Flak-shy watch crew?

[WH4K]

Using GWX 3.0 w/SH III, I notice that any time I assign crew to the Flak guns, the bridge watch crew disappears. Likewise, if I return the bridge crew to their stations, either by clicking & dragging or double-clicking the bridge, the Flak gunner disappears.

Is that supposed to happen? I would think you'd want the watch crew to stick around & spot aircraft for the gunner. It seems very odd that they'd go below & leave the Flak gunner by himself.

[CherryHarbey]

yes, they always clear off whenever deck and/or flak guns are in operation. Least they do in stock and unmodded GWX3, don't know if there is a mod to keep them at their posts, but doubt it is moddable as the far more annoying lazy watch officer would have been modded been done first.
I suspect it is for safety reasons, as you wouldn't want to be stood a few feet away from someone concentrating shooting at an aircraft in case you suddenly end up being B in ABC, as well as there being to little to gain. the watch officer will still call out new sighting and most of the bridge efficiency comes from him anyway.

[WH4K]

I guess safety might explain it. I was wondering whether that was a thing that was done historically, or just a game-ism.

I notice the game doesn't let you shoot parts of your own boat, such as when you swing around and are pointing near the conning tower. I would guess that in reality, there was occasionally a problem with shooting one of the fore-and-aft cables (radio antennas, IIRC) when defending against aircraft. But better to shoot off your own (repairable) cable than get sunk.

I had a neat episode with the Flak gun yesterday in my Type II. I had used my last torpedo on a merchant ship, but it apparently didn't do enough damage for a sinking. So I let loose with the AA gun.

Hundreds of round later, I gave up on sinking the ship. I did notice that the on-deck cargo was quite explosive. Apparently the ship was carrying ammo. It must have all been small-arms stuff, because it didn't cause secondary explosions.

I was mostly blown away (no pun intended) at that level of detail - being able to blow up individual cargo containers on the merchie's deck. Very neat. Not something I've seen in a sub sim before.

[CherryHarbey]

I have finished off merchants with the flak gun on a type II. The thing to remember is that in GWX what causes a sinking is flooding (stock just had hit points, hit the magic number anywhere on the ship and down she goes) so you have got to aim low, shooting things on deck may be fun and look pretty be it won't sink it. Aim for the waterline.

[kaleun69]

Sunk a 2200 ton cargo/passenger ship today using the flak gun on the type II. Aim just below the water line. I was directly behind it, and was nailing the props. It blew up promptly. Using GWX 3.0

Probably totally unrealistic, but I got frustrated after missing with 2 torps.

[Sailor Steve]

:rotfl2:

Yes, it's unrealistic, but sometimes you just gotta do it! :rock:

[Jimbuna]

Sunk a 2200 ton cargo/passenger ship today using the flak gun on the type II. Aim just below the water line. I was directly behind it, and was nailing the props. It blew up promptly. Using GWX 3.0

Probably totally unrealistic, but I got frustrated after missing with 2 torps.

A whole lot easier than wasting those precious few eels :DL

[Missing Name]

I took on a small convoy (a small frieghter, small merchant and tramper) with nothing but the flak guns on a IXB. Sank the tramp, but then ran out of ammo completely. No 3.7cm, no 2cm, nothing. Shame, because the others were barely going 1 knot and were on fire with no superstructures.

[Obltn Strand]

Sunk a 2200 ton cargo/passenger ship today using the flak gun on the type II. Aim just below the water line. I was directly behind it, and was nailing the props. It blew up promptly. Using GWX 3.0

Probably totally unrealistic, but I got frustrated after missing with 2 torps.

:hmmm: Interesting. I thought bigger than tugboat/coastal tanker/trawler were a job for bigger guns.

Good to know. Hunting crappy passenger/cargo with type II is always a thing which make me go Ahhh****

[WH4K]

I have poured a few hundred rounds from the Type II's Flak gun into a merchant ship but had no visible result. Right at the waterline, even. I guess you just have to get lucky.

[desirableroasted]

Sunk a 2200 ton cargo/passenger ship today using the flak gun on the type II. Aim just below the water line. I was directly behind it, and was nailing the props. It blew up promptly. Using GWX 3.0

Probably totally unrealistic, but I got frustrated after missing with 2 torps.


Passenger/cargo? Those things are made out of balsa wood and transport only ping-pong balls. Even if you manage to get the "She's going down" message, her halves will bob around for hours.

Unrealistic, but I don't even bother with them any more. I don't care if it is the first target I have seen in days.

I will happily take out Coastal Tankers if that is what I am "given" by the game, but it can keep the passenger/cargoes.

A Passenger/Cargo wants a relationship and I am just not ready.