Interesting encounter

[peabody]

Last night I was testing the Japanese Campaign and witnessed my first ever Hedgehog attack. It was quite impressive, especially since I wasn't close enough to feel the effect. . I am sure a lot of you already know, but for those who don't the Hedgehog launches projectiles much like a mortar off the bow of the ship, in a circular pattern. My scope had just broken the surface when I realized the V&W destroyer was headed my way and suddenly he let go with the hedgehog. Luck was with me, because he was way short. But it suprised me since this was the first time I had actually seen it. It opens you eyes!!!
So, I looked up some info and was very surprised at the advantages.
It doesn't explode unless it hits you, unlike a DC, so the DD can continue tracking you during the attack. What I found MOST interesting is that during a DC attack it can be up to 15 minutes before a DD can track you on sonar, because of the disruption in the water. (probably not modeled in the game)
Another point is that an explosion means a hit, not necessarily a kill, but a least they know they hit something. This is also a drawback because it does have to hit. But one or two will sink you.
Another interesting fact is the percentages given, this is from Wiki, that the hedgehog had a 25% kill ratio compared to 7% for the DC. It was not stated but I would suspect this may be due in part to the fact that with a DC a lot of time they are hoping to get "close enough" to do damage since they know you are in the area, where a Hedgehog probably wouldn't fire unless they thought they knew "Exactly" where you were.
Another advantage listed was the fact that the sub didn't know when to quickly change direction since they gave no warning of when he was going to shoot and they also didn't have to know your depth, since it was a 'contact' weapon.
It goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) I didn't keep my scope up to see if they can reload and fire again, so 'in game' I don't know if one is all they can do, or if they can continue firing.

Anyway it was an interesting encounter.

Peabody

I eventually did make good my escape after destroying a Kent and damaging another. But I was a very cool experience to see the Hedgehog in action.