torpedos for single merchants?

myself77 · 06-12-07, 11:53 AM

Last night I tried to destroy a merchant but i wasted my torpedos. Then i surfaced and i destroyed it with the deck gun. So, what is the reason to send torpedos to single merchants? You should destroy them with your guns. They won't do you nothing!

SteamWake · 06-12-07, 12:03 PM

"They wont do you nothing" implies that they will do something.

Anyhow grammer aside...

Not all merchants are un armed. However there lousy shots so no reason to waste an expensive torpedo on a lone un escorted merchant.

In fact I often come accross a 'small convoy' of three ships un escorted and take all three down with the deck gun. Sometimes Ill use one torpedo to 'announce' my arrival but finish up with the gun.

tater · 06-12-07, 12:09 PM

The stock layers have all the merchants set to be pretty stupid AI-wise, so even if they shoot, they are poor shots. Add in the death ray deck gun, and there ya go.

Use RFB where the deck gun is more realistic, and it will be at least difficult to sink lone/unescorted merchies. Mess with the campaign so that some merchant crews are "competant" a few are "veteran" and a handful are "elite" and battle surface becomes a little more scary.

starvingartist507 · 06-12-07, 12:13 PM

Thats why the deck gun is basically a death ray. I don't use it very often, its unbalanced for realistic play. RFB mod takes care of the realistic nuances. And I'm very happy with it.

For strictly gameply terms, its very satisfying to surface and blast 20,000 tons of merchant marine to the bottom with under 100 4" shells. I mean, if they just put a second gun on those subs, and used 1/2 the torpedo space for shells you'd have a perfect ship killing machine right? In WWII, no. In SH4, yes.

So what I'm sayin is, in un-modded game terms, to get the maximum amount of tonnage, I'd probably use the deck gun whenever I could, and torpedos only when I was absolutely sure that surfacing was a big-time mistake.

EDIT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by tater

Use RFB where the deck gun is more realistic, and it will be at least difficult to sink lone/unescorted merchies. Mess with the campaign so that some merchant crews are "competant" a few are "veteran" and a handful are "elite" and battle surface becomes a little more scary.

Beat to the punch!

myself77 · 06-12-07, 01:00 PM

I will say again that SH4 is very easy and it should be tougher

crapgame · 06-12-07, 01:11 PM

After wasting 22 torpedoes to sink to 2 unescorted tankers, I also have learned to use the deck gun

myself77 · 06-12-07, 01:16 PM

What would have done a sub in real life?

kentcol · 06-12-07, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crapgame

After wasting 22 torpedoes to sink to 2 unescorted tankers, I also have learned to use the deck gun

Really! Better than me. I fired 12 torpedoes at a coastal Merchant and 4 more at another and haven't hit anything yet! I use manual targeting and have yet to hit a single time. I used manual in SH III and never had a problem. I guess on the American side I just suck!

Chris2802 · 06-13-07, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Sometimes Ill use one torpedo to 'announce' my arrival

lol!

vindex · 06-14-07, 07:36 AM

I never use torpedos on lone merchants. Why hide? Even when they're armed you can outrange them. I only use torps on convoys or warships.

crapgame · 06-14-07, 09:54 PM

They are good for practice in solving firing solutions

06-12-07, 11:53 AM	#1
myself77 Watch Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 20 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	torpedos for single merchants? Last night I tried to destroy a merchant but i wasted my torpedos. Then i surfaced and i destroyed it with the deck gun. So, what is the reason to send torpedos to single merchants? You should destroy them with your guns. They won't do you nothing! Last edited by myself77; 06-12-07 at 12:55 PM.

06-12-07, 12:03 PM	#2
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	"They wont do you nothing" implies that they will do something. Anyhow grammer aside... Not all merchants are un armed. However there lousy shots so no reason to waste an expensive torpedo on a lone un escorted merchant. In fact I often come accross a 'small convoy' of three ships un escorted and take all three down with the deck gun. Sometimes Ill use one torpedo to 'announce' my arrival but finish up with the gun.

06-12-07, 12:09 PM	#3
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	The stock layers have all the merchants set to be pretty stupid AI-wise, so even if they shoot, they are poor shots. Add in the death ray deck gun, and there ya go. Use RFB where the deck gun is more realistic, and it will be at least difficult to sink lone/unescorted merchies. Mess with the campaign so that some merchant crews are "competant" a few are "veteran" and a handful are "elite" and battle surface becomes a little more scary.

06-12-07, 01:00 PM	#5
myself77 Watch Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 20 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I will say again that SH4 is very easy and it should be tougher

06-12-07, 01:11 PM	#6
crapgame Bosun Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 62 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	After wasting 22 torpedoes to sink to 2 unescorted tankers, I also have learned to use the deck gun

06-12-07, 01:16 PM	#7
myself77 Watch Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 20 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What would have done a sub in real life?

06-14-07, 07:36 AM	#10
vindex Planesman Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 192 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	I never use torpedos on lone merchants. Why hide? Even when they're armed you can outrange them. I only use torps on convoys or warships.

06-14-07, 09:54 PM	#11
crapgame Bosun Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 62 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	They are good for practice in solving firing solutions