Submarine Warfare in 1939/1940

[Vonrich]

Hi Alvaro,

I'm playing a game right now as the Axis where my subs have been slaughtered by early/mid 1940. Of the 4 groups, only one remains at 2/5. Submarines at this stage should, more or less, be able to cruise the waves with impunity. I had one instance a couple of turns ago where a French naval group sunk my subs. The French, at this stage, have 1939 vessels which I belive have 0 anti-sub. Can you help me understand why my subs are entirely ineffective? I have lost more submarine HP than I have sunk merchant marines or escorts.

Related: why don't my subs repair? I currently have my repair/upgrade set to 106. Each turn for the last 2 it has only spent 22, repairing only my single close air support division (and not to full). What don't I understand about how to spend upgrade and repair points?

Thanks!

Von

[battlevonwar]

Vonrich, how is it that French units are attacking your subs if you have them in raider mode? If they're in fleet mode they fight as surface units then the French and them will tango...

I am guessing the port you're in isn't large enough to repair them and set priority repair to your subs. Get them in larger port like 9 that can be capable of repairing them.

[AlvaroSousa]

Put subs in port 5 or greater.
Set to priority to ensure they get 1st dibs. Look at the repair order in the manual page 37.
Only put subs in convoy lanes in which all 7 hexes are open sea
Put subs in raider mode.
Keep moving them around. Sitting in one spot lets the CVs get 2 shots at you. Moving forces CVs to move and get one shot at you. You just have to be sure you are 6 hexes away from them to force them to move.
Make sure you are in a convoy lane with the lowest possible chance of recon. Which is as far away as possible from UK friendly coasts.

[Vonrich]

Ah, I didn't realize about the port size. That's probably the problem with repairing. As far as the rest, I can attest that the subs were in raider mode and were not near land. They just keep getting sunk. The French managed to sink them in an interdiction. I feel like this should not be possible for 1939 vessels, but it happened.

[AlvaroSousa]

If you are a submarine there is no way to be interdicted.

I just checked the code and it very specifically says "if you are NOT a submarine unit" then the enemy can interdict.

This has had to happen on their turn with you being in the wrong spot or a French air unit getting lucky.

[Vonrich]

Hmm...this was some time ago, but I remember where I was - Hex 119,73. The log, as far as I remember, said "submarine interdiction." It seemed like I attacked them automatically and they retaliated.

[AlvaroSousa]

You sure you were in raider mode? If you are a sub in fleet mode it means you are open for combat.