torpedoes vs deck gun
 

What do you prefer torpedoes or deck gun?

it depends if I am using XXI i cant use deck gun because it hasn't one

if i am using ix or vi i may use deck gun on single merchants or unescorted convoys.

In the early war years I use my deck gun and AA gun on the small fry, I'm not wasting my eels on them.

I use the deck gun to sink small merchant ships or to finish off the ones already hit with a torpedo. But as the war goes on I use it less and less.

If your intent on using the deck gun....better do it early on before the merchants become armed and fight back.

guns
 

I too use the main deck gun on the smaller ships or small craft such as tugs, sailing boats and even torpedo boats. Sometimes I will opt to fire one eel then use the Deck gun to finish it off. However, during and after late 1942 I usually don't use the deck gun much. Sometimes via SH3 Commander I will omit the deck gun altogether...just have AA only.

I use the deck gun as much as possible in early war. Once the merchies are armed, I get gun shy.:yep:

Gun is great but too often the seas are too choppy to use it. High seas may be an issue to a torp strike but at least you can TRY. Besides, a deck gun on a sub is just silly once the merchants can shoot back. Might as well dump them overboard for all the good they do and the flak can go as well since whenever I even hear a plane is coming I crash dive anyway.

Early war, they are quite useful, but it quickly declines as time goes on, of course, my guys have yet to make it to the later war years, so they all enjoy the deck gun. :salute:

Oh I don't know.....it can still be handy for finishing off the wounded straggler that the convoy escorts leave behind...especially handy for conserving those precious eels. :hmmm:

What advantage did the boats get from the removal of the deck guns? For example, did this affect underwater speed or noise in a meaningful way?

Afaik there is no benefit in-game, making me feel like my candy was taken away from me for no good reason.

I only go for tonnage and leave the smaller stuff alone (waste of ammo) so i use it if a hit ship is taking to long to go down.

I don't think this is an "either\or" issue.
I use what is necessary to to sink the ship.
Granted after 1940, most merchants are armed, so the choice of weapon by me, is dependent on each seperate incident.:yep:

AFAIK there is no advantage in performance. I think some people tried testing it in game but I don't recall anything conclusive.

However, I have removed mine from my Med boat in 1943 for the sole purpose of removing any temptation to try and gun it out with armed merchants. I will probably do the same with my other late war careers as well.
Armed merchants seem too good and I've usually gotten worse than I've given, so the crew unbolted the damn thing. It is now a flower holder in the flotilla chief's front yard. :D

:)