Night surface attacks

[Javigato]

I am playing SH3 plus patches. One question, has any one tried night time surface attacks on convoys ala Silent Otto? I am wondering how realistic the game is in regards to this. I fear that the escorts are pretty good and will detect me if I am in the surface (including early in the war, 39-41). I just don't think I can sneak into the lanes of a convoy in the surface without being detected... haven't tried yet though... what say you?

[Hitman]

I think that in the stock game you can't do that unless visibility conditions are really really bad, but I have not played the stock game a along ago:hmm:

Yes,that's possible,but only in years 1939- Mid 1941,and only against convoys guarded by slow escorts (Armed Trowlers,Flower Corvettes).After Mid 1941 expect fierce resistance from already armed cargo ships-they are armed like warships,with cannon towers.

[maillemaker]

I've never seen the use of a surface attack, day or night, against any ship when there are armed escorts.

Why risk blowing a great convoy setup by having your cover blown? It's hard enough to move into a good strike position when you are hidden! Or worse, fire your torpedo and then be spotted, causing your targets to start zig-zagging and your torpedo to miss.

Sure, you have better speed and maneuverability on the surface, but if you've made a good approach, what good is it? With a good approach, you've got 4 or 5 torpedoes and then you get to cool your heels while they reload - you might as well be submerged then anyway.

I make every attack approach submerged, unless it's an unarmed ship with seas calm enough for the deck gun.

Main principle there is actually to overrun tail or lead escort,so you must compare your,convoy's and escort's courses.If there's a "gap" between positions,there is a chance for a surface attack.But,this is more an exception than a rule in game.

[Brag]

In stock escorts have X ray vision. Not worth bothering with surface attacks

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by Hitman

I think that in the stock game you can't do that unless visibility conditions are really really bad, but I have not played the stock game a along ago:hmm:

Same here for stock . It would be like journeying into the abyss

RDP

[KeptinCranky]

woops, did I forget to mention I'm using GWX

In stock you can still do night surface attacks on lone merchants, just don't get too close say 2km max

Never done a night surface attack on a convoy in stock, now I'm sorta glad I didn't

[maillemaker]

Maillemaker,are there any unarmed ships after mid 1941?They are all armed,as far as I have seen.

I think you may be right. Once I got far enough along to see armed merchants I don't think I ever came across one that wasn't armed.