Destroyer attack

[Hylkuh]

Hello guys,
I have a question (maybe it's a dumb one but i can't find the answer)
What's the best way to attack a destroyer? and especially when its in an attack run. I use gwx 3.0

[JazzJR]

I use GWX 3.0 too and if i see a destroyer or PT Boat i go to peri depth and stay calm.If it is travelling slow around and i am able to get it at a 90 degree angle i give sink it. But it has too low tonnage so i don't really "hunt" them.

[Gargamel]

If theyre attacking you, you better not be attacking them, your best to go deep.

[Fish In The Water]

But it has too low tonnage so i don't really "hunt" them.

Exactly...

In a case like this, the reward really isn't worth the risk so I usually avoid targeting them as much as possible. That being said, if the bugger gets really annoying I have been known to make an exception or two :03:.

If you're dead-set on taking one out, there's a number of tactics that can be successfully employed. One of my favorites is to aim my stern at the DD and lure him in with a little noise or a high scope. Once he bites and you see the 'whites of his eyes,' (at around 350 meters), let loose with a magnetic from the rear tube and then break off at flank.

It's not a guaranteed hit, (and can often be a waste), but when it works it's pure poetry in motion! :yep:

[Osmium Steele]

Hello guys,
I have a question (maybe it's a dumb one but i can't find the answer)
What's the best way to attack a destroyer? and especially when its in an attack run. I use gwx 3.0

With a cruiser.

[flag4]

Hello guys,
I have a question (maybe it's a dumb one but i can't find the answer)
What's the best way to attack a destroyer? and especially when its in an attack run. I use gwx 3.0

Watch Das Boot!

[timmy41]

My most abnormal experience in the game was when I was attacked by a hunter killer group that just happened to run over me as I was waiting where I predicted a convoy would be. Assuming that no matter what I was going to die, I dove as fast as possible, and before I hit 30m or so I launched 2 G7S's which I had brought along to see how they worked. Just as the first DD was making his run on me, it was hit, and soon after another one was. The, combined with the dozens of decoys I dropped helped me survive, haha.

[desirableroasted]

Game: It's not worth the effort. You are woefully ill-equipped to engage one in actual combat (as opposed to sinking one that hasn't detected you). Plus they call in all available ASW forces within (20?) nm. And if it is crewed by an elite crew, it will stay on you like white on rice, and then the others show up.

Realism: All of the above, plus, as a Navy officer, you know they can easily make a new destroyer, while a U-boat required a great deal more effort and investment. DDs in WW2 were fairly flimsy, dime-a-dozen ships, churned out in bulk. But they were designed to efficiently kill you. I don't think you would gain any points from Uncle Karl duking it out with one.

Meh. But it's a sim. Knock yourself out.

[GoDeep]

Like most guys above suggested, it's not really worth the effort. In tonnage, they are not worth much. In combat, you are seriously outgunned until homing torpedoes become available and even then it is dicey at best. You can't outrun a destroyer on the surface, let alone submerged. On the surface she also easily outguns you.

In almost all situations, I apply the golden rule of dealing with destroyers: if not detected, outsmart her, don't engage her. If detected, go deep, go quiet and sneak away.
Less glory in that maybe, but you live to tell the tale.

In real life, a u-boat commander was supposed to sink tonnage, not engage the Royal Navy. Of course, if a target of opportunity presented itself, they'd try to sink it, but destroyers are not targets of opportunity.

Just my 2 cents. :salute:

[PapaKilo]

In early war sometimes I use this tactic of my own to ditch and destroy escort(s) from pray one by one especially if it's small convoy (weakly guarded) and if I'm in bad position to take it out with torpedo. Thus you need to have balls of steel and cold nerves when doing it..

Tactic:

Say you're 10 km or more away from target. Weather allows you to use Deck gun. You have electric torpedo. You are sure that you have plenty of room under your keel for plan B.

Identify DD, set torpedo to magnetic detonation and set depth under it's keel +1m. Surface the boat, man the deck gun, set course straight to nearest DD at full speed, open deck gun fire to nearest DD. On sight the DD will be speeding at your direction at full speed. Adjust your boat course that it would be bow-to-bow. Keep the target locked on UZO or periscope at 0 degree. Set AOB to 0. Keep you eye on the distance to DD, (!!remember that this tactic is always a close call!!) Open torpedo tube, when distance drops to about 5 km away fire torpedo and dive immediatly! DO NOT CHANGE COURSE! After you underwater, proceed on flank speed, down to ~70 m or stay in periscope view (periscope view will not work with H.sie realism setings for periscopes at full speed :arrgh!:). It is vital to maintain the same course and loud noise, remember you want to make a blind date between your torpedo and DD.

If you lucky, you'll hear it, otherwise proceed to plan B - evasive maneuvres and so on :)

Note: there is always a chance DD will start zigzaging after he lose a visual contact with you, so you have to be loud with your engines to minimize this chance..

Repeat steps above for second DD. After you done, time for juicy tonnage desert :arrgh!:

[desirableroasted]

In early war sometimes I use this tactic of my own to ditch and destroy escort(s)

Yeah, that's one way to play.

[rik007]

Lonely destroyers can be great for this. Of course depending on wind speed. Best of course is an acoustic fish that will do the trick for sure... :)

In hunt-state it is stupid. Hunting a convoy you never should waiste your fishes because you need them to get a maximum tonnage as Donitz expects you to deliver!