armed merchies

[navy_ae]

ok so i know this is one of those homer simpson doh moments attacked a convoy in daylight ... took out all 3 escorts deck gun 40 mm and torp combination on all 3 .. ok so the torps not so much only to get sunk by the merchies in the convoy note i had a dpeth charge run in earlier so periscopes were out had to press on surfaced or is that a bug in the game the merchies being armed

[seafarer]

Certainly not a bug. All countries at war tried to arm their merchant vessels, or at least as many of them as they could. Allied merchant ships were initially armed largely with surplus WWI guns (the Royal navy had a lot of 6pdrs, 12pdrs, 3", 4" and 4.5" rifles in warehouses).

In the game, perhaps the only real anomaly is how good the merchant gunners are. But their guns can very quickly inflict major damage - you want to try to keep as narrow a profile presented to them as possible (makes for a harder target to hit), and at least don't hold a steady course for more then a few minutes at a time.

[Gibson]

Yeah, the merchant gunners could definitely use some practice, although when they hit the mark, it makes one helluva hole.

[bookworm_020]

Originally Posted by Gibson

Yeah, the merchant gunners could definitely use some practice, although when they hit the mark, it makes one helluva hole.

And a lot of pain for all!

There were cases of subs fighting it out with armed merchants, but most captains prefered to use torpedos than to risk a fatal hit on their sub so far from home!

[Rockin Robbins]

Current Doctrine Submarines (USF-25(A)), Chapter I, Section 1, Paragraph 1102:

The submarine is a weapon available to the naval command in the conduct of a campaign, designed and operated to attack or observe enemy surface or sub-surface craft without prior detection and without requiring support from other types. The essence of successful submarine attack lies in its unseen and unheard execution, resulting in surprise. The primary assets of the submarine are its ability to carry torpedo attacks to close range, objectively to point where enemy target can not successfully maneuver to avoid; to lay mines in waters controlled or under observation by the enemy where surface mine layers can not operate without hazard or detection; and to obtain positive or negative information regarding enemy locations or movements under conditions which take advantage of their inherent qualities. Any use of the weapon which does not take full advantage of these qualities when such are needed in the theatre of operations, is a sacrifice of available potentialities.

You have an appointment with Admiral Lockwood if you survive to return to Pearl. Have a nice day!:p

[walrusbomb]

LMAO, "potentialities" is my new favorite word!

on topic: if your periscope is fubar, sonar-based firing solution(s) is your next option. If your periscope AND hydrophone are fubar, you head home skipper.

surfacing to fire deckguns at a convoy. that's crazy talk!

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by walrusbomb

LMAO, "potentialities" is my new favorite word!

You gotta love the military!

[Captain Vlad]

I'm of a more aggressive mindset. You've got a deck gun, it's a weapon that can be effective in certain situations, and your job is to destroy the enemy. Surfacing to try and take on a convoy is dumb, sure, but use everything you got however you can.

[kylesplanet]

Originally Posted by Captain Vlad

I'm of a more aggressive mindset. You've got a deck gun, it's a weapon that can be effective in certain situations, and your job is to destroy the enemy. Surfacing to try and take on a convoy is dumb, sure, but use everything you got however you can.

If you approached a destroyer on the surface in real life, you would be real dead, real quick. You would probably never inflict any damage on the DD before you made your final crash dive.

[walrusbomb]

it's always tempting... especially with a mighty Narwhal! But judgement is the better part of valour.

my primary objective is keeping my crew alive.

sinking ships is secondary.

[k1l0]

There are plenty of unarmed shipping, even convoys if you sink the DD's ...
Surface torpedo attack would earn you medals too ...

[Sailor Steve]

Posthumous medals.

[letterboy1]

At least surface at a distance and use binoculars to see if the merchant has any big guns fore or aft before engaging.

[seafarer]

I give you the USS Parche



And her Medal of Honor recipient and skipper, Lawson P. ("Red") Ramage - http://www.ussnautilus.org/ramage.html

[Captain Vlad]

Originally Posted by kylesplanet

If you approached a destroyer on the surface in real life, you would be real dead, real quick. You would probably never inflict any damage on the DD before you made your final crash dive.

Hence the 'certain situations' in my post. Taking on a warship Trafalgar style does not equal a 'certain situation'.