Noob question about ship sinkings

[Smokinghole]

I am a new player. Just installed the GW supermod and am playing with about 80% difficulty (learning the manual targeting slowly). My noob question is this: I have torped a large cargo twice and deck gunned him a good bit, and I'm pretty sure that eventually he's going down. Do I have to sit on him and baby sit waiting for him to actually sink, or can I just fire up engines and sail away, while still getting credit for the sinking whenever it finally happens?

Good job everybody on the great forum. This game is already addictive.

[danlisa]

Welcome Mate,

You can sail away after you get the message "She's going down" otherwise you will not get credit.

FYI - With GW ship can sink by flooding. This can take 30mins to hours.

Hope you are enjoying the Grey Wolves, find your feet in this mod and wait for the soon to be released GWX.

[AVGWarhawk]

You have to hang out to bear witness of the sinking or all is for not!!!! It sucks but rules is rules!!!;) I hate hanging out....I send another torpedo so she goes down. Yeah, I might run out of torpedos early but hey, I get back to port earlier for some real action:p

[Smokinghole]

Thanks guys for the fast reply. Since I got GW I don't seem to get anymore of the instant exploding ships. Not looking forward to staying near the convoy once I get to later war years.:o

[Jimbuna]

Welcome aboard Smokinghole :arrgh!:
If one torpedo won't suffice then aim for a different compartment with the next one (thereby flooding a larger area of the ship).
When using the deck gun it is better if you aim just below the ships waterline (again in different/multiple places) :up:

[K_Sea6]

You can submerge below periscope depth and still get credit for her sinking sonar reports she's going down. and I've also been out as far as 5000 meters and recieved credit while surfaced.

K

[AVGWarhawk]

Smokinghole....was'nt that an X rated movie? Ah, never mind......;)

[fredbass]

I think most people will enjoy the changes that were made to the sinking times in GWX, at least from what I've seen.

[Jimbuna]

Smokinghole....was'nt that an X rated movie? Ah, never mind......;)

Classic AV... I like it :rotfl:

[mookiemookie]

Thanks guys for the fast reply. Since I got GW I don't seem to get anymore of the instant exploding ships. Not looking forward to staying near the convoy once I get to later war years.:o

Do like the real Kaleuns did and use spread shots! A well placed salvo to the engine room and propulsion systems should disable the ships. (Plus there's always the chance of making them go boom when you put a torpedo into their engine room) When they fall out of the convoy and the escorts move on, that's your chance to finish the job, or wait for them to sink.

[AVGWarhawk]

Smokinghole....was'nt that an X rated movie? Ah, never mind......;)
Classic AV... I like it :rotfl:

Yeah, I'm a little twisted.

[joejccva]

I usually fire off 2 topedoes for each ship, then if I'm in calm waters fire the deck guns at the waterline about 5 times. That's usually good enough to let her flood and down she goes. Sometimes I TC up to 16x or so and wait for her to sink while I'm floating next to her.

[robj250]

Yes. It's a clear day in 1942 or '43 and you're into a convoy. The ship you hit has a pre-set sinking time based on a certain number of points (or whatever the dev team decided when it should go down). Now remember there are escorts with the convoys and they can see 5000m. So while you're waiting for the ship to sink, you're getting pounded by DCs. The escorts have excellent detection gear and they are going to be difficult to shake.

This is only my opinion, since I haven't' got the that year yet. I'm only in Jan 1940, so I'm wondering what it's going to be like in the latter part of the war.

So, you players who are using TGW and are in the later years when it's no longer "happy times". Give us your examples on how you "held" in there just to get credit for the sinking.

Then I'll know what to do if I ever make it that far in the game. Also, I'm no good at manual targeting. Have to use auto.

[bigboywooly]

I dont wait around at any time after 42
Shoot and dive
Most of the time you are in the local area to get the kill
It doesnt matter if you are surfaced/at periscope or 200m down
As long as you are within 7/8000m - maybe even further - then you get credit

As time goes by I always fire at least 2 fish per ship because I dont know if I will get the chance to have another go at the convoy - the bigger ones get 3 to be safe

[AVGWarhawk]

I fire two torpedos from the very start of the war. It is just a habit for me and seems more realistic as the u-boat crew would send out numerous torpedos along the ships track to get a better chance at hitting the ship. I increase my chance the same way.

