Nubie - sub v sub help!!

[twm47099]

I just bought DW, and I've been trying the 1-star missions to try to learn the game. When using 688(i) or SEAWOLF in ASW barrier missions (easy setting), I have been completely unsuccessful - but at least I've been able to dodge a couple of counter fires.

With ASUW I've been successful using EW intercepts, Passive Sonar, Active sonar intercepts, and visual targeting either separately or in combination (in easy and intermediate difficulty). But not so against subs.

It is usually difficult to locate a sub on passive sonar (not unexpected), but even after I have a good solution (confirmed during replay) I can't hit anything. In one replay, I watched as my enabled torp circled, straighten out, and run right over the "truth" position of the target and just keep on going. (I didn't see any cm dropped by the target at that point in the replay.)

Does target depth play any role in this? I understand the layer, and I would expect that if the target is below the layer, I would want to send the torp to a depth below and vice versa. But I've had the problem in a deep water column with no layer. How would you determine the target depth when there is no layer, and does it make a difference?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

thanks
Tom

[Molon Labe]

Check the presets on your torpedoes and make sure you're not excluding a depth the target may be at, and/or running a passive torpedo above washout (40-45 kts).

There is no way to precisely tell target depth, but detection is usually on the same side of the layer so that's your main hint.

[twm47099]

Thanks.

I found and downloaded the ASW Training mission -- I think you were the author.

I read the walkthrough and it helped me understand a lot (applying it is another thing).

When I tried the mission, I found that my bow and hull sonars were very insensitive and even had a hard time picking up the freighter. I don't think they ever showed the sub.

I was able to detect, track and classify the Victor. But without the radio intelligence, I'm not sure I ever would have found it.

Your TMA instructions and example really helped clarify things. Comparing "Truth" and "Non Truth" in the replay showed that my solution (up to launching) was very accurate.

I did launch 2 torpedos at the Victor from about 10 nm. Was that too far?

He sped up quickly to 30 kts, and I assumed that he dropped CM. So I drove the torps past his location when I fired and followed his track on the TMA, which showed him on the same course, but at high speed. But then the TMA got very complex. I had spread the torpedoes by about 1 mile and enabled them. They searched but never locked on.

The replay showed that after accelerating away at 30 kts, the Victor reversed course and headed back towards the CM at 30 kts. That put the torps more than a few miles down range. In the mean time he was closing the range to me.

After that I had a very difficult time locating him even when I was traveling at 3-5 kt. I maneuvered to uncover dead zones on the TA (the hull and bow sonars never detected him except when he was running at 30 kt) and to check above and below the layer. A few times I would detect him during a turn , but would lose him on that bearing when the TA straightened out (both TA returns.)

I finally located him, got a blade count speed, and got a 2 line TMA solution. I was preparing the tubes and torps to shoot when I got at least one more good line when he started shooting at me. I dodged the first 2 salvos (one showed up as 2 torps + 1 missile/torp when the other 2 got close), but with the third I was already traveling 90 deg to the LOB for the torpedo warning when it came. I dropped a CM and turned toward 30 degrees. I decoyed the first and dropped another CM turning 60 deg away, but the other 2 got me.

At least I get to try again.

Tom

[Dive! Dive! Dive!]

Yes, I recently purchased DW aswell. One of my first missions I created was every sub in the game versus each other with me commanding a Seawolf. After a few hours of tense combat I was narrowly defeated by an Akula sub who as destroyed in turn by the winner (Trafalgar class) I recommend these missions as they train your Sub vs Sub ability.