Newb in need of HELP

[Lynx2069]

First off...can someone explain the spread angle to me....:roll:

I was under the impretion that it would allow me too spread my torpedos over that distant so if a ship was coming left to right across my bow, i set for 3 degrees spread right, and fire 4 torpedos, that those 4 torpedos spread out over 3 degrees, but when i put it into practice, i don't see any results, all of my torpedos will hit withing 50 feet of each other on my target.

Also, how many torpedos should it take to sink a medium size freighter I know that with a properly placed torpedo i should be able to break the keel, but whenever i fire the torpedo simply slams into the side and detonates. It does damage yes, but nothing would be more satisfying then watching my fish detonate and snap a freighter like a twig. I DO use automatic targeting and I have checked my run depth against my recognition manual, but the settings are correct. I know that the Mk14 have a rud depth variance of 1.3m or so but even on a calm day my torpedos still detonate at what appears to be 5-7 feet below the surface even when the draft may be 20. :damn:

Lastly, If someone has a link to some good tactics or rules of thumb for the ammount of torpedos needed to sink vessels I would appreciate it.

Sorry about the wall o' text. P.S. only running 360 degree bearing mod and smaller radar contacts on v1.5

[Fishie]

The term "spread angle" is rather misleading. Think of it rather as "Gyro Offset".

What that dial does is change the set gyro setting plus or minus (left or right) the given amount in degrees.

For instance on a medium freighter, a spread of 2 usually works well, offset one one degree left, the other 2 degrees right- that'll usually catch him in the engine room and one just afore the superstructure (usually).

Regarding your questions on #'s of torpedoes...

It can really vary, but I've found that the rear of the merchants is EXTREMELY vulnerable. It also has the neat little thingys that make the ship go, so you can actually stop multiple ships, dive, give the escort a shake, then reload and come up to finish 'em off.

But generally- anything that has "small" or "coastal" is generally 1 torp. Mediums I hit with a spread of 2, except the tankers. Large ships are best disabled with a spread of 3, although 4 isn't overkill.

Passenger liners and hospital ships require 4 I've found.

The attack profiles that you are capable of using auto targetting on convoys can be absolutely devestating. Instant torpedo solutions on any vessel you want.

Keel damage- I've had a hard time getting this to work properly. Fuel bladders seem to be the way to go if ya wanna blow 'em up all nice and purty. :arrgh!:

[Raptor1]

Passenger liners and hospital ships require 4 I've found.

I found that the larger liners are extremely hard to kill, sometimes taking up to 8 (!) torps to sink, as for hospital ships...wait a second, what the hell are you doing sinking hospital ships in the first place?!?!?!

Underkeel shots - If you trust the Mark 14 Torpedoes enough (I wouldn't), you can try these, you can blast almost anything to pieces...if the Magnetic Detonator doesn't fail...

[Fishie]

Passenger liners and hospital ships require 4 I've found.

I found that the larger liners are extremely hard to kill, sometimes taking up to 8 (!) torps to sink, as for hospital ships...wait a second, what the hell are you doing sinking hospital ships in the first place?!?!?!

Underkeel shots - If you trust the Mark 14 Torpedoes enough (I wouldn't), you can try these, you can blast almost anything to pieces...if the Magnetic Detonator doesn't fail...

Should have clarified- my bad- a spread of 4 to *disable* the ship.

Regarding Hospital ships- they are carrying wounded soldiers, getting fixed up to fight another day in a lot of cases. One more machine gunner, grenadier, rifleman, for our Marines to face. I try to think of the lives I'm saving rather then destroying.

Besides, it's not like they gave our wounded any mercy when they took over the Phillipines. There are stories of the Japanese storming a hospital, shooting the wounded in their beds, and in one case even shooting a patient in operation, then his surgeon.

We won't get into what happened with the nurses.

Screw 'em. Less guys to throw bullets at my guys is better for the war effort. If high command or the prissy press doesn't like it, too bad. As long as I have a boat and fish in the tubes, everything with a rising sun on it's flagpole is a target.

[LukeFF]

Regarding Hospital ships- they are carrying wounded soldiers, getting fixed up to fight another day in a lot of cases. One more machine gunner, grenadier, rifleman, for our Marines to face. I try to think of the lives I'm saving rather then destroying.