[mookiemookie]

I always always always submerge while waiting for a ship to sink. I've had too many nasty surprises happen to me when I used to wait on the surface near a sinking ship.

[Jimbuna]

SHOOT!....DIVE!....HIDE!...and hopefully live to fight another day :up:

[robj250]

I dont wait around at any time after 42
Shoot and dive
Most of the time you are in the local area to get the kill
It doesnt matter if you are surfaced/at periscope or 200m down
As long as you are within 7/8000m - maybe even further - then you get credit

As time goes by I always fire at least 2 fish per ship because I dont know if I will get the chance to have another go at the convoy - the bigger ones get 3 to be safe

So, in 41, 42 and on, you would shoot 2 fish per ship. Okay, if using a VIIB and you have a full load of torpedoes (not including the externals), what total would you fire if you have several ships you can fire at before the DD get to you because you came up in the middle of the convoy or just ahead of it?

[AVGWarhawk]

I dont wait around at any time after 42
Shoot and dive
Most of the time you are in the local area to get the kill
It doesnt matter if you are surfaced/at periscope or 200m down
As long as you are within 7/8000m - maybe even further - then you get credit

As time goes by I always fire at least 2 fish per ship because I dont know if I will get the chance to have another go at the convoy - the bigger ones get 3 to be safe

So, in 41, 42 and on, you would shoot 2 fish per ship. Okay, if using a VIIB and you have a full load of torpedoes (not including the externals), what total would you fire if you have several ships you can fire at before the DD get to you because you came up in the middle of the convoy or just ahead of it?


Every front tube would be sent and the stern tube as well...both barrells as it were:rock:

[robj250]

I dont wait around at any time after 42
Shoot and dive
Most of the time you are in the local area to get the kill
It doesnt matter if you are surfaced/at periscope or 200m down
As long as you are within 7/8000m - maybe even further - then you get credit

As time goes by I always fire at least 2 fish per ship because I dont know if I will get the chance to have another go at the convoy - the bigger ones get 3 to be safe

So, in 41, 42 and on, you would shoot 2 fish per ship. Okay, if using a VIIB and you have a full load of torpedoes (not including the externals), what total would you fire if you have several ships you can fire at before the DD get to you because you came up in the middle of the convoy or just ahead of it?


Every front tube would be sent and the stern tube as well...both barrells as it were:rock:

But suppose you waited, say, until after the DDs have left and so has the rest of the convoy. You surface and start to load the externals. The radar on the DDs pick you up and head back. If you get them loaded in time, all you have is 1 stern and 1 bow (that you would probably have used to sink one or two of the ships). Now what?

[mookiemookie]

Stay in the general direction of the convoy. Escape the DD's as you can, and don't let them push you too far behind! Remember, the job of DDs when escorting convoys wasn't only to sink enemy U-boats. It was also to force them under where they're blind and immobile, where they aren't a threat anymore. In light of that, always press the attack!

[andy_311]

I actually screwed up last night(well i thought i did) Grid AM53 convoy doing 7knts about 75km east of me a TF about 220km NW of me doing 21knts,I was SE of the convoy on the surface (39) doing 14knts on the surface plotted a course to intercept the convoy dived and found myself right in front of the bloody TF.

[Jimbuna]

GIVE EM THE LOT!!...but get outa there as quick as poss before the payback commences :D

[Sgt Swanson]

Here's an idea, I noticed that when you have a sighting you can not TC greater than 32 (turns red). Set up for a stern shot at a known distance (write it down), then sail directly away. Keep sailing till the red 32 turns back to Blue/Green and pause the game. Go into the map and use the compass tool to find the distance from the boat to the target, then draw a circle from the center of the target (your boat should be at the edge). As long as you stay within that circle you will get credit for the kill. I'm betting this is a hard coded distance in the game.

If anyone has already done this, then plz post for the rest of us.

[Jimbuna]

Here's an idea, I noticed that when you have a sighting you can not TC greater than 32 (turns red). Set up for a stern shot at a known distance (write it down), then sail directly away. Keep sailing till the red 32 turns back to Blue/Green and pause the game. Go into the map and use the compass tool to find the distance from the boat to the target, then draw a circle from the center of the target (your boat should be at the edge). As long as you stay within that circle you will get credit for the kill. I'm betting this is a hard coded distance in the game.

