Do you attack single DD?

[Leg]

Untill now I've sunk DD only for self defence. When your sonarman or you watch spot a single DD, do you attack it or let it go? Same also in small convoys with 2\3 ships and a DD or or taskforces. Is it worth to sink them or you just focus on merchant ships and convoys?

[Kubryk]

I don't engage single DD's. I go for tonnage, I don't fire a torpedo unless target is 4k tons or heavier. In taskforce it could be different - if by sinking DD I'd get a shot against BB, I will definetly give it a try.

However, I've read some books on war on Atlantic and I think engaging DD's by U-Boats isn't something normal and regular. Since I try to keep things historically real, I don't pursue DD's.

[Paul Riley]

I think the only practical time to even contemplate attacking warships would be,
1 - the warship has already spotted you and is heading in your direction.If you could quickly prepare a magnetic shot as he closes on you and hit him that could actually be safer than trying to evade his DC attacks.This tactic should be used sparingly for obvious reasons,you dont have an infinite supply of torpedoes.

2 - I reckon a task force could be just as valuable as a convoy,possibly containing a prized ship or two,such as a famous battleship?.I think historically speaking,if just one battleship was out of action it would have seriously weakened the allied presence at sea,and also reduce the chances of German forces being heavily shelled from the sea by such vessels.Actually,I think naval bombardment against land based forces did in fact happen quite a lot,especially during D-Day.

Other than that its probably pointless and too risky to target just a single warship,as strangling the cargo,oil,troop supplies,ammo etc was the German's main priority.Sinking 11.000 tonnes of oil or a large troopship is far more rewarding :smug: , sad for the troops onboard though :nope:

I think the Japanese were very fond of using their subs to engage warships,instead of American cargo.Their subs were built for it,and i've even seen footage on the history channel of Japanese sub aircraft carriers,able to operate just like a sub but with 3 enclosed aircraft capsules,to launch planes from their deck! :o

[Jimbuna]

Not normally....but usually only for reasons of self defence.

Cargo vessels should be the primary objective. http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[Leg]

Excellent; right as I thought!:DL

[mookiemookie]

I don't go for single DD's. If I miss, they come looking for me! The exception is in self defense. I've put a couple down that were coming after me.

They're not worth it, tonnage, renown, or importance-wise.

[Brag]

Out of perverse and deep dislike of escorts, I will attack them when they are unaware of my presence and traveling by themselves :cool:.

[Paul Riley]

@Brag :arrgh!:
Suppose if you can get away with it and you are feeling particularly angry/brave,and you have the resources,why not?.
I just feel bad if its got an English flag,as being an Englishman downing one of my own warships always makes me feel a bit sad,but,its just a game I know, and there is a war going on! :salute:

[nikbear]

Out of perverse and deep dislike of escorts, I will attack them when they are unaware of my presence and traveling by themselves :cool:.

Same hear,if one is silly enough to be sailing in a straight line at night for any length of time,and he's not to far away then,hell yeah he's going down to snake town :yeah::rock::arrgh!::03:

[Synthfg]

I'd have to be very board to take on single DD's

Whilst for task forces / convoys, my usual tactic is to take out the escorts, it's only to free the way for unmolested shots at serious tonnage

A single DD is abig risk for not much gain

[nikbear]

Ti's true its of dubious merit sinking a DD,but the sadistic pleasure of seeing one of those buggers getting a taste of there own medicine and frying up is wonderful :rock::yeah:

[verticalization]

If i'm bored on my patrol, or havnt seen any merchants in a while.. i'll take a shot. Usually only if i have a few electrics equipped.

Last night on a patrol, i was heading from Brest, to BF12. my crew spotted a single DD, sailing a perfectly strait line, 90 off my bow.. luckily i dived in time, i decided it wasnt smart for him to be sailing around me, so i sent off a single electric.. he blew up magnificently, sadly i doubt anyone had time to abandon ship.

However, i got my just desert later that night.. when i got caught off guard in the middle of the night an was hunted for 2 hours (real time, a bit longer game time) by a DD who just wouldnt give up..

[Kapt Z]

Destroyers traveling alone are usually the ONLY ones I do attack. In all my careers I've come across them maybe 10 times. Took a shot around 6 times. Sunk 4. Even the ones I missed never knew I was there.

I've always concentrated on merchants(never seen a task force:nope:), but under the right conditions I will consider anything that comes in range.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

ENGAGING DD's?!?!?!