Besides, it's not like they gave our wounded any mercy when they took over the Phillipines. There are stories of the Japanese storming a hospital, shooting the wounded in their beds, and in one case even shooting a patient in operation, then his surgeon.

We won't get into what happened with the nurses.

Screw 'em. Less guys to throw bullets at my guys is better for the war effort. If high command or the prissy press doesn't like it, too bad. As long as I have a boat and fish in the tubes, everything with a rising sun on it's flagpole is a target.

:roll:

[Raptor1]

Regarding Hospital ships- they are carrying wounded soldiers, getting fixed up to fight another day in a lot of cases. One more machine gunner, grenadier, rifleman, for our Marines to face. I try to think of the lives I'm saving rather then destroying.

Besides, it's not like they gave our wounded any mercy when they took over the Phillipines. There are stories of the Japanese storming a hospital, shooting the wounded in their beds, and in one case even shooting a patient in operation, then his surgeon.

We won't get into what happened with the nurses.

Screw 'em. Less guys to throw bullets at my guys is better for the war effort. If high command or the prissy press doesn't like it, too bad. As long as I have a boat and fish in the tubes, everything with a rising sun on it's flagpole is a target.
Mmhm, I guess, I have heard reports that the Japs hide ammo and fuel supplies inside apparent Hospital Ships, so if they're not following the rules neither should we...

Doesn't mean I like shooting a ship full of wounded people...

[Fishie]

Mmhm, I guess, I have heard reports that the Japs hide ammo and fuel supplies inside apparent Hospital Ships, so if they're not following the rules neither should we...

Doesn't mean I like shooting a ship full of wounded people...

Yeah, just like the Lusitania. We could go on.

To clarify, I'm not cackling with glee everytime I let loose a spread of 4 torpedoes into a hospital ship (only happened like twice since I got the game).

It's funny. A simulated ship, a simulated sub, and emotions stir when you press the fire button.

Don't like doin' it, but as they say, "war is hell".


***edit*** you know, this begs the question- was there ever a documented case of an American Fleet sub attacking a hospital ship?

Well, well, well- lookee here.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AHS_Centaur

[Lynx2069]

Thanks for the help. I spent some time with the game just keeping my parascope up and watching what changes when i make a lock using the autotarget...apperently everytime i change tubes, the torpedo settings are lost, depth, speed, contactor magnetic....anyone know a way around this??? I try and keep my parascope exposure to an absolute minimum (who likes depth charges anyway??) and its kind of annoying to have and relock with auto targetting for every single tube.

[Raptor1]

***edit*** you know, this begs the question- was there ever a documented case of an American Fleet sub attacking a hospital ship?

Well, well, well- lookee here.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AHS_Centaur

...upon further thought.....ehrm....no more hospital ships.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Centaur_%28ARTV09088%29.png

The Centaur was sunk by a Japanese I-Boat, not an American Fleet Boat

There have not been any attacks on Hospital Ships by American Subs AFAIK, however if you read Herman Wouk's War and Remembrance there's a part where the fictional USS Devilfish attacks and sinks a Japanese Hospital Ship, which turned out to be full of ammunition and rubber

As for the Torpedo Settings, I think the Speed/Detonator settings are separate for each tube, while the spread and depth controls must be changed manually after each launch

[Fishie]

Right, it was the only recorded sinking of a hospital ship that I could find, that's what I was referring.

to Lynx- I advise that you adjust each tube independently based on targets before hand, so when you raise your scope, you're ready to go with all the correct depths, etc.

Keep in mind that the gyro settings are independent of tubes, however. You have to adjust that one for every launch.

[Lynx2069]

Right, it was the only recorded sinking of a hospital ship that I could find, that's what I was referring.

to Lynx- I advise that you adjust each tube independently based on targets before hand, so when you raise your scope, you're ready to go with all the correct depths, etc.

Keep in mind that the gyro settings are independent of tubes, however. You have to adjust that one for every launch.

Thanks. I've been adjusting them with scope up...which got it sheered off, I think the only way to acheive my objective is like you said, peek up, pick my prey, adjust my tubes...take a final bearing and let her have it.

[LukeFF]

Mmhm, I guess, I have heard reports that the Japs hide ammo and fuel supplies inside apparent Hospital Ships, so if they're not following the rules neither should we...
If you stoop to the level of your enemy's conduct, then you are no better than him. The American military to this day demands honorable conduct from its servicemen, no matter how morally bankrupt one's enemy is.