Gun Ranges

[Capt.Ziggy]

Hi I'm new to both the game and the forum. this is my first post! My question is, what is the estimated range of a warships guns?

[K-61]

Can't say for certain, but mainly it is tied to the size of the guns, battleships possessing the longest range. In GWX, all surface vessels possess superior gunnery to U-boats, as it was in real life. I suggest you not consider messing with them in surfaced gunnery duels.

[Sailor Steve]

WELCOME ABOARD! :sunny:

I've had destroyers shoot at me from at least 7000 meters, so we know they shoot that far. Best to stay away from anything with guns. A hole in a surface ship is just a hole. A hole in a submarine can mean it's not a submarine anymore, and that's a bad thing.

[Gerald]

:salute:

[timmy41]

Welcome!
The real life ranges of most if not all of the guns are available with brief research, however, i dont know if the game uses the real ranges.

[Sailor Steve]

Welcome!
The real life ranges of most if not all of the guns are available with brief research, however, i dont know if the game uses the real ranges.
No, it doesn't, especially with anything bigger than a 5" gun.

[timmy41]

No, it doesn't, especially with anything bigger than a 5" gun.
oh, thats disappointing :/

[desirableroasted]

oh, thats disappointing :/

Heh, depends on the time and place, I find.

[Snestorm]

They can all fire further than SH3 allows you to see.
A very simplified guesstimation is 1 mile for each inch of gun size.
It's not scientific or exact, but will give you a good idé.
But remember that they can increase the range by adding powder bags.
An armed merchant' would probably have a single 6 inch open mount (Same size gun as a light cruiser), always manned by a navy crew.

A 16 inch gun can fire out to 20 miles, and if he's firing HE, he does NOT have to hit you to sink you. (The projectile weighs as much as a car).

[Sailor Steve]

In the game I've never seen even the biggest guns fire further than 8 km.

[Gerald]

In the game I've never seen even the biggest guns fire further than 8 km. when they use their guns?

[Tessa]

They can all fire further than SH3 allows you to see.
A very simplified guesstimation is 1 mile for each inch of gun size.
It's not scientific or exact, but will give you a good idé.
But remember that they can increase the range by adding powder bags.
An armed merchant' would probably have a single 6 inch open mount (Same size gun as a light cruiser), always manned by a navy crew.

A 16 inch gun can fire out to 20 miles, and if he's firing HE, he does NOT have to hit you to sink you. (The projectile weighs as much as a car).

Thought 16" guns had a range of 26 miles (not like it matters, if one of those shells were to come close you'd be toast)? Visibility ime is the biggest factor, have passed within 4000m of a task force with multiple BB's and DD's in poor visibility and they never opened fire. Have had some ships open fire as far away as 8000m (though the fire wasn't even close to accurate), once they get to around 2000m their aim on all batteries seems to finally get dialed in and can destroy your hull faster than you can crash dive if you wait too long.

[Capt.Ziggy]

Wow! thanks for the faste answers! umm i wasnèt planning on going gun to gun with any sort of armed vessel, i just wanted to know how much time i had to use my deisle engines to put distance between me and the enemy, and then dive before a vessle opened fire on me. ill just play it safe and dive the second i see one of those bad boys turning in my direction:know:

[Capt.Ziggy]

Also one last noob question. when should i be submerged running my electrics and when should i be running deisle out of the water? I just dont understand the concept

[Madox58]

In the game I've never seen even the biggest guns fire further than 8 km.

8k is the original distance for Visual in SH3.
The 16 k mods changed what you and some AI can see.
The Guns seem hard coded to only see 8k?
So won't fire at farther targets even if in range beyond 8k?

[Draka]

Basically, early submarines were surface craft that had the ability to dive for a limited period. The standard design had the vessel spending the vast majority of her time on the surface, using the diesels. When weather gets too bad, attacking an enemy by surprise, or finally to evade enemies, the batteries will allow maneuverability underwater for a limited time - but eventually you HAVE to surface, due to either the air getting bad or the batteries running out - and they can only be recharged by the diesels. Key to this is the diesels need a constant input of air to run, thus only work on the surface. Later in the war, when der Schnorchel is mounted, you can recharge the batteries while still submerged - but you are VERY shallow and detectable.

[Capt.Ziggy]

thanks drake! exactly the answer i was looking for:salute:

[Tessa]

The snorkel is easily spotted by radar by the time it becomes available. Also don't need to be moving while the snorkel is up to recharge the batteries, depending on where you are you might get lucky and have time for a full recharge, or only get a few minutes till an aircraft spots you and goes after you.