When is the proper time to use your AA guns?

[dankm85]

You have flak guns/AA guns but when are you supposed to use them?

I mean its quite dangerous for a Submarine to engage enemy aircraft the safest options is to dive it seems.

But if you constantly dive and avoid enemy aircraft then when are you supposed to use them?

[Sailor Steve]

In extreme emergencies, such as if you're attacked in very shallow water. I think their main use was against small boats such as sampans. They sometimes carried radios to report sightings, and are so fragile you don't even want to waste deck-gun shells on them.

[Ewall007]

In extreme emergencies, such as if you're attacked in very shallow water. I think their main use was against small boats such as sampans. They sometimes carried radios to report sightings, and are so fragile you don't even want to waste deck-gun shells on them.

I was wondering if sampans did radio reports of your position. I don't know about using the flak gun on them though I tried that a couple of times and used up a lot of shells trying to sink a sampan, but ony used 3 deckgun 3" 50 HP shells and sank one quick. Would think that the flak gun would be a better choice.:D

Ewall007
"Ranging Far, Sweeping Wide"
Quote from Victory at Sea 1955

[Torplexed]

I used to engage sampans and the like as the game makes them all hostile craft, but realistically in the war, not every junk, native boat, fishing vessel or dugout canoe in the Pacific was in the pay or service of the Japanese Empire. The vast number of these small craft were the locals (Filipino, Chinese, Indonesian, Melanesian, etc.) way of getting around or getting fed. So now I pretty much just avoid them.

[gmuno]

I engage everything with wings except H6.
Has anybody already hit a bird? A little red cloud happens, very nice to look at.

[Armistead]

Maybe mods have effect, but I can't sink a sampan with the AA gun, only shoot sails off. I am not sure, because I only sink fishing vessels in convoys or near japan, but seems in the ME fishing boats are also in the enviromental file, so you could traffic them and I suspect they would be neutral and maybe you would get in trouble for sinking them in waters far from Japan, but seems you get credit for them whereever u sink them.

I avoid enemy aircraft, always best to dive if you play serious. I try to avoid shallow water during the day.

[Able Brown]

I tend to fire a round over the bow, as was generally done. If they stop I leave them alone. If they keep moving, as they generally do, and there are no hostile forces in range, I find it economical to head right toward them at standard and then accelerate to flank within about 50 yards. This saves shells and, call me twisted, is kind of fun running the sub over them. They're crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. :salute:

I also get credit for the 80 tons or so in the standard game.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Maybe mods have effect, but I can't sink a sampan with the AA gun, only shoot sails off. I've been able to sink them with the 40mm bofors, but only at about 1200yds or less. Seen some catastrophic explosions on some of them, hence I'd prefer not to get that close. Further away, or with the 20mm, I get the flaming sail effects too.

[andy_311]

I tend to fire a round over the bow, as was generally done. If they stop I leave them alone. If they keep moving, as they generally do, and there are no hostile forces in range, I find it economical to head right toward them at standard and then accelerate to flank within about 50 yards. This saves shells and, call me twisted, is kind of fun running the sub over them. They're crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. :salute:

I also get credit for the 80 tons or so in the standard game.

Some of them are armed with 20mm cannons (forts) be carefull

[Bubblehead1980]

Best to dive if you have time, sometimes they are too close(occasionally radar doesnt pick them up on time) 20 MM with HE shells works nicely against small craft but the 40 MM bofors does the trick in addition to the deck gun.I only shoot the sampans etc off the home islands as they are japanese, I leave those encountered in occupied areas alone.I do wish someone could fix the sampan and fishing boat damage model, make them more realistic.Boats just take an unreal amount of punishment(with no 3d damage) before blowing up and sinking.Think a small fire that spreads and then leads to sinking would be nice.

[Armistead]

I've been able to sink them with the 40mm bofors, but only at about 1200yds or less. Seen some catastrophic explosions on some of them, hence I'd prefer not to get that close. Further away, or with the 20mm, I get the flaming sail effects too.

Yea, I should be more specific, the bofars will take them out, the 20's do lil. Usually I'll put one deck round in one, then ram it and sink it, since I hit it with the gun before, I always get credit.

I don't think any are armed in RSRD, but in TMO many of the junks carry machine guns and can mess you up real quick, shame we can't do the same.

[Ewall007]

Yea, I should be more specific, the bofars will take them out, the 20's do lil. Usually I'll put one deck round in one, then ram it and sink it, since I hit it with the gun before, I always get credit.

I don't think any are armed in RSRD, but in TMO many of the junks carry machine guns and can mess you up real quick, shame we can't do the same.

I noticed in the opening screen to RFB there's a sub with what looks like 50 cals on the bridge:hmmm: Now that would be a nice mod upgrade to deal with sampans :D. You could dump 50 cal rounds into there water line and then they should sink with no problem (right :hmmm:)

:up:
Ewall007
"Ranging Far, Sweeping Wide"
Quote from Victory at Sea 1955

[TorpX]

I do wish someone could fix the sampan and fishing boat damage model, make them more realistic.Boats just take an unreal amount of punishment(with no 3d damage) before blowing up and sinking.Think a small fire that spreads and then leads to sinking would be nice.

I think they behave more realisticly in RFB.

[WernherVonTrapp]

You could dump 50 cal rounds into there water line and then they should sink with no problem (right :hmmm:)

:up:
Ewall007
"Ranging Far, Sweeping Wide"
Quote from Victory at Sea 1955The problem there is range and accuracy. Smaller rounds, like .50 cal and 20mm lose much of their velocity (hence, their punch) if they hit the water before striking the hull. I don't know the exact distance for each specific size shell, but ballistic tests with a 7.62mm round showed that it was rendered non-lethal at less than a yard from human flesh when fired into a tank of water.

[donna52522]

I've read that historically fishing boats and especially sampans were hard to sink, one because they are mostly made of wood, and second, the wood has been saturated for years and years with fish oils....

[Ewall007]

I've read that historically fishing boats and especially sampans were hard to sink, one because they are mostly made of wood, and second, the wood has been saturated for years and years with fish oils....

And the fish oil make the burn that much better:D

:salute:
Ewall007
"Ranging Far, Sweeping Wide"
Quote from Victory at Sea 1955

[Rockin Robbins]

Against aircraft the only time you should man the guns is if you are stuck on the surface and cannot dive, whether through damage or being in less than 60' of water. Then the guns' purpose is to make loud noises so you won't mind too much when you die.

In any other circumstance, manning the guns is dereliction of duty. Get that sub under water and evade the pesky mosquitoes. If you win, our big, expensive, difficult to replace, manned by a crew of over 60 submarine has just shot down a cheap, easy to replace airplane with a couple of men in it. Shooting one down is no victory. Being sunk by one is probable and most likely will kill all aboard. That is a huge defeat. Don't toss those dice!:D