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Originally Posted by cbrown1790
I cannot seem to get into good firing positions i.e. I dont know how to approach to a target---i always seem to end up behind it
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This jumped out at me right away. There's some good advice posted above on what to do once you're in position, but I always remember a line from one of my all time favorite fiction books set in the Pacific on a US Fleet boat. It is from "Run Silent, Run Deep" by Edward L. Beach.
Quote:
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"The big problem is to get in front of the target. Anybody ought be able to hit him with a torpedo after that. Getting into attack position is ninety percent of the job."
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That is so true. You have to work your way ahead of the target on the surface and submerge on or near his course track, let him come to you, gather your attack data, and shoot those fish into him. If you are ahead of him, everything is so much easier. You can concentrate on gathering and refining your data, worrying about escorts(if any). Let him come to you.
Remember, when you're submerged you are almost stationary and your target has freedom of movement and will easily leave you behind if you are not in the right position. Trying to better your position with speed while submerged will eat up your battery and make noise. If there is an escort up there, noise is bad.
In a nutshell, to get ahead of your target when you are out of position, you have to do the classic end around. You surface at extreme visual range, pour the coals to her and use your superior speed to get around onto the target's projected course. Once there, you wait for him to show up and fine tune your position and data and you should be in a perfect position to shoot when he is in front of your tubes.
Being radar equipped makes end arounds a snap.
The challenges during end arounds are your target changing course(I've had that happen more than I care to mention
), aircraft forcing you under, escorts making a sweep out from a convoy(that seems to be a bigger issue in the Atlantic. My experience with Jap convoys are limited however), and constricted waters can make things real interesting. But the challenges are what makes the game fun right?
Hope that helps some.
