Fenris_Wolf
10-16-07, 12:04 AM
I don't know why many people consider GWX "insanely difficult". I find it a great addition to the game that brings some life to it and makes it more realistic and a lot more challenging than stock SH3, which is a good thing. Aircraft are surely very lethal and annoying (E.g., Mosquito attacking in pitch black) and it's sad that I'll never actually see (or notice) all their improved textures in v1.04 - though great job! :up: also, I can't help but wonder, why all the effort into that specific area? :hmm:
For people getting hunted down too often by destroyers, I'll offer some of my own advice that comes to mind, as once I found GWX challenging myself for a little while (corrections are welcome).
Persicope depth:
- Approach your escorted targets in silent running mode regardless of how slow you are or even if there aren't any torpedos being reloaded.
- If you can't do the above, stay atleast ~4 km away from the nearest destroyer and don't go above ahead standard. The range is going to depend on your angle of approach w.r.t to the destroyer escort as well as the anti-sonar coating and probably it's class too. Practise makes perfect.
- Try to torpedo escorted targets from far away. I recently managed a Fiji class kill shot from ~7.5 km away (and that's why I always use T-1's for their longer range). Something weird happened after that and the destroyers acted like nothing has happened and did not come looking for me. Granted, there was no way for them to reach or find me even if they did.
- After firing your shot at a escorted target, you should start your escape instead of waiting for impact. Move deep and in a suitable direction the manner of which I will explain in the tip after next.
- Very important. With a raised periscope you must watch your depth. If your periscope is raised too much you will be detected. Stormy, lower visibility conditions help with this regard, but otherwise don't keep the periscope raised more than 1 meter above the water surface. So watch the depth as you change speed and the buoyancy contributes it's effect. Also if your too shallow your bridge might start showing to the enemy. "Keep her levelled chief!".
When being depth-charged:
- -Never- expose your flanks to the hunting destroyer because this gives it much more surface area for it's active sonar rebounding off your hull. You'll have to turn and change headings frequently but if the destroyer doesn't get new data it will keep "spitting in the wrong direction" and you'll leave unharmed.
- Go deep. Somewhere 210+ meters. However, if your ship has suffered damage before during the patrol, your maximum depth will be limited accordingly, so if you read "We're taking damage sir!" while going deep that depth is your limit and you have a moment to rise up into bearable depths before your sub gets crushed.
- Take advantage of torpedo impact(s), depth charges exploding and the destroyer moving away from you. Go ahead flank for a little while to quickly gain that depth you want and/or reposition your boat. For this purpose, tell your sonar to actively report the nearest warship and he'll keep you posted.
Surfaced:
- There are certain ranges of visual/sonar/radar detections. These can be viewed if you click on a warship in the navigation map. Stay out of them. If you were shadowing the convoy, keep in mind that the rear escort is routinely going to turn out and check for stalkers. Best to give them a wide berth. After 1943 the enemy radar is much more powerful (and hence the radar warning receiver).
- Surfaced torpedo attack? Sorry I haven't attempted that in a long while since now I'm entering 1943.
- Deck/flak gun. Despite the aircraft being very lethal I still sometimes engage slower moving aircraft just for fun if I have the right guns, conning tower and qualified crew. With a bit of maneuvering I sometimes manage to kill an aircraft without any casualties. Atleast it's a bit of fun until they kill some crew on deck.
As for surface to surface, try to attack from long range at it's side where the enemy vessel does not have any armaments. I recently crippled a flower class rear escort by long range surface firing in the black of night. The lead escort came for assistance but couldn't find me and I think I saw it firing flares so I had to disengage before I could sink the flower. All in all, using guns is risky but fun. But never stay surfaced for a second longer when you know you are outgunned (E.g., A BB will toast you with 1 round from miles away in daylight).
I still manage to bag 50,000+ tons at the end of each patrol with my VIIC boat. I could get more by being picky but I can't be arsed with all the tedious hunting. I just accept whatever acceptable tonnage I find and move on. I do remember to "let go" when a certain attack is just not worth it.
