Great historical tactic validated

Freiwillige · 01-22-09, 08:10 AM

Okay I asked a few months back if coming in at periscope depth rigged for silent running was effective at slipping by escorts.:hmm: It has worked for me in AOD as they explaned in there manual that Asdic is less effective near the surface for two reasons.
1. Asdic is most effective pointing down at about 45 degrees. If you run at periscope depth you effectivly stay above that angle until the escort is about to ram you! (It would be luck or accidental on his part since he cant find you)

2. Asdic is less effective near the surface because the ocean is not flat. Waves deflect the signals downward and scatter them. Obviously the the rougher the seas the better your protection.

Okay on my last tour I had three seperate examples to try this on.

Example A. 70 Km east of the coast of England get a convoy report. I follow the coast south in rough weather and spot my targets. Periscope depth rig for silent and I sail in right past the escorts head on into the convoy. Depth under keel is less than 20 meters so diving isnt an otion anyway. Sank two heavy merchants and 3 destroyers were on me in minutes. Turn south and all escorts bracketed me in a triangle and pingin like mad men. None came closer than 200 meters and they were dropping DC's everywhere around me. I didnt even change course! They never got close and soon gave up and sped off after the convoy.

Example B. Same scenario 2 days later further down the coast of England. Only differance was it was daylight and smooth seas. Again my aproach brought me within 100 yards of a destroyer at that range he did ping on me for a split second when I was passing him at his and my 90 degree mark (Like cars on opposite sides of the road). He turned and promtly lost me even though I was so close I could have hit him with a rock and he depth charged 100 meters off my stern and swung around trying to locate me. He never did. Hit another two fatties in the convoy and again the escorts attacked by bracketing my area this time no less than five destroyers! circling and pinging I made a slight adjustent to my course to slip out of the widest gap in their bracket and sailed right between two without them having any idea where I was. Now I can garuntee you that if I went deeper they would be doing runs on me. But since they couldnt ping me they couldnt find me. It works!

Note: this is in 1940

01-22-09, 08:10 AM	#1
Freiwillige The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phx. Az Posts: 1,458 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Great historical tactic validated Okay I asked a few months back if coming in at periscope depth rigged for silent running was effective at slipping by escorts.:hmm: It has worked for me in AOD as they explaned in there manual that Asdic is less effective near the surface for two reasons. 1. Asdic is most effective pointing down at about 45 degrees. If you run at periscope depth you effectivly stay above that angle until the escort is about to ram you! (It would be luck or accidental on his part since he cant find you) 2. Asdic is less effective near the surface because the ocean is not flat. Waves deflect the signals downward and scatter them. Obviously the the rougher the seas the better your protection. Okay on my last tour I had three seperate examples to try this on. Example A. 70 Km east of the coast of England get a convoy report. I follow the coast south in rough weather and spot my targets. Periscope depth rig for silent and I sail in right past the escorts head on into the convoy. Depth under keel is less than 20 meters so diving isnt an otion anyway. Sank two heavy merchants and 3 destroyers were on me in minutes. Turn south and all escorts bracketed me in a triangle and pingin like mad men. None came closer than 200 meters and they were dropping DC's everywhere around me. I didnt even change course! They never got close and soon gave up and sped off after the convoy. Example B. Same scenario 2 days later further down the coast of England. Only differance was it was daylight and smooth seas. Again my aproach brought me within 100 yards of a destroyer at that range he did ping on me for a split second when I was passing him at his and my 90 degree mark (Like cars on opposite sides of the road). He turned and promtly lost me even though I was so close I could have hit him with a rock and he depth charged 100 meters off my stern and swung around trying to locate me. He never did. Hit another two fatties in the convoy and again the escorts attacked by bracketing my area this time no less than five destroyers! circling and pinging I made a slight adjustent to my course to slip out of the widest gap in their bracket and sailed right between two without them having any idea where I was. Now I can garuntee you that if I went deeper they would be doing runs on me. But since they couldnt ping me they couldnt find me. It works! Note: this is in 1940