Merchantmen

[Hardigen]

After dropping off an agent off the coast of Japan I came upon a convoy ,got amongst em and put 2 torps in this freighter ,must have hit it for,ard cause it started goin down by the head I watched it about 2 foot of freeboard left to go before the decks were awash. then all hell broke loose and had to go down to 120 to avoid the DCs from 3 DDs .Both periscopes out of action flooding in connin tower and forward battery damaged . Can,t understand why that ship did,nt go under ,was attacked for over an hour an not a word that I sunk one!:hmmm:

[twm47099]

I have had a couple of Nippon Maru tankers sink to the point where only a small amount of the stack was above water. Waited a day, keeping the ship within about 5000 yards. Never sank until I went back and put one more fish into it. This has happened to me a couple of times.

I also had one time where the ship disappeared from the chart screen, but the sunk marker didn't show up. There were a couple of destroyers milling around. I knew where the ship should have been so crept back to the area. Raised the scope but kept it under water. The ship was playing submarine. This time only the top of the mast was exposed and its search lights were still on and searching. One more torp at close range (targeted with the scope underwater) finally sank it.

I've also had a couple of cargo ships go vertical, but not sink. They still showed up on the chart as living ships. I waited until the escorts left, surfaced and used the deck gun to sink the "buoys". One buoy fired its deck gun back at me. That crew must have tied themselves to the gun.:har:

Tom

[Hardigen]

Thx TWM, so it happens to a few of us,I could,nt hang around the damaged battery did,nt show 100% charge ,and with both scopes damaged i could,nt have a looksee ,managed t get out of the grip of the DDs and refitted in Midway, they repaired the scopes but not the battery .Before I got to Midway got orders to patrol off Honshu,only a lunatic ud go there with 2 scopes out of action conning tower and control room flooding ,the latter heavily. Back now at Honshu ,this time I,ll follow em like a bloodhound. Hardigen:up:

[Webster]

first dont hang around watching it sink or your scope will certainly be spotted, after firing go deep then wait for confirmation, if you avoid the DD then come up to see your results or finish it off if needed.

second if the torps hit the same spot they dont add extra damage so spread your shots out slightly so they dont hit the same spots

[Armistead]

I have seen ships go basically decks awash, but not sink. Also can depend on what, if any mods you're using that rework damage zones. If this happens to me, I pull far enough away that once I escape the escorts I can come up and take a look to see what's going on. Usually the escorts will leave, then you can go in and finish it off, but sometimes one may remain behind much longer, just wait it out. If you take your time you can finish a merchant off with the deckgun from long range even if a escorts near. I've taken damaged ships out at 9000 yards plus at night. If it's dead in the water, easy to take out with a long range M14 shot and get out of there before an escort figures you out.

[Hardigen]

Thanks Captains all your advice will be heeded and of course is much appreciated H :03:

[Qitbuqa]

RFB has these hardcore sinking mechanics where ships are floating a long time before sinking. Perhaps this is the case?