Tactics

[DCOg]

I have a Task Force at 90 degrees to me, I don't know how many ships but it looks like alot - destroyer is visible at 11,000 yds. Their speed as shown on Nav Map is "Very Fast".

My question is - how to handle this situation.
I would be interested to see how others would handle this.

Question 2. On Nav Map when I click on Destroyer icon it brings up an outer full circle and a pie shape inner circle - I'm guessing these 2 rings have something to do with radar?

Thanks
DCOg

[Fortune]

I would run silent. And try to keep a distance between me and the destroyer of 1000yards or more. Get the target speed and ensure that I shoot early enough, so the torpedos are running towards the targets and are not "chasing" it. Also I would fire a spread of four or more torpedos(angle depending on how far the target is away and how correct your targetdata seems to be). Than stop the engines and dive. At last I would hope that the torpedos are hitting without any duds

[Rockin Robbins]

Is the task force on the other side of the destroyer? Are you on a parallel course and they are at a bearing of 90º? What is your relationship to the convoy? How many escorts? How many merchies? What is the shape of the formation? What kind and how many torpedoes do you have? What is the date? What is your battery status? Are you in a Fleet Boat or a U-Boat?

The outer circle is visual detection range, the inner circle with the rear-facing wedge missing is his approximate sonar range.

[Zantham]

How close will the taskforce be when it passes in front of you? If you aren't in position (I like to be about 1000-1500m off the center of the TF), then you have some quick decisions to make.

You are ok on the surface for a few minutes... maybe. I'd submerge when they are still 8km out... If its sunny and clear, perhaps even further. You can still travel at flank underwater at this range, until they are about 5km out. Then I'd go to silent running.

I like to use the Fast-90 method to set up a fast shot (Dick O'Kane to the fleet-boaters out there). I find this easier in a uboat than a fleetboat since you can let off all your forward tubes within seconds of each other. Note I haven't experimented too much with this in the fleetboats (PK off!), but in the uboat the TDC calculates the AOB for you so you can fire at oblique angles. When the first ship passes ahead of you I target the 2nd ship (usually around 30-35 degrees off) and loose torps, then swing back and fire at the first ship. Generally speaking the torpedos all hit within seconds of each other, and you are well on your way to the safe deeps, sometimes you can even get your stern around and let off a couple more at a third ship.

[DCOg]

To answer the questions - my boat is the Sargo & the Japanese task force is at 90 degrees to me & I'm running along side them. The destroyers are between me & the main force. I am on the surface going 20 kts. The speed list for destroyers on Nav Map is Medium to Very Fast. Battery sits at 86 percent and it is 8 am.

I guess my question is: if i fall back to get behind them I will never catch up to them.
I can't get in front of them because they are going faster than me. To dive & try to go under the destroyers my best speed could be at best 7 kts. & I lose them again.

So I'm not sure how to proceed.

Anyone know of a WW2 sub tactics link perhaps.

It would be interesting to hear how others hunt.

Thanks
DCOg

[Fincuan]

If you're on their flank and they're going faster than you and not zig-zagging, then I'm afraid there's no way you'll get in position to attack. A fleet boat can't really make an attack on an escorted target without getting in front of it first. Go find another prey

[Rockin Robbins]

Go find some targets. These aren't it because they're already gone.

You've recreated the heartache just about every sub in the Pacific went through as they watched that BB or CV just blow by just out of reach. The only thing they could accomplish was to attract the attention of the escorts, who would just gang up and have a party at the sub's expense. The captains just sighed and let 'em go. To hit a fast task force, you have to be in a very narrow cone in front of them. Well in front of them. It's the toughest approach there is.