Forget the escorts/planes- even the merchants are dangerous now!

Incubus · 10-15-06, 10:18 PM

I'm in 1943 in my career. At first I really liked the Deck gun. In fact, at night I would use it exclusively against merchants to save torpedoes.

But after visiting the museum, I noticed that over the years many of the merchants start bristling with weapons. Particularly Liberty ships- two cannons and TONS of machine guns. If I surface within 6k of those guys, I'm getting raked by gunfire. Not only that, but a ship can be a huge bonfire, with a nearly submerged bow, and when I surface to finish it off with cannon fire, I still get fired upon, risking crew casualties or permanent damage.

TarJak · 10-16-06, 12:21 AM

Yeah but mostly their gun crews are not up to much until later in 1944. They can still cause havoc though but mostly I keep manouvouring around to throw off their fire and still come out on top. I usually don't use the deck gun after 1943 though cos it just gets too dangerous.

bookworm_020 · 10-16-06, 12:47 AM

The transports are dangrous from day one as hey are more heavily armed than most escorts.

You can still take the ships on the surface if you take out the main deck gun on them ASAP. Then it's just a matter of keeping out range of small arms (1500 meters should do)

Hybris · 10-16-06, 06:57 AM

What if you pulled along side of them (100-300m)? Could they still get you?

Boarding Party!:rotfl:

HunterICX · 10-16-06, 08:06 AM

:hmm: I DG battled once with an small merchant that bad ass mofo downgraded my HI to 75% wit his single cannon...

So I now shoot first his cannon to pieces before I start to sink the bugger.

AVGWarhawk · 10-16-06, 08:12 AM

You can do the same with the corvettes. Shoot the cannon off and it becomes a fishing boat.

Biggles · 10-16-06, 08:14 AM

I have never problems with merchants cannons....only if their greeks.....I don't know why...but every time I meet a ship sailing from Greece it ends in tears (for me,that is)

Ducimus · 10-16-06, 10:44 AM

LOL, i saw the title of this thread, and i knew instantly liberty or victory ships were involved.

I dont use a deck gun on those bad boys. If i do, its at night, 3400 meters away, bows on so they have a small target :P

melnibonian · 10-16-06, 10:57 AM

Usually I do a frontal or rear attack, so they cannot use all their guns. Obviously I don't have muct to shoot at as well. Otherwise I keep steering as I attack at a high speed in order to 'confuse' their guns. Either way a gun fight with Liberty or Victory ships is a risky affair

Hartmann · 10-16-06, 02:59 PM

i use a long range shots in the blind spot of their guns. or maneuver at high speed

at night is possible too but sometimes they use star shells

be careful out there

10-15-06, 10:18 PM	#1
Incubus Planesman Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Forget the escorts/planes- even the merchants are dangerous now! I'm in 1943 in my career. At first I really liked the Deck gun. In fact, at night I would use it exclusively against merchants to save torpedoes. But after visiting the museum, I noticed that over the years many of the merchants start bristling with weapons. Particularly Liberty ships- two cannons and TONS of machine guns. If I surface within 6k of those guys, I'm getting raked by gunfire. Not only that, but a ship can be a huge bonfire, with a nearly submerged bow, and when I surface to finish it off with cannon fire, I still get fired upon, risking crew casualties or permanent damage.

10-16-06, 12:47 AM	#3
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The transports are dangrous from day one as hey are more heavily armed than most escorts. You can still take the ships on the surface if you take out the main deck gun on them ASAP. Then it's just a matter of keeping out range of small arms (1500 meters should do) __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

10-16-06, 06:57 AM	#4
Hybris Officer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Periscope Depth... Posts: 237 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	What if you pulled along side of them (100-300m)? Could they still get you? Boarding Party!:rotfl: __________________ "His masters voice!" "FASTER! FAAAASSSTTER!" "All submariners have one universal wish regardless of nation, cause, or creed. That wish is that the boat goes up and stay up one more time then it goes down." ~Hybris 8/22/07

10-16-06, 08:06 AM	#5
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	:hmm: I DG battled once with an small merchant that bad ass mofo downgraded my HI to 75% wit his single cannon... So I now shoot first his cannon to pieces before I start to sink the bugger. __________________

10-16-06, 08:12 AM	#6
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,254 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	You can do the same with the corvettes. Shoot the cannon off and it becomes a fishing boat. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

10-16-06, 12:21 AM	#2
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Yeah but mostly their gun crews are not up to much until later in 1944. They can still cause havoc though but mostly I keep manouvouring around to throw off their fire and still come out on top. I usually don't use the deck gun after 1943 though cos it just gets too dangerous.

10-16-06, 08:14 AM	#7
Biggles Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sweden (I'm not a Viking...) Posts: 3,529 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	I have never problems with merchants cannons....only if their greeks.....I don't know why...but every time I meet a ship sailing from Greece it ends in tears (for me,that is) __________________

10-16-06, 10:44 AM	#8
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	LOL, i saw the title of this thread, and i knew instantly liberty or victory ships were involved. I dont use a deck gun on those bad boys. If i do, its at night, 3400 meters away, bows on so they have a small target :P

10-16-06, 10:57 AM	#9
melnibonian Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Reading UK Posts: 3,473 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Usually I do a frontal or rear attack, so they cannot use all their guns. Obviously I don't have muct to shoot at as well. Otherwise I keep steering as I attack at a high speed in order to 'confuse' their guns. Either way a gun fight with Liberty or Victory ships is a risky affair

10-16-06, 02:59 PM	#10
Hartmann Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grid CH 26, Spain ,Barcelona Posts: 1,857 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	i use a long range shots in the blind spot of their guns. or maneuver at high speed at night is possible too but sometimes they use star shells be careful out there __________________ But this ship can't sink!... She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Strength and honor