Tis a waste of der Fatherland's torpedoes!!! :stare:

BdU sends you forth to strangle the allies means of refueling, rearming, and resupplying.... NOT to mess about with the tin cans that drop ash cans! :stare:

For every DD you sink... another load of foot powder and toilet paper finds its way to the BOOTS and BUTTS of THE ENEMY!!! :stare:

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Even his greatness... Balz the Magnificent... cannot make up for all that lost hoochie woochie! :stare:

Be more aggressive! You MUST deny the enemy ALL ability to have healthy feet and clean bottoms!!! :stare:

[Jimbuna]

LMAO :rotfl:

[Task Force]

Ive sunk about 15 dds in my 22 patrols.

[Shadowblade]

yes, but only when:

1) sinking the DD will give me chance to safely attack valuable cargo ships
2) my sub is under attack and I have chance to disable attacking DD (to reduce the number of enemy hunters)

[Contact]

In the term "sink them all" DD's are also included :arrgh!:

I always try to sink a DD if he steps in my ploted course and is close enough. However at early war I'm leting myself do this only at night since electro torps are not available yet. And I have no intention to bring unnecesary attention to my boat if I miss to hit :arrgh!:

[prowler3]

If there are enough merchants...and only 1 escort...I may contemplate it. My thinking in this situation is once the lone escort is gone I can sink the merchies at my leisure. That would probably be the only time other than self-defense.

[Contact]

If there are enough merchants...and only 1 escort...I may contemplate it. My thinking in this situation is once the lone escort is gone I can sink the merchies at my leisure. That would probably be the only time other than self-defense.

If there is low number of escorts yes you're thinking correct. Ridding of biggest threat will open you possibilities in finishing your job without disturbances :yep:

[hobbo]

Yes, I always attack DD if the option arises. Feels good to hunt instead of being hunted... I strongly believe in that attack is the best defense. It´s so nice when the DD is coming straight at you to deeptcharge and you deliver the element of surprise... a torpedo right back at them...

[Puster Bill]

I used to attack lone DD's, but I don't anymore except for self-defense. I just let them pass on by.

The reason is that apart from the fact that it's a waste of a torpedo, in real life attacking a destroyer would let all the naval forces in the area know where you are, without any real benefit.

That's not to say that I won't attack warships, anything from a light cruiser and up is fair game, but stuff smaller than that? Only if I have to.

[Contact]

I used to attack lone DD's, but I don't anymore except for self-defense. I just let them pass on by.

The reason is that apart from the fact that it's a waste of a torpedo, in real life attacking a destroyer would let all the naval forces in the area know where you are, without any real benefit.

That's not to say that I won't attack warships, anything from a light cruiser and up is fair game, but stuff smaller than that? Only if I have to.

DD is a fast sinking target at least in the game. Historically they had little time or maybe even none to send a message. As I assume when torpedo hit the DD the order followed to abandon ship. Or if torpedo hits the ammo section it is an instant kill. Even if DD managed to send a mayday message. You have plenty of time to leave the area sufraced or submerged depending on circustances.. And the intel of your location is pretty blind not knowing your course.

Waste of torpedo ? One torpedo is nothing compared to how much one DD cost to build. So I think they are worth to be sunk along with the merchants. :yep:

Just wanted to add that any unit of enemy nation is a matter of resource. The financial drain out of the enemy is leading enemy straight to capitulation. So I think - historically u-boats had to sink everything what was floating under Allied flag. Having in mind blockade of England even schooners were sunk if weather allowed..

[Threesixtyci]

I'm sure the crew of the U-boat would disagree.

It's like attacking a Brown Bear with a 9mm Handgun. Sure, it's possible that you'll kill it... but it's more likely that you're just going to make it angry and get yourself killed.

[Kapt Z]

I'm sure the crew of the U-boat would disagree.

It's like attacking a Brown Bear with a 9mm Handgun. Sure, it's possible that you'll kill it... but it's more likely that you're just going to make it angry and get yourself killed.

On the other hand, by avoiding tough situations you won't be a kaleun very long either.....:DL

Don't remember getting any radio traffic from BDU telling me to be more careful and not take so many risks.... :haha:

[Contact]

I'm sure the crew of the U-boat would disagree.

It's like attacking a Brown Bear with a 9mm Handgun. Sure, it's possible that you'll kill it... but it's more likely that you're just going to make it angry and get yourself killed.

