Deck Guns

[BrewerAlpha]

I'm playing stock SH3. Just got my first deck gun kill. It took me about 15 shots with HE rounds to take down one of the bulk C2 frieghters. I don't think I would of survived if the enemy ship had been shooting back as it took me a while.

Does everything take that long to kill with the Deck Guns, or is it just because I was wailing on a huge ship?

Also, how effective is the AA gun? I usually crash dive to safety when I'm on the surface and get buzzed by enemy aircraft - now I'm wondering if I can bring those suckers down... :yeah:

[Kapitanleutnant]

Deck guns always take a long time to kill medium to large vessels in my experience. It's best to use the gun against single ships in an area where you aren't worried about air cover spoiling the party.

As for the AA guns, in Iron Coffins the author mentioned that if they spotted an aircraft at a fair distance they would always dive. They'd only turn to the AA if the plane was spotted very late and would drop its bombs before they could submerge. I guess knowing when to dive and when to make a fight of it is a judgement call you need to make on a case-by-case basis.

[Dissaray]

The AA guns can be useful if you have a crew that is good with them, or you your self are a good AA guner. Hiting the enemy is a bit tricky but when you do hit them they don't take much to go down, especialy if you hit them with a heavy AA cannon. Your best be most of the time is still to dive and run though.

[totodog]

To help with the AA guns, just play the tutorial mission a couple times, manning the guns yourself. But generally, you should crash dive as soon as possible, if it's safe. (i.e. not in shallow water)

For the deck guns, the work best against smaller ships or ships already damaged by a torpedo. Make sure you're alone though; you don't want any destroyers or aircraft to ruin the event!

[cawimmer430]

I've am blessed with a killer FLAK gun crew. Four officers with FLAK qualifications and they're really good. I've got the IX/3 conning tower with the Vierlingsflak and two Zwillingsflak gun - and this combination is a death trap for enemy aircraft.

Strangely, I have no fear of Sunderlands, Catalinas, Hurricanes, Wellingtons and Grumman Avengers - but B-24's scare the living s__t out of me! In my career I've been damaged, nearly almost sunk, by more B-24's than any other aircraft. Thankfully I always encounter Sunderland's or Catalina's most of the time which are relatively easy kills. Oh yeah, I like hunting in shallow waters so diving to safety is often not an option. :yeah:

[Weiss Pinguin]

Heavy flak guns are also great for disarming enemy vessels. Just rake the deck back and forth and watch all unsecured objects abandon ship!

[ppk]

Heavy flak guns are also great for disarming enemy vessels. Just rake the deck back and forth and watch all unsecured objects abandon ship!

Does that work with the quad flak ?

[cawimmer430]

Does that work with the quad flak ?


Oh yeah. The Vierlingsflak (quad) is totally awesome. :)

Sometimes when I have disabled a destroyer using the homing torpedoes (they either usually sink the ship or blow off both its screws), I line up next to the destroyer and surface (if conditions permit). Then I destroy its guns with my FLAK guns or deck gun. Once he is "disarmed", I put some distance between us and sink him with the deck gun (if conditions permit). Sometimes conditions don't permit a sinking (weather, aircraft etc.) so I have to finish him off with a torpedo.

[mookiemookie]

If you're using deck guns, make sure that you aim your shots at various points along the waterline or just below so that it floods. Punching a bunch of holes in the side of a ship above water isn't going to do much to sink it.

That being said, I believe the damage model in stock is based around a hitpoints system, so you may theoretically be able to sink the ship that way. I dunno.

I do remember one time I sank a freighter with one shot. I think I hit the engine room or fuel bunkers, because it went up like 4th of July fireworks.

And you're right - once they start shooting back, it's time to ditch the deck gun altogether.

[RoaldLarsen]

I'm playing stock SH3. Just got my first deck gun kill. It took me about 15 shots with HE rounds to take down one of the bulk C2 frieghters. I don't think I would of survived if the enemy ship had been shooting back as it took me a while.

Does everything take that long to kill with the Deck Guns, or is it just because I was wailing on a huge ship?

Larger ships usually require more hits than smaller ships. In real life it would often take quite a few more shots than that to sink a ship that size with just the deck gun.

Stock SH3 makes the deck gun too powerful and too accurate.

Also, how effective is the AA gun? I usually crash dive to safety when I'm on the surface and get buzzed by enemy aircraft - now I'm wondering if I can bring those suckers down... :yeah:The AA guns are WAY too effective compared to real life. If you want an arcade game experience, get some AA qualfiications for your crew and load up with as many AA gun barrels as you can get, and stay on the surface looking for aircraft. You'll kill a lot.

In real life, fire from an aircraft was more accurate than fire from a boat. In the game it seems to be the reverse.

[Jimbuna]

Does that work with the quad flak ?

Your most lethal AA is the twin 37mm http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif