Have you sunk an Elco class?

WH4K · 01-02-11, 02:57 AM

Those Elco-class torpedo boats are annoying. Three of them jumped me in my Type IIB earlier today (well, December 1939 in game terms). I nearly got killed to death. That's the last time I investigate a fast-moving warship contact on the surface in daylight.

Since I use GWX 3.0, I didn't find out until my refit that I only had 39% hull integrity left when I finally got away from them. Yikes.

Has anyone managed to sink one of those little bastards? I found that I was simply unable to get into a good firing position. Even if I had been able to out-turn them underwater in my dugout (hint: not going to happen), speed was a big problem. They were moving so darned fast that I had no chance to calculate the inputs for the TDC anyway. They were maneuvering around such that the solution would have been obsolete as soon as I clicked, "Fire."

About my only chance against these guys would be to catch them at night, get in a couple of good hits with the deck gun (which would require having a deck gun), and then maybe shred them with the Flak cannon before they machine gun me to death.

VONHARRIS · 01-02-11, 03:45 AM

I have learned the hard way not to mess with them in GWX3.0
When I was using the vanilla version they could be easily sunk with the AA guns.

Capt. Morgan · 01-02-11, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WH4K

.. I nearly got killed to death. ....

I hate it when that happens.

I always thought the Elcos weren't equipped with hydrophones. I just assumed they couldn't hear me and submerged. It has always worked so far, but I give the little jerks a wide berth anyway.

I've never torpedoed one, never tried, but if they are just steaming in a straight line, and you've a spare electric torp - it might be worth a try. I once torpedoed a sanpan in SH4. Not worth any tonnage, but it did fly up about a hundred meters in the air.

Gerald · 01-02-11, 05:16 AM

One should be cautious, because their efficiency fire may cause damage to your hull,and in most cases,you dive to avoid problems,unless weather or other factors are at your side

kapuhy · 01-02-11, 05:33 AM

To paraphrase the title from neighbouring thread - why bother attacking Elcos? They're simply not worth the effort. Their tonnage is negligible, they're not (or, at least, I've never seen them in this role) protecting big fat merchants, their sinking won't make the headlines or grant you any awards.

Only situation when I would consider attacking an Elco is in self defence - if one came out of the fog 500 meters away in shallow water, for example. In this case I would opt for deck gun and AA guns (torpedoes are right out against alerted ship of that size and speed).

CherryHarbey · 01-02-11, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kapuhy

To paraphrase the title from neighbouring thread - why bother attacking Elcos? They're simply not worth the effort. Their tonnage is negligible, they're not (or, at least, I've never seen them in this role) protecting big fat merchants, their sinking won't make the headlines or grant you any awards.

Only situation when I would consider attacking an Elco is in self defence - if one came out of the fog 500 meters away in shallow water, for example. In this case I would opt for deck gun and AA guns (torpedoes are right out against alerted ship of that size and speed).

Agree with all of this.

Only reason I could see for trying to sink one, is if you play SH3 as in an arcade thrill a minute style. I don't so, trying to sink one is (for me) completely pointless.

ediko · 01-02-11, 07:47 AM

Don't mess with the buggers, those AA's they got can eat through you're boat alive and god forbid you have any crew on deck when they spot you, the poor sailors are pretty much dead. Just dive as fast as you can and never look back, I did try to sink the PT boat once.... lesson learned the hard way

Sailor Steve · 01-02-11, 09:36 AM

The Americans called the Mosquito Boats for a reason. They bite, and they're very hard to swat.

On the other hand, one of the things that annoys me about SH3 is that the ELCO was strictly an American boat, and was used only in the Pacific and the Med. The British used their own home-grown Vosper boats.

mookiemookie · 01-02-11, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The Americans called the Mosquito Boats for a reason. They bite, and they're very hard to swat.

On the other hand, one of the things that annoys me about SH3 is that the ELCO was strictly an American boat, and was used only in the Pacific and the Med. The British used their own home-grown Vosper boats.

Another thing that annoys me is that they can't use their main weapon - torpedoes.

WH4K · 01-02-11, 11:43 AM

I was wondering about that. I rather expected to get a torpedo straight up the snoot. Since there were 3 of them, they could easily have done it.

Missing Name · 01-02-11, 08:00 PM

Yes, I have sunk PT boats, but when I didn't want them annoying me in some harbor.

