Help with Deck Gun

Max Quad · 02-15-08, 06:40 AM

I'm in the middle of a successful patrol. First 3 ships sunk with the Deck Gun, all small coastal freighters. I targeted all the hits manually using the UZO to obtain the range then zooming in the deck gun before setting up the firing solution. I even blew off the complete bridge structure with my first shot on the third ship at 2.0km range!

Imagine my suprise when I tried to engage another small coaster with the deck gun and found all the shells went way left and over the target, even though I applied the same targeting method as before. The cross hairs and range were bang on target.

I then switched to WO orders and let the deck gun fire at will at the hull, result shells on target.

Any idea why the DG should suddenly start firing high & wide?

JAKE · 02-15-08, 07:06 AM

It sometimes happens if there a heavy swell and the boat is swaying and can cause the deck gun to over shoot.

papa_smurf · 02-15-08, 07:22 AM

The best conditions for using the deck gun, is a flat sea on a clam day. not always possible, but it makes for easier targeting. Also when shoot at a ship, aim just below the waterline, this will almost certainly make a ship sink that bit quicker.

hammer-princess · 02-15-08, 07:44 AM

Good job, papa_smurf. I'll have to remember that for when I start doing patrols.

looney · 02-15-08, 11:07 AM

The way I aim the deck gun:

1 Surface

2 check if surfaced
3 ask WO to give range
4 man the deck gun
5 set range on deck aiming device to range given by WO and subtract 200m or so to ensure a below waterline hit.
6 fire.

7 repeat steps 3 to 6 until ship sunk.

Sniper_Fox · 02-15-08, 12:07 PM

if you've got swells, wait until your bow is being angled down, your deckgun will stay on target.

The Butcher · 02-15-08, 12:31 PM

The waves will make you miss high or low, the wind will make you miss wide. If you use no zoom or first zoom setting on the gun you can still see the barrel bouncing up and down. when it goes to flat then fire. After the first shot you will see how many marks either way you will need to use for the target.

Blacklight · 02-15-08, 12:43 PM

I'm such a good shot with that deck gun that I don't even need to look through it's viewfinder to zoom in on the target !

It's a shame though that almost every time I encounter a juicy target perfect for deck gunning when I'm out of torpedoes, the weather turns into the "Wrath of God".

Sniper_Fox · 02-15-08, 12:59 PM

just go flank speed in at them, 90degrees amidships, firing

armed or not, hardly makes a difference, just zigzag a bunch

Max Quad · 02-16-08, 05:38 AM

Many thanks for the tips. I think the cause of my problem was a combination of wind & swell.

I didn't think wind would affect a 88mm shell in the same way as a golf ball. For those of you who have ever played golf the shell's trajectory was a perfect draw. ie the ball moves slightly from right to left through the air. Every golfers dream shot pattern.

Sad EH?

02-15-08, 06:40 AM	#1
Max Quad Swabbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northumberland. UK Posts: 10 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Help with Deck Gun I'm in the middle of a successful patrol. First 3 ships sunk with the Deck Gun, all small coastal freighters. I targeted all the hits manually using the UZO to obtain the range then zooming in the deck gun before setting up the firing solution. I even blew off the complete bridge structure with my first shot on the third ship at 2.0km range! Imagine my suprise when I tried to engage another small coaster with the deck gun and found all the shells went way left and over the target, even though I applied the same targeting method as before. The cross hairs and range were bang on target. I then switched to WO orders and let the deck gun fire at will at the hull, result shells on target. Any idea why the DG should suddenly start firing high & wide?

02-15-08, 07:22 AM	#3
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	The best conditions for using the deck gun, is a flat sea on a clam day. not always possible, but it makes for easier targeting. Also when shoot at a ship, aim just below the waterline, this will almost certainly make a ship sink that bit quicker. __________________

02-15-08, 07:44 AM	#4
hammer-princess Watch Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In a rusty old sub Posts: 28 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Good job, papa_smurf. I'll have to remember that for when I start doing patrols. __________________ And so the torpedo went 'tick-tock-BOOM!' The captain asked one of the crew: "Why is there a hole in OUR sub?!" To which the crewman replied "I put the torpedo in the wrong way round!" BTW, if anyone's interested in meh fanfic 'Paper Mario - What REALLY Happened', look up 'Paper Mario Story' on http://thebunnyhunter.deviantart.com

02-15-08, 12:07 PM	#6
Sniper_Fox Engineer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North of Malta, shadowing your pretty little C3 Cargo! Posts: 212 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	if you've got swells, wait until your bow is being angled down, your deckgun will stay on target. __________________ Im a one U-boat wolfpack. Ive hit the bottom of the Mediterranian at 250 metres in my VIIC and brought that babe back up, and still made it back to La Spezia. Ive sunk more destroyers than I have merchants...youll wish you never sailed into U-87s hunting grounds. When you pull into port, dont lull yourself into a false sense of security, your mines and subnets are just a petty challenge for my crew and I.

02-15-08, 12:43 PM	#8
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 145 Uploads: 0	I'm such a good shot with that deck gun that I don't even need to look through it's viewfinder to zoom in on the target ! It's a shame though that almost every time I encounter a juicy target perfect for deck gunning when I'm out of torpedoes, the weather turns into the "Wrath of God". __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !"

02-15-08, 07:06 AM	#2
JAKE Seaman Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 38 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 0	It sometimes happens if there a heavy swell and the boat is swaying and can cause the deck gun to over shoot.

02-15-08, 11:07 AM	#5
looney Commodore Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sneek, The Netherlands Posts: 635 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	The way I aim the deck gun: 1 Surface 2 check if surfaced 3 ask WO to give range 4 man the deck gun 5 set range on deck aiming device to range given by WO and subtract 200m or so to ensure a below waterline hit. 6 fire. 7 repeat steps 3 to 6 until ship sunk.

02-15-08, 12:31 PM	#7
The Butcher Loader Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 85 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	The waves will make you miss high or low, the wind will make you miss wide. If you use no zoom or first zoom setting on the gun you can still see the barrel bouncing up and down. when it goes to flat then fire. After the first shot you will see how many marks either way you will need to use for the target.

02-15-08, 12:59 PM	#9
Sniper_Fox Engineer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North of Malta, shadowing your pretty little C3 Cargo! Posts: 212 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	just go flank speed in at them, 90degrees amidships, firing armed or not, hardly makes a difference, just zigzag a bunch __________________ Im a one U-boat wolfpack. Ive hit the bottom of the Mediterranian at 250 metres in my VIIC and brought that babe back up, and still made it back to La Spezia. Ive sunk more destroyers than I have merchants...youll wish you never sailed into U-87s hunting grounds. When you pull into port, dont lull yourself into a false sense of security, your mines and subnets are just a petty challenge for my crew and I.

02-16-08, 05:38 AM	#10
Max Quad Swabbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northumberland. UK Posts: 10 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks Many thanks for the tips. I think the cause of my problem was a combination of wind & swell. I didn't think wind would affect a 88mm shell in the same way as a golf ball. For those of you who have ever played golf the shell's trajectory was a perfect draw. ie the ball moves slightly from right to left through the air. Every golfers dream shot pattern. Sad EH?