Final helpful advice: For learning/experimenting purposes, you might want to consider enabling the "noise meter" in the realism settings. This will be -very- helpful.
For people getting hunted down too often by destroyers, I'll offer some of my own advice that comes to mind, as once I found GWX challenging myself for a little while (corrections are welcome).
Persicope depth:
- Approach your escorted targets in silent running mode regardless of how slow you are or even if there aren't any torpedos being reloaded.
- If you can't do the above, stay atleast ~4 km away from the nearest destroyer and don't go above ahead standard. The range is going to depend on your angle of approach w.r.t to the destroyer escort as well as the anti-sonar coating and probably it's class too. Practise makes perfect.
- Try to torpedo escorted targets from far away. I recently managed a Fiji class kill shot from ~7.5 km away (and that's why I always use T-1's for their longer range). Something weird happened after that and the destroyers acted like nothing has happened and did not come looking for me. Granted, there was no way for them to reach or find me even if they did.
- After firing your shot at a escorted target, you should start your escape instead of waiting for impact. Move deep and in a suitable direction the manner of which I will explain in the tip after next.
- Very important. With a raised periscope you must watch your depth. If your periscope is raised too much you will be detected. Stormy, lower visibility conditions help with this regard, but otherwise don't keep the periscope raised more than 1 meter above the water surface. So watch the depth as you change speed and the buoyancy contributes it's effect. Also if your too shallow your bridge might start showing to the enemy. "Keep her levelled chief!".
When being depth-charged:
- -Never- expose your flanks to the hunting destroyer because this gives it much more surface area for it's active sonar rebounding off your hull. You'll have to turn and change headings frequently but if the destroyer doesn't get new data it will keep "spitting in the wrong direction" and you'll leave unharmed.
- Go deep. Somewhere 210+ meters. However, if your ship has suffered damage before during the patrol, your maximum depth will be limited accordingly, so if you read "We're taking damage sir!" while going deep that depth is your limit and you have a moment to rise up into bearable depths before your sub gets crushed.
- Take advantage of torpedo impact(s), depth charges exploding and the destroyer moving away from you. Go ahead flank for a little while to quickly gain that depth you want and/or reposition your boat. For this purpose, tell your sonar to actively report the nearest warship and he'll keep you posted.
Surfaced:
- There are certain ranges of visual/sonar/radar detections. These can be viewed if you click on a warship in the navigation map. Stay out of them. If you were shadowing the convoy, keep in mind that the rear escort is routinely going to turn out and check for stalkers. Best to give them a wide berth. After 1943 the enemy radar is much more powerful (and hence the radar warning receiver).
- Surfaced torpedo attack? Sorry I haven't attempted that in a long while since now I'm entering 1943.
- Deck/flak gun. Despite the aircraft being very lethal I still sometimes engage slower moving aircraft just for fun if I have the right guns, conning tower and qualified crew. With a bit of maneuvering I sometimes manage to kill an aircraft without any casualties. Atleast it's a bit of fun until they kill some crew on deck.
As for surface to surface, try to attack from long range at it's side where the enemy vessel does not have any armaments. I recently crippled a flower class rear escort by long range surface firing in the black of night. The lead escort came for assistance but couldn't find me and I think I saw it firing flares so I had to disengage before I could sink the flower. All in all, using guns is risky but fun. But never stay surfaced for a second longer when you know you are outgunned (E.g., A BB will toast you with 1 round from miles away in daylight).
I still manage to bag 50,000+ tons at the end of each patrol with my VIIC boat. I could get more by being picky but I can't be arsed with all the tedious hunting. I just accept whatever acceptable tonnage I find and move on. I do remember to "let go" when a certain attack is just not worth it.
Final helpful advice: For learning/experimenting purposes, you might want to consider enabling the "noise meter" in the realism settings. This will be -very- helpful.