GWX Surface attacks

[JG11Bear]

Hello all,

I was wondering at what range and what speed can you expect to be sighted at night from merchants in GWX?

I was performing a surface attack in November 1940 on a very dark night ( no moon ) and moderate seas, standard speed and was no spotted until about 1500 meters.

Is it possible to get closer or should I be charging in loosing off my torps and diving away?

I know radar will make this tactic difficult if not impossible, but until then I want to improve my surface attacks.

Bear

[Brag]

That's about as close as you can get. I found surface attacks highly unprofitable in GWX.

Good hunting!

[bigboywooly]

Have been as close as 500m
To a destroyer
:rotfl:

Not recommended for the heart though

Decks awash at low speed
The faster you go the easier you are to spot

[JG11Bear]

OK dumb question time.

How do I run with decks awash? Set depth to 7 meters or something?

Bear

[Brag]

For decks awash, select either 6 or 7 meters depth. Your fuel consumption will go up. You may look up the Decks Awash article on my Webbie

[melnibonian]

Decks Awash is a great technique but it's far too expensive on fuel. It is recomended if you're in heavily defended areas and only if you don't plan to travel to far away seas

[rb4door]

hmm interesting to see you got spotted at that distance.
I conducted my first GWX surface attack on a lone passenger/cargo on a patrol last night - dead calm sea, clouds in the sky but still with moon. I had setup my approach before hand though, so I was perpendicular to him and in place well before he arrived - I was sitting completely "dead" in the water with zero speed. He passed my bow at about 700 meters and never spotted me.

He knew I was in the neighbourhood after receiving an eel though

Unfortunately, as i'm still experimenting how to get a one shot kill with this type of boat, the first shot didnt sink him, so I needed to come about and make another shot at him. I noted as soon as started with forward speed and turned parallel to him (obviously creating a mech larger sillouette) he spotted me. Then I submerged just to be nasty and put him out of his misery hehe.

[Kaleun Cook]

I noted as soon as started with forward speed and turned parallel to him (obviously creating a mech larger sillouette) he spotted me.

I had the same experiences. Also, the faster you go, the more likely you'll be spotted - which seems pretty authentic since in dark nights the boats mostly were discovered because of their white spray.

[GoldenRivet]

I have been within 500 to 700 meters of a convoy, creeping on the surface at night at 2 knots without having to go decks awash. And there were several escorts about.

I was so close i let loose with a spread of 4 fish, and executed a crash dive - it was a gamble as to whether or not i would be under before the first hit.

The stern was still out of the water a bit when the first one hit, but it was only a few seconds after that i was on my way out of that place.

If your at high speed you will cut a large wake - i suppose thats what they spot.

[XanderF]

Does "decks awash" actually effect your visibilty to the enemy? If so - WONDERFUL!

I actually snuck into Scapa that way, but didn't know if it helped me or not - it was just the only way to get by the sunken hulks without scraping bottom.

[Kaleun Cook]

Does "decks awash" actually effect your visibilty to the enemy?

It does.

[Jimbuna]

I set my depth to 8 metres....but only find it useful on really dark nights