What's happening here? Give me your feedback.

[woodenboat]

Here lately, I've been taking the destroyers on instead of running from them like a scared wimp. If I'm approaching a task force with a large destroyer screen, I find that I'm still new enough at this sim that my dodging under one destroyer usually shows me coming to periscope depth in a weak position in relation to another destroyer or even a pair of destroyers. So, I've been practicing the following strategy. I need to qualify that I know that this is not the ONLY method of dealing with these pests. But I'm sticking with this method until I get it completely perfected and then I'll begin working with another method.

But basically, I come to periscope depth as close as I dare to the nearest destroyer. I want her to see me and give chase. As soon as I know she's definitely closing on ME, I turn tail and put her directly on my 180. I wait for her to close to 350 to 400 yards and let her have one of my fish right on the nose. BTW, I've noticed that she will begin pinging me steadily when she's 500 yards off of my stern and so, I don't necessarily have to watch her every move. I can be opening tubes, plotting things on the charts but I do need to pay attention.

This works in most cases but so far, not all cases. I must be patient and NOT run this with any sort of time compression at all. Things are going to happen quickly enough as it is.

I say that this does not work in ALL cases because, every once in a while, when I hit that destroyer right on her nose, there's an explosion but there is no fire and the destroyer appears to be perfectly fine after the smoke and spray clears. In these cases, she will always take a sharp turn off her course and she will be out of the chase momentarily. Often times, she will circle around and come back after me with all the vigor of her first chase.

Is this a fault with the programming or is it that I hit the destroyer on a particularly strong spot? Does it have something to do with the type of destroyer?

[Majestik 909]

The bow was re-enforced, so its definitely tough and narrow area. Most of the time, when engaging with stern tubes, the escort will almost always make a last second turn to avoid the torpedo. When this happens, it always results in a sinking, even if not always immediate. I believe this is due to fire in the forward magazine.

I like to attack head-on, closing at high speed and putting one into the bow from 400 meters, then turning hard to starboard as soon as the torpedo is clear. This affords me a dead-astern broadside shot as the escort crosses my stern. Conversely, most times, I find my bow is already lined up on another escort.

It's a lot like playing dominoes....

P.S. great tactics by the way!

[woodenboat]

I like to attack head-on, closing at high speed and putting one into the bow from 400 meters, then turning hard to starboard as soon as the torpedo is clear.

Do you ALWAYS turn to starboard as soon as your fish is loose? If so, there must be a good reason cause YOU DA MAN!

Also, is there a way of seeing the distance to target in the periscope? Maybe this is something that I haven't yet learned. I keep referring back to the map and using the dividers to measure distance to target and that can be really time consuming in the heat of the moment.

[Sniper297]

If you're playing with autotargeting it will be displayed in the flyout on the left;

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/1240400_694689357242014_186807382_n.jpg?oh=d6ab9bc bd12fd51fdfc03f4bd72d9785&oe=57611617

Upper dial shows the target heading, lower dial is your sub, range and target speed in the little windows between.

EDIT: to adjust torpedo damage try this mod;

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=4380

Blow up them pesky destroyers with one hit.

[Majestik 909]

Do you ALWAYS turn to starboard as soon as your fish is loose? If so, there must be a good reason cause YOU DA MAN!

Also, is there a way of seeing the distance to target in the periscope? Maybe this is something that I haven't yet learned. I keep referring back to the map and using the dividers to measure distance to target and that can be really time consuming in the heat of the moment.

Maybe its my imagination, but it seems the boat turns sharper to starboard...

[Majestik 909]

When engaging a convoy with 2 columns.....climb the ladder

Approach at a 40-45 degree angle and slightly ahead of the lead ship. Attack at 300-400 meters, then submerge, allow this target to pass over you. Come to periscope depth and attack the lead ship in the second column.

Now you can use stern tube to inflict additional damage on the first target if necessary.

Come left 35 degrees at flank speed to position off the port bow of the second ship in the first column, in a zig-zagging fashion, using bow and stern tubes.

If unescorted, I will also surface next to a tanker/freighter well below its cone of fire, and fire several HE rounds into the waterline with deck gun, then submerge and fire a shot into it from the stern tube, while setting up a shot into a ship in the next column from my bow tubes.

I have seen Fleet boats plot intricate solutions from great distance, but we do not have acoustic torpedoes onboard.

I like to watch the enemy walking back and forth across the deck as I am firing...