Hints for Torpedo Strategy

TheDudTorpedo · 03-10-09, 07:50 PM

**Re-posted - sorry I posted incorrectly in someone elses thread **

Hi All,

Im now a veteran of 22 patrols under GWX3, so have a fair idea about the 90 degree AoB, ideal torpedo placement WRT to engine room, ammunition hold, fuel hold etc. I'm currently patrolling during May 1943 - and boy its a tough year to sailing a U-Boat, but so far Im still alive....! I'm still using the green triangle thing and am nowhere near attempting manual targetting.

Im after some extra torpedo tips/stratgey that I have possibly not yet considered - here are some scenraios and questions:

1. Bow Shot
Something I've been thinking about recently is firing my first torpedo (generally I will use two on anything larger than a coastal merchant - sadly I very rarely get the one hit wonders) to strike the bow of a target (for example a large merchant). During my very first patrol my very first time in SH3 vanilla, I did this more by luck than anything else, and got great satisfaction watching the C2 go bow heavy almost immediately and attempt to dive just like a U-Boat! I have never repeated that. So, is it a worthwhile strategy considering? Has anyone experienced much success or failure using this method?

2. Depth of strike
Generally, I will try to make my torpedo strike as low below the waterline as possible, without bouncing off the hull as it curves near the bottom of the ships draft. So, if a ship has a 10m draft, I'll typically try to place the running depth at say between 6m and 8m. My thinking is that a hole further below the water-line results in a greater risk of flooding, and hence a better probability of destroying the ship. Does that sound like a good strategy, or is it dependant on the ship type and what it is carrying? How does the fuel hold, ammo hold, engire room figure into this? Surely not all ships have these holds at the same depth (e/g/ 3m below waterline), or do they?

3. Locking on to the Green Triangle
I read somewhere that in SH3, the ideal striking point of a torpedo is not actually the green triangle when locking onto the target - its slightly infront or behind this triangle. Is that correct?

Any other advice on better torpedo usage would be welcome.

Thanks,
Dud

A Very Super Market · 03-10-09, 08:22 PM

Yep, bow shots force more water into the ship, causing flooding.

I've only had a few ships explode completely, so forget hitting different compartments. GWX just doesn't do that. Under-keel shots are good for breaking the ship in two.

I'm fairly certain that the triangle is just the centre of the ship, without any special things in it.

kdv · 03-11-09, 10:23 AM

Learn to use the depth setting on each torpedo with the known depth of the keel on the target. I run about 1m below keel, and always aim for the engine room. Bow hits are supposed to be effective, but I haven't noticed any real difference, the torpedo that hits the stern floods it as well, but probably at a slower pace.

I have found my torpedo's cover more targets, using ONE per target. It make take a bit of stalking after the hit to ensure it's going to go down, but I find alot of 'bigger' ships lose propulsion, and eventually sink. However, unless I'm freaked out by the tonnage of a perspective target, I'll fire all four forwards at one, hoping 2 will hit and cripple it allowing for a stern shot.

Had a 4 stacker ocean liner troop transport come up fast, and I was about 2000m away from where I wanted to be for my attack - all I could do was fire all 4, and yep - 2 hit, slowed it way down, and the stern fish finished it off

. Wasn't going to let that guy get away.

About the green triangle - you're talking about where it locks onto the ship? I rarely go by that, unless it's a really fast decision to fire.

Murr44 · 03-11-09, 12:02 PM

Have a look at the torpedo section in the Silent Hunter III Community Manual here: http://http://alexbret.perso.cegetel.net/index4875.php. There are some pretty good tips on setting torpedo running depth there.

Sharkley · 03-11-09, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murr44

Have a look at the torpedo section in the Silent Hunter III Community Manual here: http://http://alexbret.perso.cegetel.net/index4875.php. There are some pretty good tips on setting torpedo running depth there.

States that page can not be diplayed

mookiemookie · 03-11-09, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharkley

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murr44

Have a look at the torpedo section in the Silent Hunter III Community Manual here: http://http://alexbret.perso.cegetel.net/index4875.php. There are some pretty good tips on setting torpedo running depth there.

States that page can not be diplayed

Corrected link: http://alexbret.perso.cegetel.net/index4875.php

Puster Bill · 03-11-09, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdv

About the green triangle - you're talking about where it locks onto the ship? I rarely go by that, unless it's a really fast decision to fire.

Go full manual targeting and get rid of the targeting indicator. It's a crutch.

Karl von Muller · 03-12-09, 11:18 AM

I have been ignoring the triangle for the reason that its position does not seem to vary for different ship types. For example a tanker's engines and fuel are aft, but a large freighter's are amidships. The triangle does not seem to care.

How does one "get rid of it"? Switch to manual targeting?

