1944 - Sneaky RL destroyer tactic

[johnm]

Just been reading a book by Anthony Trew about convoying to Russia in 1944.

Book is novel but he commanded destroyers in WWII so I would expect tactics are based on reality.

Convoy assembled in Loch Ewe and as they left they detected a U-boat.

Two destroyers tracked it and setup a 'creeping' attack.

Ship A hunts, Ship B attacks. As follows::know::o


Destroyer A tracks the U-boat, pinging like mad, coming up behind it.

Then Destroyer B comes over and slips in front of Destroyer A (not pinging at any time). Captain of A controls the attack, slows ship A to make U-boat think its slipping away, while ship B runs over the U-boat guided by Ship A's sonar.

When captain of A thinks B is far enough in front of U-boat for DCs to drop right, he orders the DC attack.

result: Destroyers 1 U-boat 0.

Nasty. :down::down::down:

Hope GWX developers don't model that!

[Morts]

that could actually be awesome:)
having that in the game

[Mooncatt]

yeah i think someone has said this before on here but cant remember who. but damn effective tactic

[johan_d]

In Duel at the Atlantic, another novel, the destroyer did another tactic, in persuing the u boat. I wont reveal it here, but it is a great novel.

[bigboywooly]

Actually read this the other day somewhere
Cant find it either now :damn:
Was fairly common late war for multiple escorts to carry out this attack plan
The idea was in the uboat below the crew would be listening for the DD pinging and moving fast and ignore another ship creeping in to drop the DC while other escorts gave directions

It was hoped the sounds of the DC entering the water would be attributed to the faster moving ship some distance away so the uboat didnt take any evasive action