destroyer detection range and how-to-destroy...

[Manucubus]

cause i was sunk again quite recently, i restarted my career, so i am only at my 2nd patrol in 1939 now...but i already have sunk my 2nd destroyer. Let me explain:

1st patrol, east of scotland: approaching a destroyer perpendicular to his course at flank speed, submerged (yea, i know, but 1st patrol, so who cares if i die?), he did hear me, speeded up and turned towards me. I turned towards him, waited until he is only 1000m away and fired all 4(!) bow fish on him. Three of him hit and he sunk like a stone (prob i blew away half of the ship).
Question1: i always thought that the impact pistols need an angle of 90 +- 20 degree? So i didnt expect a success rate of 75% when firing at his bow from close distance? Is it always the case? Do i have good chances to sink a destroyer with by aft torpedo while running away from him? Also in the late years of the war?

2nd patrol, north of scotland: night, spotted a destroyer at long distance, periscope depth, destroyers course brings him _very_ close to me. Silent running, 2knots, getting myself in position, fired 2 eels on his broadside at distance of 700m. Both hit, blubbbbbb, destroyer is past. My stealthmeter was always green and my victim didnt notice me at all.
Question2: What is the detection range of a destroyer if you are silent running at 2knots perpendicular to his course? Can you also approach to less than 1000m without being detected in the late years of war (if he doesnt suspect anything)?


i am playing GWX 76% realistic or so (just let the computer do the firing solution and map update) and only the 16k mod

thx for reading :)

[Mush Martin]

Most torps are by default set to magnetic+impact fusing.

In my experience in game the longditudinal shot is extremely
more effective if you can pull it off.

M

[Manucubus]

Most torps are by default set to magnetic+impact fusing.
In my experience in game the longditudinal shot is extremely
more effective if you can pull it off.
M

do you set your eels to a depth that they actually hit the ship (i.e. the impact pistol triggers) or that they run below the keel (for magnetic trigger)?
Of course i keep my torpedos set to magnetic+impact but i have to decide about the depth before firing...

[Brag]

If I have a destroyer coming for me, depth is 1 meter below its keel. (probably 4.5 meters)

[kenijaru]

the standard depth for torpedoes (if my memory does not fail me) is 5 metres, so... if the standard destroyer has a draught of 3.5 to 4.5 metres....
then the magnetic fuse blew her out of the water.


but, head on, 1-on-1 DD-vs-SS shooting a torpedo like that (either steam on fast or electric) is almost a sure kill, as ships turn by dragging the stern rather than moving the bow, even if the ship spots the torpedo and turns... it will expose it's side, becoming an even bigger target.

[Mush Martin]

For me its like this always 1m under a destroyer

if a large enemy merchant same as above

if a small enemy merchant 33% of the up
from the keel to the waterline with impact
only dead centre on the target
this is much more effective on difficult
little ones that eat torpedos give em one
and switch to shells where possible

if a large armoured combatant
then four 1.5 m under evenly
spread from the bow to the
stern at the 25% mark 1 torp
at the 50% mark 2 torps
and at the 75% mark 1 torp.

M

[Jonathan]

I have found that I do not want to destroy Destroyers since they do not have alot of renown or tonnage. Alas, I can almost always find a way to sneak away from them, and I think that most people can as well. In the end, are they really worth even torpedo? :down:

[Badger Finn]

I have found that I do not want to destroy Destroyers since they do not have alot of renown or tonnage. Alas, I can almost always find a way to sneak away from them, and I think that most people can as well. In the end, are they really worth even torpedo? :down:

Nup only Freighters! Or big capital ships there challenging :know:


Otherwise I Avoid destroyers like the plague



:yep:

[Jonathan]

I have found that I do not want to destroy Destroyers since they do not have alot of renown or tonnage. Alas, I can almost always find a way to sneak away from them, and I think that most people can as well. In the end, are they really worth even torpedo? :down:
Nup only Freighters! Or big capital ships there challenging :know:


Otherwise I Avoid destroyers like the plague



:yep:

You are alot like me in that regard Badger Finn!

[GoldenRivet]

on the rare occasions where i have tangled with a destroyer it was as a last resort that i engaged him.

in my most recent encounter with a destroyer he depth charged me down at 200 meters. quite accurately i will add. it was only after taking a small bit of damage and evading several well placed attacks that i decided i would have to rush to periscope depth and go toe to toe with this captain and his DD.

i was blowing ballast to reach periscope depth when he launched an attack directly overhead as i was passing about 45 meters in a quick ascent. his charges all were set too deep and as i reached periscope depth he was decelerating right behind me... with my last torpedo (stern tube) i took the shot which detonated under the stern of the destroyer.

there are times where taking shots at a destroyer are not avoidable... but they are not your primary targets by any means.

i learned early on that it is not wise to tempt fate and take a shot at lone destroyers or even a group of 2 or 3 of them moving through the night to some unknown destination... if your calculations are off and you miss you just left them your calling card. when this happened to me i was forced deep by these two jokers for about 2 hours... then more started showing up :nope: i escaped narrowly, but that was a lesson learned...

thats one difficult thing about submarine warfare in the atlantic... first comes the test, then the lesson :know:

[Jonathan]

on the rare occasions where i have tangled with a destroyer it was as a last resort that i engaged him.

in my most recent encounter with a destroyer he depth charged me down at 200 meters. quite accurately i will add. it was only after taking a small bit of damage and evading several well placed attacks that i decided i would have to rush to periscope depth and go toe to toe with this captain and his DD.

i was blowing ballast to reach periscope depth when he launched an attack directly overhead as i was passing about 45 meters in a quick ascent. his charges all were set too deep and as i reached periscope depth he was decelerating right behind me... with my last torpedo (stern tube) i took the shot which detonated under the stern of the destroyer.

there are times where taking shots at a destroyer are not avoidable... but they are not your primary targets by any means.

i learned early on that it is not wise to tempt fate and take a shot at lone destroyers or even a group of 2 or 3 of them moving through the night to some unknown destination... if your calculations are off and you miss you just left them your calling card. when this happened to me i was forced deep by these two jokers for about 2 hours... then more started showing up :nope: i escaped narrowly, but that was a lesson learned...

thats one difficult thing about submarine warfare in the atlantic... first comes the test, then the lesson :know:

I have been there when "more" start showing up. It is like there was a DD party or something, andd you didn't want to go!

[GoldenRivet]

its a bad feeling when the warship contacts keep growing overhead and closing from various directions.

its kind of like that sinking feeling (no pun intended) you get when you are down at 200 meters depth and the last thre depth charge attacks were brutally accurate. so you dive to 240 meters and its totally silent...

you wait, and wait "did we lose them?" you wonder - the little voice in your head even whispering softly...

then suddenly you hear it...

... PING ...

... PING ...

"stand fast gentlemen... were not done yet"

[Canovaro]

its a bad feeling when the warship contacts keep growing overhead and closing from various directions.

its kind of like that sinking feeling (no pun intended) you get when you are down at 200 meters depth and the last thre depth charge attacks were brutally accurate. so you dive to 240 meters and its totally silent...

you wait, and wait "did we lose them?" you wonder - the little voice in your head even whispering softly...

then suddenly you hear it...

... PING ...

... PING ...

"stand fast gentlemen... were not done yet"

:yep::yep::yep: