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Old 09-03-07, 04:53 PM   #18
Hitman
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Sounds interesting. You sure have more time to take a shot this way. What do you do after you have launched the torpedoes? Dive in the same direction? Or take a turn and get out of the direction?
According to BDU doctrine, you should dive in the same direction as the convoy goes or at most head out in a 45º angle for two reasons: 1) Staying inside it makes it more difficult for the DDs to locate you by passive sound, and also maneuvering to throw depth charges is critical (A DD must go fast if he doesn't want to blow his own stern...and doing so in the middle of a scared convoy is a risky affair) 2) That way you will not loose ground and can surface outside, gain position again in a quick run and make another attack.

According to official US doctrine, heading in the opposite direction is better for evasion after the attack

Choose which one you prefer I personally make that depend on wether I can have reasonable chances of doing another attack (If I have torpedoes and fuel left to keep the chase, if it is late or early war and such...)

P.S: I forgot to add: IN real life Kaleuns would normally head for the convoy submerged, diving deep between periscope exposures (Speed and heading of the convoy should have been determined during the overhaul manouver) and then turn 180º after trespassing the escort screen. Reason: Heading opposite direction of the convoy gets you faster past the screen, plus your heading is better for a quick turn into the blind spot of the DD's baffles if you are located. Then going to peri depth and letting the convoy catch you makes it the easies way to apply corrections in course to ensure proper firing location, plus confirm current convoy speed (By measuring change in bearing of the merchants that go by on your flanks, either by periscope or hydrophones). If the escort is closer and you can't do a 180º turn, or if you want to shoot with better Gyro Angles, then a 90º turn puts you perpendicular to the colums and gives you good shot. I don't like it much however, as the danger of being rammed and the little time you have to set up well your shot is not easy to manage.
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