Anti-escort tactics

[UnderseaLcpl]

Good day everyone,

I have posted several times in response to people who have problems with escorts. I believe I have found very effective ways of countering all ship-based ASW but my responses are rarely criticized or supported.
I am playing GWX 2.1 but these methods seem even more effective in stock sh3/4
As a favor I would ask anyone interested to evaluate and/or comment on the following anti-escort tactics. If they prove to be effective I will post a complete guide with videos as per the superb Dick'O'Kane targeting method. If not I will gladly accept any criticism or rebukes and accept that I probably would have been sunk during my first few patrols.

Please consider the following tactics;

-Against the early war stern rack escort--

1) Let him do what he wants to and come abeam of you at 90 AOB, help him if you can
2) As he comes within 400m ahead flank full rudder in the direction of his approach, and flank speed
3) Your stern should clear his by 50-80m and his charges are virtually always too deep if he doesn't spot your periscope.
4) As you clear his nearest charge ( or 2nd nearest or 3rd, whatever) slow ahead and full rudder towards him
5) Set your torpedoes. Against all classes of DD/Frigate I find 2-3m generally acceptable but adjust for rough seas assuming he is riding a crest(1-1.5m), impact setting.
6) Check the forward arc of your periscope and watch him until he crosses the 40 degree mark
7) If at this point his bow is more toward you than away ahead flank full rudder in his direction, it will set you up for a stern shot.
8) if he is oblique away or perpendicular center rudder
9) Assuming 8 line your periscope up with 8-12 degrees ahead of his course, taking into account that an oblique AOB or long range will require more than 10 dgrees to hit your aim pint and short( less than 500m) or a closing oblique angle will require 8 degrees or less lead.
10) Whatever your judgement open fire with a G7a set on fast as he crosses the center line of the selected angle mark (once again 8-12 degrees)
11) Unless you run deep or are in exceptionally rough seas or are particularly bad in estimating speed/aob your torp will catch him either forward or amidships
12) even if he lives(very rarely) he will either sink soon or abandon the chase

1a) Against K-gun destroyers repeat step1)
2a) Instead of maintaining full rudder towards him change to full right and/or decrease speed to 1/3 as the plane of his bow crosses you
3a) Repeat steps 4-12

1b) Against K-gun Hedgehog DD's
2b) Step one still applies
3b) at 600m repeat steps 2-12 ( but of course when you are 600m ahead of him)


If a dd surprises you near your heading towards him or away from him you can always spend a torpedo to get him to turn. Sometimes you will even hit him. Even if you don't 1 torp is worth your boat and crew.

I will expound upon these tactica if anyone is interested, please let reply with your support or criticism!

[Brag]

You tactics will probably work if properly executed and you have full situational awareness. This would require for you to keep the scope up.

Personally, I just don't fight escorts as the odds are against you.

[UnderseaLcpl]

You tactics will probably work if properly executed and you have full situational awareness. This would require for you to keep the scope up.

Well that's the idea.

[predavolk]

The BIG problem with your tactics is that I presume they take a lot of practice to perfect. For those of us who play campaign style, that means losing a lot of boats and a lot of careers. Maybe practicing it in "simulations" against the "German" navy using practice missions would be the solution.

Personally, I also dogfight with the destroyers at periscope depth, but I usually just dodge them. Up to 1942, I haven't had any problems evading their attacks. Sometimes I take a hit, but it's rarely serious. I too keep situational awareness with the scope, and alternate between ahead flank (when they're pinging me) and running silent. I also use back full reverse to throw them off sometimes. And sometimes, if the water is clear enough, I'll do further evasions at medium depths using the observation scope to help me dodge at the right time. Otherwise, I do it with the hydrophones.

But by far, my preference is to avoid being picked up in the first place! I suspect this will be even more important as they get hedgehogs and such.

[Red Heat]

I think the more important its AVOID the DD at all cost...because they have so small tonnage dont worth the amunition. In my opinion attack actions must be only taken in self defence or if you are attacking a enemy large convoy wich you need "to clean" the escorts to be able to attack large ships...thats my opinion! :)

[UnderseaLcpl]

All good observations, thanks guys!

Maybe I should work on my evasion instead of attacks. The whole reason I got on this anti-DD bent is because they never leave me alone.

[BasilY]

Thank you for the post. I have came upon the silmilar tactics against DC escorts as yours. It works very well for me up until the intro of hedgehogs. As soon as hedgehogs ca

Also, Can you clarify what is a K-Gun destroyer? Which ones?