Damn teh DDs

[Bismarck]

I just keep on getting sunk by DDs. Anyone have any advice about sinking them?

[the.terrabyte.pirate]

My advice... unless you have a very, very good reason, don't even try to sink them.

If you do have a good reason, 90 degree aob, fast eel, 2m impact, aim for the bow under the front guns.

[GoldenRivet]

dont tangle with DDs. your primary objective is to send war materials to the bottom... this means hitting those merchants.

besides... DDs are fast and maneuverable and can easily dodge any torpedo they detect. Sinking a DD that is actively hunting you, or is aware of your presence is next to impossible and counts on a great deal of luck.

futhermore there are few DDs worth more than 1900 tons, and they present very very little renown.

the best practice is to let them sail by - oblivious to your presence!

[Wreford-Brown]

I agree with GoldenRivet - let them pass and make like a hole in the water!

If they have detected you, use a magnetic torpedo in the aft torpedo tubes set for 0.5m under their keel. Run like hell away from them and wait for them to follow. Early on in the war you can hit them at max range, later on you need to wait for them to get to 500m or less - at 500m they will straighten out their run to try and depth charge you. All it takes is minor course changes to ensure they stay at 180 degrees to you and you can pick them off.

[Uboatman]

Same advice as above.

If it's calm weather and you have to take them on for whatever reason, an under keel shot at no less than 350m and no more than 500m will often result in their demise. Just make sure you take it's direction changes into account if it's doing zig zags.

Otherwise stay away:up:, a quick search for evasion tactics or similar should give you a wealth of info to try and avoid being sunk.

[rifleman13]

If you're u-boat is going head to head with a DD, try making a bow shot! :arrgh!:
Or you could try to get away!:ping:

[Yorktown_Class]

Subs are no match for a DD,I have hit them if they are unsuspecting and are passing by,you might get lucky,but if you miss be prepared for a battle.
I change my depth all the time when one is on me,and reverse coarse sometimes works too..Good luck:up:

[Bismarck]

Thanks for all the advice mates :arrgh!: I appreciate it!

[UnderseaLcpl]

I disagree with previous assertions. DD's are easy to sink;
1) Go perpendicular to his course, as in he is close to 90 or 270 degrees in your periscope.
2) Let him get to around 400m, he should speed up and the asdic pings will start to increase in frequency rapidly.
3) Ahead flank full rudder in the direction he is coming from.
4) This should put you 70-80m from the first detonation that is in line with your boat.
5) Slow to 1-3 kts full rudder in the opposite direction.
6) The DD will come about at 9-12kts as he searches for you again, make sure your periscope is very low in calm seas or he will speed up.
7) prep a g7a for fast speed at 2m, fire angle 0
8) when the DD hits the 25-30 degree mark on your periscope go rudder amidships.
9) Train your periscope at 12 degrees. This takes some practice as you must subtract a couple of degrees for close range or oblique AOB (away)
Open the selected tube.
10) Just as his bow crosses the center of your periscope, fire.
11) Unless the torpedo is a dud or is (very rarely) spotted early you will hit him somewhere and that is almost always enough.

Even if he does not sink he is usually immobilized or reduced to a very slow speed and easily sunk or ignored. I have an 80-90% success rate for this tactic when pursued by 2 DD's or less. It gets tricky when 3 or more are up there as it is hard to keep track of everyone and the AI pathing leads to destroyers you thought were a safe distance away closing in. Also, the "Down the throat" attack is useful as well. I usually miss or get a dud from the extreme oblique angle but the DD will veer away giving you precious seconds to maneuver.

Closing argument; Maintain periscope depth and do not give up the initiative! When you go deep you give the initiative away. I would not recommend this unless pursued by 4 or more DD's in the immediate vicinity.

Remember, once the escorts are gone (given proper conditions) you can always end-around the convoy for another attack. Early in the war if the sea permits you can deck gun all of them to death.

Call me a fool but this works for me in stock and GWX 2.1

Thanks for reading!

Finally, once you reach the proper stage of the war, Zaunkonig II down the throat.
Takes the hassle out of destroyer-smashing.