Target Sail class boats?

[skirich]

Lots of plain old sail style fishing boats off the coats of japan.
I know there was a saying among navy men that you never sink or target a sail based ship. Taboo I guess.
But are these fishermen fare game?
I wouldn’t waste a torpedo. I may surface and shoot them or just leave them be?

[Canonicus]

Sure their fishing but they also act a coast watchers and just might spot your boat and give your position away.
I would go battle surface and deal with them with your deck gun. Best to not take a chance.

[jimmbbo]

As mentioned, in WWII the Japanese used fishing boats as pickets (ref Doolittle's premature launch due to fishing boats being sighted), and I will attack them with the deck gun if they're on or near the route and avoid them when near the destination on a "secret" mission.

Unsure if the AI has a "fishing boat radio" component that would increase the risk on a secret mission, but it adds a bit of interest to the game.
:salute:

[KaleunMarco]

Lots of plain old sail style fishing boats off the coats of japan.
I know there was a saying among navy men that you never sink or target a sail based ship. Taboo I guess.
But are these fishermen fare game?
I wouldn’t waste a torpedo. I may surface and shoot them or just leave them be?

it depends....depends on the mod set. i believe you said you were playing STOCK? then i would not worry about them.
in some other mega mods, there are junks, fishing boats, sanpams, large and small. some are packing sonar gear and guns...which will fire on you when you are within 6000-7000 yds range.
if they are packing sonar gear/weapons, treat them as a small surface combatant. either avoid them or sink 'em.
if unarmed, then i would ignore them.

[skirich]

Thank you everyone. Good info.

[Barkerov]

I say SINK 'EM ALL

[Mios 4Me]

On target-poor patrols I'll occasionally attack them with one of the 40mm guns but the 5" guns are only for medium size ships or above.

[skirich]

There is something oddly rewarding in sinking a boat with 2 shots from a 50 Cal.

[Mios 4Me]

One other option, if you're REALLY bored or annoyed, is to engage with a single AA shot at each target, then proceed to ram and sink. If you fire first, you won't get credit for the kill, not that 80 tons matters very much.