If anyone has already done this, then plz post for the rest of us.

You got me confuse with this one Sgt (mind it don't take a lot usually) lol :D
Could you explain more :hmm:
TIA

[robj250]

okay, let's suppose that I hit eight ships, two torpedoes each, so that leaves me with 2 stern + 2 externals. How to do mark (on the nav map) where the eight ships (how do I know which ones they are) so I can come back later and sink them after the DDs have taken off?

EDIT: Forgot to count here. 2 fish per ship (including stern) = five ships.

So as I asked above, how do I mark the position of these ships on the navigation map if I have to leave the area and come back for them afterward. Also, how do I determine which ship I hit with the 2 fish?

[Sgt Swanson]

Mark it off the closest ship when you attacked. You can test it out on a solo contact to get the distance. Once you know that, then use it off the closest ship.

Problem with it is that if the escorts keep looking for you and they follow you, then they now become the one you have to distance.

My thereory is that the known distance (when the 32 turns back to blue) is a standard distance like 5000 meters, and it is hard coded into the game. You can test this as well in harbor with friendly ships.

The game is hard coded to drop the TC to 8 or less when a ship IS spoted by the watch. This usually happens anywhere around 11,000 to 15,000 meters (on a clear day). So, there has to be a code for when a ship disapears. What is that distance?

Now, before anyone jumps my arse over this, IT IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE GAME CODE!!! Do this at your own risk. I don't do it as I'm not experienced enough NOT to get sunk by the escorts. Just trying to answer a question.

[Jimbuna]

Mark it off the closest ship when you attacked. You can test it out on a solo contact to get the distance. Once you know that, then use it off the closest ship.

Problem with it is that if the escorts keep looking for you and they follow you, then they now become the one you have to distance.

My thereory is that the known distance (when the 32 turns back to blue) is a standard distance like 5000 meters, and it is hard coded into the game. You can test this as well in harbor with friendly ships.

The game is hard coded to drop the TC to 8 or less when a ship IS spoted by the watch. This usually happens anywhere around 11,000 to 15,000 meters (on a clear day). So, there has to be a code for when a ship disapears. What is that distance?

Now, before anyone jumps my arse over this, IT IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE GAME CODE!!! Do this at your own risk. I don't do it as I'm not experienced enough NOT to get sunk by the escorts. Just trying to answer a question.

Hmm...sounds kinda interesting :hmm: will check this out (prob with the stock installation) cheers :up:

[Smokinghole]

Do like the real Kaleuns did and use spread shots! A well placed salvo to the engine room and propulsion systems should disable the ships. (Plus there's always the chance of making them go boom when you put a torpedo into their engine room) When they fall out of the convoy and the escorts move on, that's your chance to finish the job, or wait for them to sink.

I'm trying to get all the medals and it seems like the only way to get the big ones would be to get lots of one torp kills and just go for heavy tankers.

Just got my first manual torp hit!! God that feels good. :rock:

[Jimbuna]

Use SH3 and get all the medals you want if thats your desire ;)

[peterloo]

Use your desk gun and fire until it tells you "SHE IS GOING DOWN"

[mookiemookie]

okay, let's suppose that I hit eight ships, two torpedoes each, so that leaves me with 2 stern + 2 externals. How to do mark (on the nav map) where the eight ships (how do I know which ones they are) so I can come back later and sink them after the DDs have taken off?

EDIT: Forgot to count here. 2 fish per ship (including stern) = five ships.

So as I asked above, how do I mark the position of these ships on the navigation map if I have to leave the area and come back for them afterward. Also, how do I determine which ship I hit with the 2 fish?

rob, the pencil tool on the nav map is how I keep track of where I shoot my torpedos. When you select the pencil tool, it will place an X whereever you click on the map. I place one of these marks on top of the ship that I'm aiming at, just before I fire. A lot of times, after the torpedos have hit and if I'm still at periscope depth, I'll make another mark at their new position so I can get a feel for their general course. Using the marks I made on the map, I have a pretty general idea of where the crippled ones are when I come back later to finish them off.