View Single Post
Old 08-02-14, 02:37 AM   #18
Downunderjock
Mate
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Geelong, Australia
Posts: 55
Downloads: 6
Uploads: 0
Default Re:How to sink a "stationary" destroyer

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dando View Post
Some info first. I'm using TMO 2.5, american campaign, S-18 sub.
So after a failed attempt at attacking an enemy convoy which resulted in game of hide and seek with few destroyers I decided to wait for a couple of hours at max depth until bastards get bored and leave me be. Waited until 21:00, ascended to periscope depth to check if coast is clear and saw lone stationary destroyer still waiting for me to surface.
Since he was stationary and unaware of my location I decided to sink him as he was perfect target (Or I thought so at least). Moved to his starboard at perfect 90% angle, about 1400 yards away and launched 3 torpedoes at him. All seemed well until he saw torpedoes on the way, started the engines and swiftly evaded them all (BTW. Those destroyers accelerate ridiculously fast. Like from 0kt to something that fells like 10kts in 4 or 5 seconds. I'm not claiming to be an expert on ships but that seems kinda silly)
So I loaded a save, got in the same position and tried again, this time launching the first torpedo directly at him, and next 3 torpedoes at 3,6 and 9% offset to the right so they catch him even if he starts engines and moves forward. This didn't work either. He managed to outrun all those too. Tried again. First torpedo directly at him, next 3 at 10,15 and 20% offset. He sees them so soon that he outruns even that 20% offset torpedo. I tried again at point blank range (500 yards) that didn't work either.
Anyway I'm out of ideas. Is there any tricks when trying to sink a destroyer? I tried all kind of things. Bastards just sees torpedoes and gets away. I am using Mk 10 torpedoes which are kinda slow to be honest but still...
Ahoy there, from Downunder.

Have played, SH2 up to SH5. And each time yes, Destroyers have been a problem. I only go after them, if I really have to, or they are on my Stern chasing me. (or the rare, me chasing them, from their Stern.)

Which means, firing my torpedo/s (magnetic mode), at close range before they can swap to either port or starboard. Out of the torpedo's way. Sometimes, this has worked. And I am sure you all, have done, before.

However, have any of you (making sure your periscope is safely stowed away. Not raised at all.) at full ahead speed, without too much damage, to your Sub, while at Periscope depth. Not altering your course. Letting the Destroyer, leap frog over you, that is over your bridge and conning tower??

Sometimes, this has worked and either badly disabled them, that they stand idle, or run away, or sink slowly or very quickly.

But bear in mind, don't do it too often. Otherwise, you will be the one, down at Davy Jones's Locker.

I have been only just lucky from time to time, that it has worked with three in a row, one after another, that where chasing me down, that they leap frogged over me. Sank them, and survived.

Or with those, that became disabled, then, was able to sink one or two torpedos into them.

Now that, was something, I didn't except, to work, this Leap Frogging.


Or disabling a merchant ship, staying below, waiting until it's other ships and Destroyers, are some 3 to 6 kms, away. And either, firing some torpedos at it. Or surfacing, with only Deck Gun to use, and sinking it, that way. Mind you, the speed in which the Destroyers, can come about, back to ship it left behind, boy talk about, dive, dive, dive.

See Ya.

Last edited by Downunderjock; 08-02-14 at 02:47 AM.
Downunderjock is offline   Reply With Quote