Otto Heinzmeir · 03-12-09, 11:59 AM

For freighters I like to aim at the stack. If you hit the stack, you will kill the engines, if you miss slightly forward you hit the fuel cell. If you miss slightly aft you will cause the engine compartment to flood and this will eventually kill the engines as well. For tankers I aim at the cabin for the same reasons. I used to split some medium cargos and tankers in two with a center placed magnetic in the stock game. But in GXW havn't split a ship yet with one torp, which is probably more realistic.

kdv · 03-13-09, 09:33 AM

I have managed to split a few with GWX3, mostly medium cargo's - and only with the magnetic exploding under their keel. Never seems to work with impacting the hull.

The 'lock' always goes to the center of the ship, which as stated above isn't the best spot to hit.

I go for engines, it's a no brainer - it's under the stack. Gauging where the fuel tanks are isn't as easy.

Puster Bill · 03-13-09, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl von Muller

I have been ignoring the triangle for the reason that its position does not seem to vary for different ship types. For example a tanker's engines and fuel are aft, but a large freighter's are amidships. The triangle does not seem to care.

How does one "get rid of it"? Switch to manual targeting?

Yes.

When you go to full manual targeting, it will disappear.

You could also try manual targeting with WO assistance, I think it disappears then also (but I'm not sure).

TheDudTorpedo · 03-13-09, 10:04 AM

Thanks for all the helpful hints guys

Tonight I had the chance to test the bow-shot theory. I was being chased (again!) by a V&W destroyer off the west coast of Ireland. I fired a stern torpedo at a magnetic setting 1m below her keel - I was a bit worried I hadn't selected a decent depth setting because the sea was very rough. Anyway, the V&W is steaming in at 15 knots and the torpedo actually impacts right on her prow as she dips into a wave! Well...she tried to dive just like my U-boat.....have a gander at these

On her way down....

It's all over....

The right bow-shot certainly delivers the goods. I love this game

Sharkley · 03-13-09, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puster Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl von Muller

I have been ignoring the triangle for the reason that its position does not seem to vary for different ship types. For example a tanker's engines and fuel are aft, but a large freighter's are amidships. The triangle does not seem to care.

How does one "get rid of it"? Switch to manual targeting?

Yes.

When you go to full manual targeting, it will disappear.

You could also try manual targeting with WO assistance, I think it disappears then also (but I'm not sure).

I would love to see more detail on this from those who have tried it. I want to be as "real" as possible but still have a crew that "works" I am not at the stage yet where I want to go full manual but I want to feel the next step of realism soon..

Henry Wood · 03-13-09, 01:56 PM

About the green triangle - I always understood it to be a guide as to how succesful your shot was likely to be and if not locked you could aim your shot using the crosshairs in the attack scope. I used to use it like that when starting out, no lock on the target and when the triangle turned green it meant I was just about certain of a succesful hit, then I'd move the crosshairs to the engine room, bow, midships or where I wanted the torpedo to strike. It always seemed to work.

Threesixtyci · 03-13-09, 03:54 PM

The three times I tried shots underneath the keel, relying on magnitics. All 3 times the torpedo sailed right under the targeted ship and just kept on going....
I guess, under keel shots just don't work when you are perpendicular, or near perpendicular, to the target....

Anyway... it's caused me to not even attempt setting torps to run below drafts, anymore.

Cool pic though... too bad, SH3 doesn't simulate bending metal. Would have been cool to see it break in half with that much stress.

03-10-09, 07:50 PM	#1
TheDudTorpedo Machinist's Mate Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 128 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 0	Hints for Torpedo Strategy Re-posted - sorry I posted incorrectly in someone elses thread Hi All, Im now a veteran of 22 patrols under GWX3, so have a fair idea about the 90 degree AoB, ideal torpedo placement WRT to engine room, ammunition hold, fuel hold etc. I'm currently patrolling during May 1943 - and boy its a tough year to sailing a U-Boat, but so far Im still alive....! I'm still using the green triangle thing and am nowhere near attempting manual targetting. Im after some extra torpedo tips/stratgey that I have possibly not yet considered - here are some scenraios and questions: 1. Bow Shot Something I've been thinking about recently is firing my first torpedo (generally I will use two on anything larger than a coastal merchant - sadly I very rarely get the one hit wonders) to strike the bow of a target (for example a large merchant). During my very first patrol my very first time in SH3 vanilla, I did this more by luck than anything else, and got great satisfaction watching the C2 go bow heavy almost immediately and attempt to dive just like a U-Boat! I have never repeated that. So, is it a worthwhile strategy considering? Has anyone experienced much success or failure using this method? 2. Depth of strike Generally, I will try to make my torpedo strike as low below the waterline as possible, without bouncing off the hull as it curves near the bottom of the ships draft. So, if a ship has a 10m draft, I'll typically try to place the running depth at say between 6m and 8m. My thinking is that a hole further below the water-line results in a greater risk of flooding, and hence a better probability of destroying the ship. Does that sound like a good strategy, or is it dependant on the ship type and what it is carrying? How does the fuel hold, ammo hold, engire room figure into this? Surely not all ships have these holds at the same depth (e/g/ 3m below waterline), or do they? 3. Locking on to the Green Triangle I read somewhere that in SH3, the ideal striking point of a torpedo is not actually the green triangle when locking onto the target - its slightly infront or behind this triangle. Is that correct? Any other advice on better torpedo usage would be welcome. Thanks, Dud

03-10-09, 08:22 PM	#2
A Very Super Market The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Deep in the Wild Canadian suburbs. Posts: 1,468 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yep, bow shots force more water into the ship, causing flooding. I've only had a few ships explode completely, so forget hitting different compartments. GWX just doesn't do that. Under-keel shots are good for breaking the ship in two. I'm fairly certain that the triangle is just the centre of the ship, without any special things in it. __________________ The entire German garrison of Vanviken, right here in your thread!

