Deploying Decoy

[willielapus]

How do you best use the decoy? What does it do? Have been playing SH4 v1.5 for a couple of months and enjoying it. Using Stock 1.5 + GFO.

Thanks.

[Munchausen]

:cool: Unrealistically, I think. (I've read a few autobiographies and can't remember anyone mentioning decoys being used effectively.) Anyway, in the game you can use them to your advantage ... especially if more than one destroyer is heading your way.

The best time to use them is when you hear pinging ... either while on the attack or soon thereafter. With the destroyers still fairly far away, drop a decoy while at periscope depth and head away from the convoy at 3 knots. Wait about five minutes and then take a quick peek to see where the destroyers are (or check your sonar). At least one destroyer should be looking for you in the area of your decoy. If others are still headed your way, drop another decoy, dive for deeper water (below the thermal layer), and track the escorts on sonar.

[Armistead]

Basically a chemical bubble releaser, the decoy released a large amount of bubbles. Wasn't really the noise as I understand as the large layers of bubbles that caused sonar reflection, thus appeared to be an object there.

Obviously best used when you're in trouble and under attack by escorts. If several escorts are headed my way I'll drop one above the thermal layer and head deep and haul arse. When they get rather close, 2000 yards or so I'll go silent. I'll then make slow turns keeping a narrow profile.
Then just use to as needed.

I think they're available in stock from the start. Mods like TMO you only get them when they become historically available late war, so I seldom ever get them.

[WarlordATF]

I like to use the decoys just before hitting the thermal layer and then flank ahead to 300 ft, once there i can go to ahead 1/3 and sneak out of the area. If i'm still deploying to my mission area i'll just leave unless there is a really nice target nearby. The decoys in SH4 seem to work quite well, But i am not sure if using decoys more than once per engagement is useful or not.

[willielapus]

Thank you. Your inputs certainly helped in making the game more enyoyable.

[Admiral8Q]

After playing multiplayer sh2/dc, I don't think of launching decoys. Although in one engagement in sh4, I was getting pounded by depth charges and my cat jumped up on my desk and hit the "Launch Decoy" key. That saved me any further damage and allowed me to get away! :haha: