Tactics in SHIII

[_Seth_]

Are the German / british surface ship tactics scripted into SHIII? Or do the attackers just run into it?

[SubConscious]

I can't answer this question definitively, but I can offer my experiences with escorts. Almost every encounter I've had with an escort, they charge straight in at me. I had one case of a Black Swan Frigate zigzagging as it approached me, but it is possible that it hadn't spotted me yet.

What I have found to be completely consistent is that if you damage an escort enough, they will turn directly away from you and maintain that course for some time. I have observed this behavior with PT Boats, Armed Trawlers, Flower Corvettes, and Black Swan Frigates. I'm not brave/foolish enough to take on anything larger with a deck gun. ;) The course they maintain is so consistent that I was able to plug a Black Swan Frigate with a 4 meter depth magnetic pistol torpedo at about 3300 meters.

From what I have observed, the only time the damaged ship will deviate from this course is if you bring your U-Boat within about 30 degrees port or starbard (aft) of the ship. At this point I've seen them turn to bring their main battery to bear. I haven't tried this with Black Swan Frigates, as they have a stern mounted deck gun and therefore don't need to maneuver to fire.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

For reference, I'm playing NYGM 2.2 with SH3 Commander 2.6.

[Saukko]

I have seen escorts come straight at me if they have spotted me, and starting to zig-zig after I dived.

Like SubConscious said, if you damage the escort ship enough, they may turn away and run. I remember that during one patrol I hit a destroyer with torpedo only damaging it, and she immediately set a straight course away from me. I have set up several battleship vs. battleship battles with the mission editor, and they will always blast each other to the bitter end.

[Sailor Steve]

I never played late enough in the war to see if "Hunter-Killer" tactics are modelled, i.e. one ship staying on your tail and guiding the others in. It is common knowledge, though, that early in the war a destroyer will sit and listen for you. If another one attacks and you go to flank speed to avoid the depth charges the listening ship will immediately hear you and move in for the kill.

I don't think that's a historical tactic, but it sure is a creepy one, so I like it.

[SubConscious]

I never played late enough in the war to see if "Hunter-Killer" tactics are modelled, i.e. one ship staying on your tail and guiding the others in. It is common knowledge, though, that early in the war a destroyer will sit and listen for you. If another one attacks and you go to flank speed to avoid the depth charges the listening ship will immediately hear you and move in for the kill.

I don't think that's a historical tactic, but it sure is a creepy one, so I like it.

Interesting choice of words in your last sentence: You're accurately describing the "Creeping Attack" as implemented by Frederic John "Johnny" Walker. Another of his tactics was to line up three or more escorts in a row and drop a wide barrage of stern-dropped depth charges at the same time. I would sure hate to be on the receiving end of one of those attacks!

[_Seth_]

Thanx guys, that sound alot like my own experiences in SHIII :D. But what if a german destroyer met a british, or a german battleship met a british one? Would they change their tactics then, or just zigzag and fire at each other?

[SubConscious]

That's a good question. Sorry, I have no idea how this is coded in SH3. I've only seen one capital ship in several months of play - A Nelson-class battleship.

[Stealth Hunter]

I've seen 2 of which I've sunken 1: a King George class battleship. The other was also a Nelson, but he got away with severe damage to his bow. I slammed 2 torpedoes into the George and he refused to sink. I went for his rudder and got one right in it! I like to maim my prey before I take the pleasure of sinking them. I had 1 last shot and aimed for the center. I surfaced, fired, and then the following explosion was so big that I had to take my glasses off (I hate the fact I can't adjust brightness). Well, he rolled onto his side, began going down by the bow, and went under in about 30 seconds.

[Sailor Steve]

But what does that have to do with surface ship tactics?

[dean_acheson]

does anyone have one of the battleship v. battleship surface actions for download?

[TarJak]

They just come straight in. There does not appear to have been any attempt to replicate the raspberry, pineaple or other escort tactics for search and destroy that I can see. I have even seen them collide with merchants in convoys when things get a bit hectic as I guess this must have happened IRL.