03-11-09, 10:23 AM	#3
kdv Loader Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 85 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	Learn to use the depth setting on each torpedo with the known depth of the keel on the target. I run about 1m below keel, and always aim for the engine room. Bow hits are supposed to be effective, but I haven't noticed any real difference, the torpedo that hits the stern floods it as well, but probably at a slower pace. I have found my torpedo's cover more targets, using ONE per target. It make take a bit of stalking after the hit to ensure it's going to go down, but I find alot of 'bigger' ships lose propulsion, and eventually sink. However, unless I'm freaked out by the tonnage of a perspective target, I'll fire all four forwards at one, hoping 2 will hit and cripple it allowing for a stern shot. Had a 4 stacker ocean liner troop transport come up fast, and I was about 2000m away from where I wanted to be for my attack - all I could do was fire all 4, and yep - 2 hit, slowed it way down, and the stern fish finished it off . Wasn't going to let that guy get away. About the green triangle - you're talking about where it locks onto the ship? I rarely go by that, unless it's a really fast decision to fire.

03-11-09, 12:02 PM	#4
Murr44 Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 913 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Have a look at the torpedo section in the Silent Hunter III Community Manual here: http://http://alexbret.perso.cegetel.net/index4875.php. There are some pretty good tips on setting torpedo running depth there.

03-12-09, 11:18 AM	#8
Karl von Muller Swabbie Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have been ignoring the triangle for the reason that its position does not seem to vary for different ship types. For example a tanker's engines and fuel are aft, but a large freighter's are amidships. The triangle does not seem to care. How does one "get rid of it"? Switch to manual targeting?

03-12-09, 11:59 AM	#9
Otto Heinzmeir Weps Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wilhelmshaven Local Pub Posts: 361 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	For freighters I like to aim at the stack. If you hit the stack, you will kill the engines, if you miss slightly forward you hit the fuel cell. If you miss slightly aft you will cause the engine compartment to flood and this will eventually kill the engines as well. For tankers I aim at the cabin for the same reasons. I used to split some medium cargos and tankers in two with a center placed magnetic in the stock game. But in GXW havn't split a ship yet with one torp, which is probably more realistic.

03-13-09, 09:33 AM	#10
kdv Loader Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 85 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	I have managed to split a few with GWX3, mostly medium cargo's - and only with the magnetic exploding under their keel. Never seems to work with impacting the hull. The 'lock' always goes to the center of the ship, which as stated above isn't the best spot to hit. I go for engines, it's a no brainer - it's under the stack. Gauging where the fuel tanks are isn't as easy.

03-13-09, 10:04 AM	#12
TheDudTorpedo Machinist's Mate Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 128 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 0	Thanks for all the helpful hints guys Tonight I had the chance to test the bow-shot theory. I was being chased (again!) by a V&W destroyer off the west coast of Ireland. I fired a stern torpedo at a magnetic setting 1m below her keel - I was a bit worried I hadn't selected a decent depth setting because the sea was very rough. Anyway, the V&W is steaming in at 15 knots and the torpedo actually impacts right on her prow as she dips into a wave! Well...she tried to dive just like my U-boat.....have a gander at these On her way down.... It's all over.... The right bow-shot certainly delivers the goods. I love this game

03-13-09, 01:56 PM	#14
Henry Wood Sparky Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: UK Posts: 150 Downloads: 57 Uploads: 0	About the green triangle - I always understood it to be a guide as to how succesful your shot was likely to be and if not locked you could aim your shot using the crosshairs in the attack scope. I used to use it like that when starting out, no lock on the target and when the triangle turned green it meant I was just about certain of a succesful hit, then I'd move the crosshairs to the engine room, bow, midships or where I wanted the torpedo to strike. It always seemed to work.

03-13-09, 03:54 PM	#15
Threesixtyci Torpedoman Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: CC, Texas Posts: 114 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	The three times I tried shots underneath the keel, relying on magnitics. All 3 times the torpedo sailed right under the targeted ship and just kept on going.... I guess, under keel shots just don't work when you are perpendicular, or near perpendicular, to the target.... Anyway... it's caused me to not even attempt setting torps to run below drafts, anymore. Cool pic though... too bad, SH3 doesn't simulate bending metal. Would have been cool to see it break in half with that much stress.