Anti Aircraft Operations

Hambone307 · 01-23-15, 07:47 PM

I am curious as to people's preferences regarding enemy aircraft. Do you prefer to take your chances with a crash dive, or duke it out on the surface?

Also, does anyone have knowledge as to the real life effectiveness of anti aircraft fire from a fleet boat? I keep finding articles about Anti-Submarine tactics...

merc4ulfate · 01-23-15, 09:00 PM

While the first casualty of the Japanese forces was an aircraft shot down by the Tautog during the raid on Pearl Harbor wisdom dictates that an aircraft flying at 200 mph should be avoided in a confrontation by a surface vessel traveling at best 20mph.

Dive and leave it alone. Anti-Air combat was required at times but with the advent of better radar submarines could dive well before the plane got there. An aircraft to a submarine is like a dirty partner:

They carry bombs and depth charges and all sorts of nasties.

Best avoid them.

Crannogman · 01-23-15, 09:32 PM

It kinda depends on my mood and whether I'll need the ammo later. The other day I interposed myself between a flight of 20 Betties and our transport fleet. The Betties went crazy trying to get me, and half of the collided in mid-air; my crack gunner got another 5. The rest high-tailed it home after I had dodged all their torps. Well, all but one - somebody got me for 20% hull damage

Armistead · 01-24-15, 01:09 AM

depends on your mods, if playn stock you can survive a couple direct bomb hits, when in real life, that would be it for your sub. same with surface ships, one shell could easily be the end of your ship. a few mods give these results, so you don't mess with planes or gun battles with escorts on the surface....sure death.

late war you can get twin bofars and twin 20's and usually take out a plane, but the bofars work great for ships as well, so why waste it on a plane...

last duel I had with planes, I had 92% damage and was knew I couldn't dive, so tried to get home and had to fight a few, luckily I made it, seems with 98% damage.....

TorpX · 01-24-15, 02:00 AM

The Germans had to deal with that question. At first they tried mounting more guns on their decks, then sending the boats out in groups. It became apparent that while heavily armed boats might defend themselves against a single bomber, they could not stand up to a group of them. Eventually they concluded it was better to seek safety in deep water, to the greatest extent possible.

No submarine has sufficient deck space to allow for a really effective AA defense. They can't come close to what a Fletcher-class DD could bring to bear, nor do they have effective fire control for AA (think RADAR-directed guns here).

01-23-15, 07:47 PM	#1
Hambone307 Planesman Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 188 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	Anti Aircraft Operations I am curious as to people's preferences regarding enemy aircraft. Do you prefer to take your chances with a crash dive, or duke it out on the surface? Also, does anyone have knowledge as to the real life effectiveness of anti aircraft fire from a fleet boat? I keep finding articles about Anti-Submarine tactics... __________________ ____ I can't tell if I have found a rope or lost my horse.

01-23-15, 09:00 PM	#2
merc4ulfate DILLIGAF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: florida Posts: 2,058 Downloads: 210 Uploads: 0	While the first casualty of the Japanese forces was an aircraft shot down by the Tautog during the raid on Pearl Harbor wisdom dictates that an aircraft flying at 200 mph should be avoided in a confrontation by a surface vessel traveling at best 20mph. Dive and leave it alone. Anti-Air combat was required at times but with the advent of better radar submarines could dive well before the plane got there. An aircraft to a submarine is like a dirty partner: They carry bombs and depth charges and all sorts of nasties. Best avoid them. __________________ Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is. ~Isaac Asimov~ Mercfulfate 将補日本帝國海軍 Last edited by merc4ulfate; 01-23-15 at 09:11 PM.

01-23-15, 09:32 PM	#3
Crannogman Watch Officer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 343 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	It kinda depends on my mood and whether I'll need the ammo later. The other day I interposed myself between a flight of 20 Betties and our transport fleet. The Betties went crazy trying to get me, and half of the collided in mid-air; my crack gunner got another 5. The rest high-tailed it home after I had dodged all their torps. Well, all but one - somebody got me for 20% hull damage __________________ "The sea shall ride over her and she shall live in it like a duck" ~John Ericsson

01-24-15, 01:09 AM	#4
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,864 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	depends on your mods, if playn stock you can survive a couple direct bomb hits, when in real life, that would be it for your sub. same with surface ships, one shell could easily be the end of your ship. a few mods give these results, so you don't mess with planes or gun battles with escorts on the surface....sure death. late war you can get twin bofars and twin 20's and usually take out a plane, but the bofars work great for ships as well, so why waste it on a plane... last duel I had with planes, I had 92% damage and was knew I couldn't dive, so tried to get home and had to fight a few, luckily I made it, seems with 98% damage..... __________________ You see my dog don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

01-24-15, 02:00 AM	#5
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	The Germans had to deal with that question. At first they tried mounting more guns on their decks, then sending the boats out in groups. It became apparent that while heavily armed boats might defend themselves against a single bomber, they could not stand up to a group of them. Eventually they concluded it was better to seek safety in deep water, to the greatest extent possible. No submarine has sufficient deck space to allow for a really effective AA defense. They can't come close to what a Fletcher-class DD could bring to bear, nor do they have effective fire control for AA (think RADAR-directed guns here).