning , but still all our plans arent out in the open for the enemy team to read.

[Franconicus]

Sorry for my absence, but after i returned from my holiday i caught a terrible flu and only now im getting back at shape. To me if all our plans are out on the open it would seem we are terribly exposed here in the general thread. Franc, please create two social groups. One for Axis and one for Allies which both you moderate and allow people to join.This way you can see what both sides are planning , but still all our plans arent out in the open for the enemy team to read.

Err, well, how does that work?

By the way, Fisherking joined tha allies!

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Anyway regarding our decisions, if all else fails, feel free to take my suggestions as our decisions as the deadline is upon us.

What you think of any traps they may set for us, especially in the Mid Atlantic region?

[AggonyDuck]

I don't see how we can talk of anyone setting traps in an ocean as vast as the Atlantic Ocean against a force as elusive as submarines.

[Kagemusha]

I have pm´d franc instructions how we can get bit more privacy, without hampering him as the host.im sure that thing will be fixed once he logs in the next time.

About the traps i agree with Duckie.

[Franconicus]

Still working on a Social Group Stuff. In the meantime:



[IMG][/IMG]
Chapter 2 – 1. December 1941

There is a heavy storm at the Bay of Biscay, and a strong wind drives dark clouds across the sky over Lorient. Heavy raindrops are knocking against the window glass of Chateau Karnevel, headquarter of the German submarines. Admiral Dönitz is staring to the sea: His thoughts are wandering to the boats and the crew, which are currently on their missions.
After a while he hears steps and turns around: “Ah, Godt! Look at that beastly weather!”
“Yes, Admiral, I am just sorry our poor boys out there!”
“Well, at least the boys from the other side will have the same difficulties.”
“By the way, Admiral, I just received the latest report of the intelligence. A convoy gathers at the roadstead of Gibraltar to leave the Mediterranean Sea. More than 20 ships.”
“Bound for England or Freetown?”
“Probably for England, but that is uncertain.”
“When is the convoy leaving?”
“They seem to wait for more ships.”
“Alright, Godt, do we have enough boats there to form a Rudel?”
“Well, Admiral, we have U-67, a IX C-type boat, commanded by KL Bleichrodt. It cleared the port on 26.11.41 and is now somewhere west of Gibraltar. During the first two missions it sunk one ship.”
“”U-67, you say?”
“Yes, Admiral, U-67. It is the test boat for the Alberich program. It has the new anechoic tiles to absorb the ASTIC signals.”
“Fine! What else?”
“There are U-107, KL Hessler, and U-108, KL Scholtz, two experienced commanders. These two type IX B-boats will clear Lorient on 9th or 10th of December. It is Hessler’s 5th trip, and he already sunk 20 ships. Scholtz made already 5 trips and sunk 10 ships. These two boats are bound for Gibraltar, too.”
“Three boats. Well, that it not enough to form a successful pack. What else could we send there?”
“There are three brand-new boats coming from Kiel. They already passed Scotland, their destination is Lorient, but we could divert them. They are Kkpt. Baumann with U-131, KL Heyda with U-434 and KL Gengelbach. All three are type VII C-boats.”
“Six boats. I’d rather send more. We should try to concentrate so many boats, that we can destroy a complete convoy. This would show the English, that the convoy concept will not be able to stop us and seriously damage their moral.”
“Well, six boats are all we have at the moment. Do not forget, that there are still the boats spared for the US mission. Maybe we get two or three more around December 20th. Wait, there is still U-77, KL Schonder. He will set sails on December 16. His destination is the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. We could keep him west of Gibraltar.”
“No, this mission is ordered by Hitler and Raeder. I cannot do anything against it. But maybe Schonder can get in touch with the convoy on his way, or at least divert the English defense. Anyway, we have at least six boats and maybe we can increase the number up to 10. This has to be enough to teach the Tommies a lesson. Godt, I want you to prepare everything. Get in touch with the boats, check their positions and send them to the appropriate positions. They will form a wolf pack; you can find a name for it. Give them detailed orders, especially when to radio and how to behave when they get in contact with the enemy. Also get in touch with the Luftwaffe. They should increase their patrols over the Biscay and also get ready to attack any British convoy. I have to fly to Berlin to present our plans for the America mission. I expect your report as soon as I return. Good luck, Godt.”!”

Discuss your operation plan and give instructions to the boats. They should include at least:
- the position they should take,
- how to behave, when they see the convoy,
- radio communication instructions with the HQ and among the boats
- when to march on or below surface.
You have time until 1. Feb.!

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Take your tme Fran, though I hate discussing our plans in public because I'm getting a feeling we are being watched.

I'll let you guys know tomorrw evening what I think ofthis write-up.

[Drag0nUL]

quick question: what's the line on the map that surrounds the coast?

[AggonyDuck]

Something to do with water depth.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

I think we need to watch that they don't read our codes and use the RAF somehow and use scouts. I don't think the Allies are stupid, espcally King Kurt, so I figure the other night they proably going to try to break our codes at the least.


Any thoughts on where we should strike at?

[Franconicus]

I hope that you your discussion is well ans that you do not forget the deadline!!

By the way, I built a group for the axis team. Maybe you could test it?

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

I shall test it later .