I torpedoed one once. It flew a good hundred meters away, but it was a real waste. Guess how I engage them otherwise.

krashkart · 01-02-11, 09:37 PM

Elcos aren't worth shooting at. Too small and too fast to justify a torpedo, and too nimble and well armed to engage on the surface. I just dive and slip away from them. I've sunk a few out of pure luck, but not without having my Uboot (and some gunnery crew) thoroughly shredded in the process.

However, they do have a tendency to catch fire in really bad weather.

Tessa · 01-02-11, 10:25 PM

They can be extremely annoying but generally harmless if you dive in time. Don't remember the circumstances that led up to it but one pissed me off so much I did torpedo it. It's results are somewhere in the funny screenshots thread, they aren't very aerodynamic. The result is akin to a wizard casting a fireball at a horsefly, once that torpedo hits it erupted into a blaze of fire travelling very fast and landed when one of the buildings in the harbor got in its way. Complete waste of a torpedo, but the result was worth it; I fell down laughing from the event cam.

bookworm_020 · 01-03-11, 05:19 PM

I've sunk a few Elco's in my current career, most of the time it was the fact they turned up and tried to interfere with me finishing of a merchant.

Using a deck gun on them at ranges over 1000m is a waste of ammo as they move too fast and are too small to have a good chance of hitting them. The deck gun is best used with open sites under 1000m, your flak can also do good damage to them as well. 20mm seem to do OK, the twin version are best, the quad 20mm is too unwieldy. The 37mm is good as long as it's automatic.

If you can knock out the forward gun position you can avoid a lot of damage. If you have no reason to fight them, don't bother. From 43' even if you sink them, they can call in aircraft and other ships (if nearby) which just makes your situation worse!

wicked_panda · 04-26-11, 03:29 PM

Although i try to avoid these little bastards, sometimes i get forced to engage them, mainly because i am surfaced charging batteries, loading an external torp or trying to put a bullet in the head to that poor little deer (or hog) i hurt earlier. Sure i can always disengage the prey and crash dive, but once they start to shoot at you, suddenly becomes a matter of EGO or self esteem.

What hurt can do to you the sailor of the atlantic

, the commander of a Kriegsmarine U-boat, what hurt can do that piece of crap with a couple of 20 mm machine guns??

When i realize i am being attacked by an ELCO boat, i use the 20 mm and rarely the single shot 37mm, trying to aim to the forward MG and if you are lucky enough and blow up that MG the battle is yours, this way you force them to show the side, if thay are close enough (i mean 100 to 300 yards), you can shot few rounds with your main gun, but sometimes i try to stick in destroying the MG´s.

That little bastards don t worth the 20 points of renown so is up to you if you want to figth

01-02-11, 02:57 AM	#1
WH4K Frogman Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 291 Downloads: 56 Uploads: 0	Have you sunk an Elco class? Those Elco-class torpedo boats are annoying. Three of them jumped me in my Type IIB earlier today (well, December 1939 in game terms). I nearly got killed to death. That's the last time I investigate a fast-moving warship contact on the surface in daylight. Since I use GWX 3.0, I didn't find out until my refit that I only had 39% hull integrity left when I finally got away from them. Yikes. Has anyone managed to sink one of those little bastards? I found that I was simply unable to get into a good firing position. Even if I had been able to out-turn them underwater in my dugout (hint: not going to happen), speed was a big problem. They were moving so darned fast that I had no chance to calculate the inputs for the TDC anyway. They were maneuvering around such that the solution would have been obsolete as soon as I clicked, "Fire." About my only chance against these guys would be to catch them at night, get in a couple of good hits with the deck gun (which would require having a deck gun), and then maybe shred them with the Flak cannon before they machine gun me to death. __________________ Windows 10 Pro (x64) Last edited by WH4K; 01-02-11 at 03:13 AM.

01-02-11, 05:16 AM	#4
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	One should be cautious, because their efficiency fire may cause damage to your hull,and in most cases,you dive to avoid problems,unless weather or other factors are at your side __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

01-02-11, 09:36 AM	#8
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	The Americans called the Mosquito Boats for a reason. They bite, and they're very hard to swat. On the other hand, one of the things that annoys me about SH3 is that the ELCO was strictly an American boat, and was used only in the Pacific and the Med. The British used their own home-grown Vosper boats. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-02-11, 11:43 AM	#10
WH4K Frogman Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 291 Downloads: 56 Uploads: 0	I was wondering about that. I rather expected to get a torpedo straight up the snoot. Since there were 3 of them, they could easily have done it. __________________ Windows 10 Pro (x64)

01-02-11, 08:00 PM	#11
Missing Name Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Westun New Yahk Posts: 748 Downloads: 131 Uploads: 0	Yes, I have sunk PT boats, but when I didn't want them annoying me in some harbor. I torpedoed one once. It flew a good hundred meters away, but it was a real waste. Guess how I engage them otherwise. __________________ Largest target sunk with deck gun: Japanese auxiliary cruiser, 15000 tons Largest engaged: HMS Nelson. Results inconclusive. Read Brag's stuff

01-02-11, 03:45 AM	#2
VONHARRIS Konteradmiral Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Greece Posts: 1,992 Downloads: 300 Uploads: 0	I have learned the hard way not to mess with them in GWX3.0 When I was using the vanilla version they could be easily sunk with the AA guns.

01-02-11, 05:33 AM	#5
kapuhy Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Poland Posts: 874 Downloads: 72 Uploads: 3	To paraphrase the title from neighbouring thread - why bother attacking Elcos? They're simply not worth the effort. Their tonnage is negligible, they're not (or, at least, I've never seen them in this role) protecting big fat merchants, their sinking won't make the headlines or grant you any awards. Only situation when I would consider attacking an Elco is in self defence - if one came out of the fog 500 meters away in shallow water, for example. In this case I would opt for deck gun and AA guns (torpedoes are right out against alerted ship of that size and speed).

01-02-11, 07:47 AM	#7
ediko Electrician's Mate Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Latvia Posts: 137 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Don't mess with the buggers, those AA's they got can eat through you're boat alive and god forbid you have any crew on deck when they spot you, the poor sailors are pretty much dead. Just dive as fast as you can and never look back, I did try to sink the PT boat once.... lesson learned the hard way

01-02-11, 09:37 PM	#12
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	Elcos aren't worth shooting at. Too small and too fast to justify a torpedo, and too nimble and well armed to engage on the surface. I just dive and slip away from them. I've sunk a few out of pure luck, but not without having my Uboot (and some gunnery crew) thoroughly shredded in the process. However, they do have a tendency to catch fire in really bad weather.

01-02-11, 10:25 PM	#13
Tessa Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CG 96 Posts: 861 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	They can be extremely annoying but generally harmless if you dive in time. Don't remember the circumstances that led up to it but one pissed me off so much I did torpedo it. It's results are somewhere in the funny screenshots thread, they aren't very aerodynamic. The result is akin to a wizard casting a fireball at a horsefly, once that torpedo hits it erupted into a blaze of fire travelling very fast and landed when one of the buildings in the harbor got in its way. Complete waste of a torpedo, but the result was worth it; I fell down laughing from the event cam.

01-03-11, 05:19 PM	#14
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I've sunk a few Elco's in my current career, most of the time it was the fact they turned up and tried to interfere with me finishing of a merchant. Using a deck gun on them at ranges over 1000m is a waste of ammo as they move too fast and are too small to have a good chance of hitting them. The deck gun is best used with open sites under 1000m, your flak can also do good damage to them as well. 20mm seem to do OK, the twin version are best, the quad 20mm is too unwieldy. The 37mm is good as long as it's automatic. If you can knock out the forward gun position you can avoid a lot of damage. If you have no reason to fight them, don't bother. From 43' even if you sink them, they can call in aircraft and other ships (if nearby) which just makes your situation worse! __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

04-26-11, 03:29 PM	#15
wicked_panda Nub Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	ELCO BOATS Although i try to avoid these little bastards, sometimes i get forced to engage them, mainly because i am surfaced charging batteries, loading an external torp or trying to put a bullet in the head to that poor little deer (or hog) i hurt earlier. Sure i can always disengage the prey and crash dive, but once they start to shoot at you, suddenly becomes a matter of EGO or self esteem. What hurt can do to you the sailor of the atlantic, the commander of a Kriegsmarine U-boat, what hurt can do that piece of crap with a couple of 20 mm machine guns?? When i realize i am being attacked by an ELCO boat, i use the 20 mm and rarely the single shot 37mm, trying to aim to the forward MG and if you are lucky enough and blow up that MG the battle is yours, this way you force them to show the side, if thay are close enough (i mean 100 to 300 yards), you can shot few rounds with your main gun, but sometimes i try to stick in destroying the MG´s. That little bastards don t worth the 20 points of renown so is up to you if you want to figth