When Do You Attack a DD?

[groomsie]

Playing my career, it is September 1942 and I'm based in Austrailia patrolling the Solomons. Lots of activity nightly, high speed Tokyo Express type runs. But, almost always made up exclusively of DDs, 4 to 8 in a column running high speed. Now, I'm anxious for some action, but my head says these are low-percentage shots at shallow, fast moving targets with lots of friends who can hurt you and you gain only 1,000 tons and a DD on your scorecard.

So I ask, do most of you pass on these targets as well, or do you fire into the line and take out 1 or 2 and then trust you can evade or nab another?

[Wicked Popsicle]

I usually to go for DDs when they are in a great. I guess I am just very Cautious. But when I go into a harbor and there is a lone DD patroling I definently go for it. The froggiest I have ever gotten was taking out a Wakatake Destroyer that had to gunboats with it and managed to take it out. I made a silent getaway while the gunboats were fishing for survivors.

[rubenandthejets]

In the situation you describe, Tokyo Express running troops and supplies into Gudalcanal in the spring of 42 (southern hemisphere), I would go for it!

I tend to roleplay a bit ( all that AD&D in high school ) so I'd be picturing the marines abandoned by Fletcher and the carriers with IJN battleships hammering Henderson every few nights and massive Japanese assaults on land.

Unfortunately, the desperate situation isn't reflected in the renown or tonnage rewards. Depending on the mod you're runnning, you could try to ambush a few of the battleship bombardment task forces the IJN sent down there. Many of the campaign mods have the major battles included, so check a reliable source for dates and then give the IJN a little suprise off Savo! The Honiara resupply ship is in place I think, so I'd "spray and pray" at the DDs and then reload and refit and try it again!

[tater]

He's gotta be running RSRDC, Stock has squat down there (except tankers (!?) heading to a huge port that doesn't even exist now (in a city that didn't exist until after the war).

[V.C. Sniper]

I sink DDs all the time.

[groomsie]

Currently running TMO 1.6.3 and RSRDC, yes, not stock.

Plugging the DD isn't the issue per se, it is balancing the risk vs reward of firing a Mk 14 (which in 1942 is still an iffy proposition on a shallow target) on a small, shallow, fast target when he has 5-7 of his buddies with him to work you over a bit after you attack, whether you are successful or not in your attack.

Historically I'm not sure what you would do--the known situation of the Marines on Guadacanal would lead you to attack and help protect that foothold from being taken back. But on the other hand there is odds of success being "less than ideal" and risk to crew higher than necessary.

[Soundman]

Probably wise to avoid them, but fun to engage. I've become pretty adept at the challenge. However, unless there has been a long dry spell and a healthy dose of boredom then becomes too overwhelming, I'll leave'm be and hope to later find a higher value target elsewhere.

[jazzabilly]

They're purely targets of opportunity for me, though I love popping tincans. It depends on the tactical situation. If there's more than one, and if weather is calm, then I tend to lay off the DD and go for merchies or capital ships. In rough weather the bad guys will have a much harder time spotting you on sonar, so take that into account. Torpedo tracks are also much more visible in calm, daylight conditions. Thus, easier for them to avoid. They also provide a "HERE I AM" notice.

When stalking a pair or more of DD's, I favor shooting the last ship in the row, as it takes a minute or so for the fish to hit the target, I get a little extra time to make good my escape as it takes a few minutes for the other DD to initiate a search.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Usually if I'm on the way to an area that I know contains high traffic, or if I'm in a shipping lane, I'll give DDs a wide berth, lest they betray my position to everyone else in the area.

However, if I've been getting pounded by DCs for hours and I need to get away, I seriously consider a risky snapshot at a pursuing ship to give me a bit of a breather.

[Armistead]

I play for real and at a 100% TMO 1.7RSRD. Seldom do I attack dd's.
If I'm in shallow water I'll do stern DTT. I prefer to do mine at long range, before the dd starts zigging. A spread of 3 at about 3000 yard seldom misses, unless early war with duds. Late war with M18's I'll shoot at dd's on a 90 track. With M14's, seems the easiet dd kills at DTT.

Another good thing about shooting at dd's, it will force them to turn giving you more time to escape, very helpful in close and can save you arse.

They should score more...

[Wilcke]

Its a game, do what you want, have fun! You can save it just prior to going on your DD hunt and if you botch it just restart the saved game.

Enjoy, and happy hunting.

[MonTana_Prussian]

I only attack DDs when I have to,otherwise,I avoid them.

[Morpheus]

Only if it is possible. Means i need to sneak up undetected, and if they have enough BRTs. Sunk two Kongos the day before. Otherwise its mostly a waste of torpedoes.