Quote:
Originally Posted by Radtgaeb
(Post 2158441)
So...essentially never use parascope depth? Lol
|
Essentially it all depends on what mods you are using and what level of difficulty you like to play at. I would agree that TMO makes for unrealistic scenarios of detection (where detection would have been rare in real life).
Though escorts would actively ping on occasion while running with a convoy, if you're hunting in waters where they won't expect you, they shouldn't be readily detecting you. Sitting at periscope depth presenting your full broadside to enemy sonar (including passive) they're going to hear the general ambiance of your activities within the sub.
I prefer to enter a convoy from the front, running silent and under the thermal layer. This way, you're also presenting minimum hull profile to any prying sonar. When you hear the front DD's pass overhead, begin an expeditious albeit quiet run to P-depth (run your engines just fast enough to get up there in time to make an attack, but not so fast as to give you away. This comes with practice).
By this time you should have been tracking the convoy long enough to have obtained speed and course. You should have done this long before ever setting up for attack. The biggest reason virtual skippers fail in SH4 is because they fail to prepare. "By failing to prepare, you prepare to fail." -Ben Franklin. In this case, that couldn't be more true. Get your torps set, information logged, and numbers crunched PRIOR to even entering this position. Assuming that has been done, then continue with the attack.
It's gonna take practice timing your rise so that you come to P-depth precisely where you want to within the convoy.
Now at this point, you can launch an attack using two different ways, scope or active sonar (if you have it). I prefer to ping my targets for range and bearing prior to firing, because it seems to me I get spotted faster if I use my scope. Try to turn your sub at the last minute to be perpendicular to the convoy's track, bringing all tubes to bear on both sides of the convoy.
Go to your TDC, and set the little ship icon to match the enemies course. Turn on your PK (position keeper), and set the speed. Now go to your sonar, ping a target, any target, and quickly send your bearing and range to TDC. The reason I say quickly is because once you ping, the cat's out of the bag, and it's only a short matter of time before they begin zig-zagging and the DD's locate you within the convoy. By this time you have your AOB by setting the enemies course in the TDC and setting your PK to on. You have the speed from prior range/bearing readings when you were shadowing the convoy. With each ping, update the TDC, and fire. Ping, send, fire, repeat. I've never had a torp miss, only dud, using this method. Now since you're shooting relatively blind, you won't know what ships you just hit unless you had them picked out prior.
You probably won't want to stick around for long after all your tubes are expended. Dive to a safe depth, and run right under the remaining convoy for a while. Once you determine that you're safe to exit, do so deep and quiet, and ONLY clear silent running and begin loading tubes when you're sure you won't be busted. Get back on the enemies track, and set up for another attack. You can do this as much as you want, but each time the escorts will be looking for you a little more actively.
Sitting off the side of a convoy track, with full broadside presented, at P-depth, and yes you're asking to be pegged. The side escorts scan for subs to be exactly where you are. Be where they DON'T expect you to be. I call this tactic the "Surprise Bobber" attack. Where you pop up in the middle, wreak havoc without ever raising a scope, and diving back to safety like a ghost in the night.
Now this is how you play American subs in the Pacific in SH4. SH3+GWX3 is a whole nother animal. Happy Hunting! :salute:
