I've re-installed Silent Hunter 3  (SH3) with the Grey Wolves GWX 3.0 Gold Mod and have been totally taken by the immersion factor that this sim offers.  The amount of unique information generated by the Mod referefence the randomly generated career of a U-Boat Commander,  its crew, and the boat itself,  just begs to be told as a story.  The following is the story of one such career................

Josef Rabe,  Leutnant  z. s.  Commander, U52,  Type VIIb Untersee Boot,  2nd Flotilla (Saltzwedel),  based out of Wilhemshaven.

The assignment of Horst Kimmelmann, a qualified Machinist at no cost to my Renown is welcomed.  Although short 5 Petty Officers,  it is time to see what this crew is capable of on its first voyage to the Atlantic.

The Options and Realism settings....dont be fooled by the 53%.   

Departing Wilhemshaven...............

Easily the best of the series. Nice AAR, keep it going!

Fiunyn enough i bought SH 5 recently and with all the mods out there it really is a great atmopsheric sim. Modded I highley recommend it.

I wa socnsidering rebuying SH3 and using the Mod however rthe widescreen support is a big problem on my mointor.  

Farewell to Wilhemlshaven.... the Tirpitz,  under construction,  is on the right

Captains Log Entry  ! Aug 1938 1300hrs....Weather is clear,  sea is calm.   Harbour escort is contacted and is leading us through the minefield and nets.

Captains Log Entry 1323hrs, 1 Aug 39....Navigator has plotted our course out of the harbour to the open sea.  I instructed him that I wanted to be clear of the harbour islands before dark.  At current speed,  we should be clear by 1730hrs.

Great job bootlegger. SH III with greywolves is easily the most realistic WWII  sub sim ever made. An all time favorite.

Looking forward to this AAR!

I agree it is a great game. Only thing I didnt like was having to keep switching crew members about to rest them etc.

Originally Posted By Seytan

 Only thing I didnt like was having to keep switching crew members about to rest them etc.

Agreed, but there was a way to quickly mod that to eliminate that completely. I don't recall which file it was in, but it was simply changing the value in one line from a "1" to a "0". Perhaps bootlegger can tell us if the Greywolves mod requires crew switching or not.

Did you install the Wolfpacks mod?  It utilizes changes in the actual .exe, and now (among other things) you can track a convoy, call in contact reports every hour or so, and AI uboats will join in the attack.

Please continue with your aar Bootlegger

Along with the Greywolves 3.0 GWX Gold mod,  I'm using SH3 Commander and the JSGME Mod installer.  Within SH3 Commander,  you can select how you wish to manipulate your crew regarding fatigue.  You can have the stock SH3 fatigue model,  the GWX 8hr model, or no fatigue period if you dont want to be bothered.  For this Narrative Replay,  I'm using the GWX 8hr model.  If anyone wants,  I'll post a screenshot of SH3 Comander and the options available.

And for those wondering.....my AAR of Pz Corps the Grand Campaign got corrupted (along with all the saves and a ton of other crap).  No fault of the program,  my computer took a dump.

U52 Log Entry 1446hrs 1Aug 39...After opening our orders and reading that our training exercise patrol area is BF17,   I've ordered a course plotted that follows the Dutch coast enroute to the Straits of Dover.  I've decided to transit the English Channel to conserve fuel and to take soundings to update our charts.   

U52 Log 2042hrs 1Aug39.....Watch change commences.  Weather remains favorable.

U52 Log 2042hrs 1Aug39...Watch change commences.  Weather remains favorable

U52 Log 2240hrs 1Aug39...Bridge reports Ore Carrier heading easterly. 

U52 Log 0615hrs 2Aug39... Watch change completed.  With our course close in to the coast,  the bridge crew received much practice in spotting and recognition throughout the evening.  Many cargo and passenger vessels heading east.

U52 Log  0600hrs 3Aug39.....Entering the Straits of Dover.  Seas are calm,  visablity unlimited.  1st sounding  34 meters under keel.

U52 Log 3Aug39 1110hrs....Mark 16  54m

                           1610hrs....Mark 8    43m

                           2114hrs....Mark 9    57m

U52 Log 4Aug39 1109hrs....Mark 10  99m

                           1617hrs....Mark 11  89m

                           2331hrs....Mark 12  96m 

U52 Log 5Aug39 0201hrs....Mark 13  99m

                           0642hrs....Mark 14  89m

                           1010hrs....Mark 15  97m

Completed charting of deep channel route through the straights.

U52 Log 6Aug39 0417hrs... Arrive patrol grid BF17. Course plotted.

U52 Log 1014 8Aug39....On station mission complete.  Northern course plotted for return to port.  Crew morale high.

U52 Log 14Aug39....Arrived Wilhelmshaven 2141hrs.  Northern transit to port devoid of aircraft or ship sightings.  Crew training continuing.  Navigation charts of the English Channel submitted to HQ's for review.

(AAR note....These intial posts, plus the next few will highlite the amount of "History" created by the game.  After I finish with the SH3 Commander screens,  I'll complete the second training patrol offline and begin the narrative of U52's war patrols.)

SH3 Commander Home Screen

Josef Rabe Personnel File

U52 Patrol Log

Crew Awards and Promotions Screen

Crew Personnel Files

The Night Club...Where important information and the occasional rumor is overheard.

U52 log 0831390144.....Departed Wilhelmshaven.  Many Uboats have been leaving this port during the week.  Course plotted for northern transit to assigned patrol grid.