When I hit them, it means usually too late for getting angry :haha:

[Oberon]

"When you shoot at a destroyer and miss, it's like hit'in a wildcat in the ass with a banjo”


So generally, no, I tend to dive and creep past them. Generally if they sink they always call in their friends.
I did whack one off the Scottish coast and less than half an hour later another one came through and drove past his friend, presumably collecting survivors. I was quite impressed :up:

[Contact]

If this is a lonely DD you have a safe bet to escape from him even if you miss in early war. I usually use a hydrophone to check and make sure there is no more warship company around. If not it's a green light to engage.
The depth is also important factor when planing to attack a DD. I'm not going into risking my arse if there is less than 100 meters depth under me..

If usually you are keen to engage DD's but after weighting the risk you think it's better not to attack this or that one it is ok.

Cautiousness doesn't bring the shame. Cowardness does. :arrgh!:

[Hanomag]

If I am cranky ...yes! :arrgh!:

But normally... no!

The DD is lucky if I have already had my morning coffee.

[lynard]

So generally, no, I tend to dive and creep past them. Generally if they sink they always call in their friends.
I did whack one off the Scottish coast and less than half an hour later another one came through and drove past his friend, presumably collecting survivors. I was quite impressed :up:

That explains something for me. Disabled a cargo in a convoy. Had to spend a bit of time dodging 2 escorts, took quite a pounding. They finally lost me so I crept back up to periscope depth.
One escort had his bow right up against the cargo while the other was cruising slowly about a k away.
He sat there for quite a while could not figure out what he was up to. Then there was some thrashing at the stern and away they went to rejoin.

[Bronzewing]

I don't usually attack destroyers unless it's detected me, or I'm trying to make an intercept and I haven't time to spend creaping under it for 2 hours or so. However this does depend on the type. While I avoid most I will sink any Tribal (or Fletcher or Somers after the US navy joins in) that gives me a shot. I figure the big ones are just about worth a Torpedo. But only if they're giving me a good shot, I won't chase them.

[sunvalleyslim]

If i can do an "O'Kane Down the Throat Shot", then I'll give it a try....otherwise live to sink another Merchant.......:salute: :salute: :salute:

[BasilY]

I'd have to be very board to take on single DD's

Whilst for task forces / convoys, my usual tactic is to take out the escorts, it's only to free the way for unmolested shots at serious tonnage

A single DD is abig risk for not much gain

That was my standard practice 6-7 careers ago. Now I find it highly un-realistic. Now I sneak it to take down the biggest cargo ships and avoid entanglement with DD's. I find my new practice more exiting and satisfying when successful.

However, in response to the original question, I WILL sink a DD traveling in straight lines unaware of my presence provided that:

1. at night, or I have electric torpedo. So if I missed, the target didn't know I am around.
2. No other DD's within sonar range.
3. I don't have the maneuver into firing position.

I did it for realism, even though this isn't very helpful in the tonnage war.

BTW. The fleet destroyers Fletcher and Sommes can be found in Eastern US sea board and Caribbean. with tonnage similar or higher than a smaller cargo ship. Also remember, taking down a Destroyers cause more casualty to the enemy.

[BasilY]

One more thing, I once explain how to sink a destroyer with deck gun IN THIS GAME (GWX2.1 100%). Probably not a smart thing to do in the real war.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=144846

[Murr44]

Ordinarily I leave escorts alone but I will attack them if they blunder into a favourable position (for me). I recently ambushed 2 C&D's in BF18 in a night attack. The weather was clear with 4m waves & they were sailing along in a line at about 12 kts, coming towards me at a 20 degree angle off my port side. I reduced speed from flank to 1/3 & went to decks awash and let them get closer. At about 2900m I still hadn't been detected so I submerged to periscope level & went to slow speed. At 2500m I launched the 1st torpedo. That one detonated right under the 1st ship & broke her back. Before the 2nd C&D could react I launched my second eel (we were now about 2100-2000m from her). The second torpedo went off underneath her stern & she exploded.

[Capt.Warner]

I don't attack alone DDs because most of the time I miss and if i do its a waste of torpedoes.I like to conserve my torpedoes for convoys but if im attacking a convoy and see a DD nearby with a good chance of hitting ill go for it.:o

[thelawon]

As some have said, I'll take a shot if they happen to be passing alone in a straight line easily crossing my path. That might have been the DD that gets me or a fellow sub down the road!

[bookworm_020]

If it's a lone escort with a convoy early in the war, yes I'd sink it.

If it's detected you, and come straight at you, yes I'd sink it

If it's the only thing I've seen after weeks on end and it's dumb enough to steam in front of torpedo tubes, yes I'd sink it.

If it's part of a hunter killer group or convoy, and it hasn't detected me, no I wouldn't.

:up: