Wired... - Damage question

[Hadrys]

Hi,

explain me something... I'm testing longer repair time mod as there is a problem with saved game when being damaged (instant death). Tweaking the file I wanted to test it and in my campaign I stopped 300km from Bergen - very dangerous place because of plains.

None could find me, if even than he just passed by, one tried to attack, not a single bullet hit or bomb... eh ok head for lervick, full flank. I managed actually to get into the port!! Bunkers were shooting too high, DD (which hit land as usual :/ ) was shooting with everything, even throwing potatoes! Finally a someone managed to hit and I could test it... Tell me why I do my best in normal career to avoid contact with airplanes and somehow they drop bombs with surgical precision! And now this?? Wired... now I know why DDs are quite simple to evade...

Main Q:

I understand that DC were not that strong and simply a wave of pressure was damaging the boat but a direct explosion from the DC would be deadly. Same with bombs? A bigger air bomb should sink an U-boat instantly? Direct hit from a DDs cannon would also perforate the hull as I suspect. So any form of direct hit would cause serious damages, casualties and probably want allow for a dive. Do I think right?

I don't understand the model completely yet, but I know one thing. It works - I'm loosing my socks when I see an incoming bomb and I'm still too close to the surface.

http://mrhadrys.com/silenthunter/damage1.jpg

[GoldenRivet]

most of your air dropped munitions were either 500lbs general purpose bombs, High explosive bombs or 1,000 lbs HE bombs OR even air dropped depth charges set for 20 - 30 meters.

A direct hit on the deck or conning tower with even a 500 lbs GP bomb would be devestating to the U-Boat... if the boat was not destroyed all together it would be seriously damaged and perhaps even crippled to the point of returning to port.

In many cases - and something that SH3 simulates poorly - is that U-boats were often damaged so badly in air attacks that the boat could not submerge safely. now they are sitting ducks to other aircraft and surface ships. You are correct in your assumption that a single direct hit from a DD's gun could prevent the boat from diving.

as far as the difficulty goes....

remember - U-boats are designed to present a low profile when viewed from the surface so shooting at one from a fairly long range wouldnt likely produce hits on the small target. but from the air- an airplane diving on the U-boat at 45 to 60 degrees - the boat is a large target and quite easy to strike her.

later in the war (january 1943 and later) allied weapons were better - allied pilots were better and many surface ships were equipped with radar and had radar directed guns which could be fired accurately even at a periscope from long ranges. But early in the war, even if you surfaced at medium range near a destroyer it would take him a few trial shots to hit you as range was more or less calculated by eye-balling it.

difficulty of the escorts also depends not only on the year you engage them, but also the mods you are using. for example with GWX from 39 - 42 i find it pretty easy to dive to 150 - 180 meters and escape detection and attack from escorts... but after intel had been found on several U-boats the allies learned how to better locate U-boats and what their true depth capabilities were. by mid 1943 i have found that the allies are using accurate sound location even down at 240 meters :huh: making escape next to impossible!

[Hadrys]

Thx for your input!

In many cases - and something that SH3 simulates poorly - is that U-boats were often damaged so badly in air attacks that the boat could not submerge safely. now they are sitting ducks to other aircraft and surface ships. You are correct in your assumption that a single direct hit from a DD's gun could prevent the boat from diving.

Here comes that mod (but it's for GWX1.02 not 03 and that's the point). On my attached image you can see damage by a single bomb! It took me a week to repair everything and still hydro and funk were destryed... Look at pumping times! With engines doing max 1-2 kts it's kinda scary... Thing is that with full mod sub is lost after reload but than in game when you dive after taking damage it starts to leak heavy! So I need to do some test changing the zon file to adjust it properly.

difficulty of the escorts also depends not only on the year you engage them, but also the mods you are using. for example with GWX from 39 - 42 i find it pretty easy to dive to 150 - 180 meters and escape detection and attack from escorts... but after intel had been found on several U-boats the allies learned how to better locate U-boats and what their true depth capabilities were. by mid 1943 i have found that the allies are using accurate sound location even down at 240 meters :huh: making escape next to impossible!

Can't wait than! Now I feel completely untouchable while going inside a convoy and simply picking targets while reloading tubes... Mid 42, GWX03, full realism...

[WolfOfCampscapel]

Yep, with LRT being bombed is scary... submerging is very questionable for days until you get all leakages fixed and water pumped out.

Satisfying to survive it, though!

[Hadrys]

Yep, with LRT being bombed is scary... submerging is very questionable for days until you get all leakages fixed and water pumped out.
Satisfying to survive it, though!

Are U using LRT for 102 with GWX 103???

It's getting more and more fun to play but today... hmm, I've fixed up a simple test mission with elite Black Swan < 1000m away and me on the surface. Made everything possible to attract it's atention, keep repairing, full flank in the circle, shallow 30m stop, pinging, and somehow they can't bomb me... They even gave it up! I've managed to get a DC hit while using external view to put myself under the incoming DC. Madness! Can someone explain this to me?

[TwistedFemur]

make sure the difficulty is set to 100% :yep:

[Hadrys]

make sure the difficulty is set to 100% :yep:

I would say it's 150%... LRT, real navigation, immersive behavior to make things harder... eh

need to take a look at cfg's to tweak in game inertia for more realistic/challenging