Newb tactics advice
 

Hello All,

Its day 5 of my patrol (1940). It has been uneventful to this point.Its night and my Watch Officer has spotted a lone merchant.I suspect it is an enemy merchant has it has no lights on.I will need to get close to get a look at its flag.

Being a newb I thought I would find out what sound tactics I should use to attack (providing it is indeed an enemy ship). I’m on the surface at 1/3 speed.I use manual targeting.

My questions is how should I proceed? I’m re-learning this sim and I’m hoping to get some help on the best practices for various situations.

As always, thanks in advance.

Toonz

:Kaleun_Los:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1MBoXoK5Ys

Surface attack using uzo or submerged its up to you.
By calm sea you can also use deckgun torpedo are expansive and should be reserved for big fish.

One thing to understand is the lights. In the stock game no ship has lights on, ever. The ship lights are supplied by a mod which is incorporated into several supermods, and they accomplish this by creating a new category of ship. Ships with lights on will always be neutral, but a lot of neutrals will also have them off, so identifying the flag is an absolute must.

This was an old topic I wrote awhile back. My resource was the U-boat Kriegsmsrine handbook. Since you have a lone ship, this is what I would do.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=219438

Excellent stuff. I will try a night surface attack with the deck guns.

Follow up question(s). How can you tell if your U-boat has been spotted by the merchant? If spotted by the merchant and it is not armed are there any other consequences?

Toonz

The ship begins to do a zig-zag pattern. Also, if they are carry any light projectors, they will begin to do a search pattern and if the boat is spotted, the lights are lock on to it.
In un-arm merchants, there is no danger, in armed ones or in a convoy, things do became a little more dangerous.

Thank you.

Last question. If spotted does the merchant contact enemy DD's? If so what is thier response time?

Thanks

Toonz

Sorry for all the questions.

I used bstanko6's advice got behind the small merchant and sunk it with my deck guns. When I saved my game and exited for the evening it showed I sunk 1 neutral ship. I clearly saw the British flag flying on the merchant. Why is it indicating the ship was a neutral merchant?

:k_confused:

Toonz

Wich date ?

single target ? Check for deckgun.
No deck gun ? Have fun, but do fast as possible DD can come.... :)

Or airplane.

I assume he is an enemy always, so I prepare the interception course and I start to execute it.

Then I carefully get close enought to see its flag. It means, I try to show the less uboot profile as I can, and if it's, lets say 13:00, I will go almost sure underwater at < 6000m, at night I can go closer without going underwater.

Once I identify him as enemy, and (in 40-41) know if he has deck cannon:

1. Has he cannon and he is very large? Usually three of torpedos in early 1940, because one of them may fail. 1941, just two.
1.a) Does him survive but at zero or reduce speed? Wait and if he doesn't sink, fire another torpedo, take a better position before if you need. (if you fire under the keel, take in mind its keel is deeper now!).
1.b) Do you fail the shot? if you cannot do another fast... better go away, or do a more careful plan against an aware enemy in zig-zag.

2. Has he cannon and and he is medium size? Same than above, but just one torpedo (2 if you are in early 1940 and you do not want to risk).

3. Has NO cannon and he is very large? Same than 1, but in this case, just one torpedo and finish it with your deck gun.

4. No cannon and he is medium or small? Abuse your deckgun!

My advice; stealth. This takes time & patience to do but it makes for mostly sure-kills

ID a target and keep your distance out of his range until you reach a point well ahead of the target's plotted course. Keep lookout for other ships in the area as well because one may be an enemy warship.:timeout:

Once you pull far enough ahead of your target move to a position to intercept, keeping your target in Uzo sighting distance. This is how wolves stalk their prey.

Once target is close (5k to 6k meters) submerge and use periscope to keep contact with target while plotting YOUR COURSE to cross perpendicular to his course.

Set up your shot and position yourself less than 1000 meters off target's port/starboard. Fire fish when appropriate into target's broadside. Cheer~!

Hope that helps

Good hunting~!

P.S. if a target ship is running dark his ahzz iz mine~!