Effectiveness of AA guns

RodBorza · 11-03-10, 10:55 PM

Hello all!
I was wondering what was the effectiveness of AA guns in real life. If they used it to their intended use or not. Also, I would like to know if US subs in WWII got to shoot down some airplanes.
Because in the game, and I am early 1942 with a single 20 mm and when I detect a plane coming my way all that I do is "go for a dive and hide".

I'm playing TMO 2.0 (with Vickers Xmas Tree - It's eye candy, but a very nice one

) and RSRD v550.

Diopos · 11-04-10, 12:40 AM

If it is "coming your way", diving is the proper AA tactic. And in TMO diving deeper is even more "proper". Against aircraft, the AA gun is - or should be- a last resort thingy. Subs are way to fragile, to slug it out with aircraft on a regular basis.

.

Thrair · 11-04-10, 05:57 AM

Yah, planes are bad. Only time I'll try to use the AA gun on one is if I've taken too much damage to risk diving. Otherwise I dive deep and stay deep. Until night. I fear planes more than DDs.

Course, I run TMO, so not only are planes tougher to shoot down, but they also report your position and can see you submerged if you're not deep.

With Stock, the planes are a lot less of a threat and can be shot down by AI gunners quite easily. But it's still not worth it because A) They are worth no renown, and B) They have a chance of nailing you with a bomb and causing heavy damage or sinking you outright. High risk, nil reward.

As to real life, I don't know of any subs that shot down planes. But I know of a lot of subs that were sunk by them.

Armistead · 11-04-10, 06:13 AM

Sometimes you have to deal with planes, shallow water, doing end arounds chasing fast TF, can't dive. Still, until I get a full load out of two AA guns or the third AA gun TMO gives later war I prefrer to dive. Late war I like the Formosa convoys that hug the coast, you seldom have more than 50 ft of water. I'll certainly try to wait until night.

Now, if the damage was realistic, I would never fight a plane, but you can take direct hits from bombs and usually get no more than 20% damage.

Thrair · 11-04-10, 03:31 PM

20% hull damage, yah. But I've found those bombs have an annoying habit of hitting the worst spot.

"Diesel Engines Destroyed, Sir!"

RodBorza · 11-04-10, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrair

20% hull damage, yah. But I've found those bombs have an annoying habit of hitting the worst spot.

"Diesel Engines Destroyed, Sir!"

LOL. True. Almost like they were laser guided or something.

Thanks for the input, mates! It seems I'm doing the right thing.
Old Plunger will survive. The first patrol I was w/o SD radar and got back with 60% hull damage. Now with radar, I'm uncasthed.

Regarding the SD radar, I read somewhere in the forums that in real life they couldn't tell the direction of planes coming at them.
Can someone confirm that?

Armistead · 11-04-10, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrair

20% hull damage, yah. But I've found those bombs have an annoying habit of hitting the worst spot.

"Diesel Engines Destroyed, Sir!"

Never happened to me once, not that I stay up and fight planes unless I have a better objective. Sometimes you have to chase a fast TF on the surface and deal with planes or let it go, I'm sure I choose to chase them because the bomb damage is unrealistic. In real life one bomb or even one 5inch deckgun shell went through the ship you were done for, maybe lucky if you got back to base.

Dogfish40 · 11-05-10, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodBorza

Hello all!
I was wondering what was the effectiveness of AA guns in real life. If they used it to their intended use or not. Also, I would like to know if US subs in WWII got to shoot down some airplanes.
Because in the game, and I am early 1942 with a single 20 mm and when I detect a plane coming my way all that I do is "go for a dive and hide".

I'm playing TMO 2.0 (with Vickers Xmas Tree - It's eye candy, but a very nice one

) and RSRD v550.

During WW2 The basic AA flak guns were used for more than just aircraft. They were used as anti-personnel and used against ships to try and keep 'their heads down' . Against aircraft, even the best AA gunners could only shoot down aircraft by aiming in front of the planes direction and hoping to land a few lucky shells in the fuel tanks. Fortunately, for the US overall, some of the JP planes ex; the Zero, were built for speed, so they were built with almost no armor and one or two lucky wing hits would make the plane explode. Did subs ever shoot down any aircraft? I can't find a single report that they did, and I'm still looking.
In the game, I always make sure I have at least three gunner specialists so that if the situation arises, I don't have to worry about the gunner hitting the plane, I just have to place the ship at an angle favorable for the gunner. A good gunner may save the sub if the planes catch you off guard.
One last thing, I always upgrade the 20mm gun to the twin barrel 20mm. Two barrels are better than one! That goes for the deck gun as well.
Good Hunting.

D40

CCIP · 11-05-10, 04:23 PM

Submarines are generally poor gunnery platforms, and that certainly applies to AA guns as well. They're unstable, inaccurate, and most importantly vulnerable. Even when you look at you look at German U-boats in the extreme circumstances (i.e. obeying the Stand-and-Fight order, or U-Flak boats), their successes when actually confronting aircraft were poor. I believe the absolute record for any submarine against aircraft (over a career) was 4.

From the plane's perspective, even a 20mm gun is no peashooter and could be absolutely fatal. In a shootout, the aircraft was still about 3 times more likely than a submarine to be destroyed. However when you consider the cost and compliment of an average ASW aircraft vs. that of a submarine, it becomes apparent that even at that success ratio it was extremely prudent for airplanes to keep pressing. So airplanes, provided they have any kind of armament capable of actually destroying a sub, are always an EXTREME danger. Dive when able.

The one caveat to this, though, is that the best time for an airplane to attack is WHILE the submarine is diving, when it's slowest, most exposed, least maneuvarable, most likely to go to the bottom if hit, and 100% blind. So you really have to judge the distance before diving, and do it really fast. Oftentimes it is better to drive off one hostile pass on the surface, while maneuvering at speed, and then pull the plug while the plane is coming around. You don't want to get hit in the time it takes you to dive.

WarlordATF · 11-05-10, 06:28 PM

The only sub kills i know of was during the Pearl Harbor attack, the USS Narwhal split two kills with the USS Tautog.

CCIP · 11-05-10, 06:32 PM

Actually, I got a little wrapped up in U-boats with my thinking and forgot about one decisive advantage that the US submarines had from quite early on in the war: effective, working SD radar. The SD radar honestly does do wonders, and while you still need to react to its signals in time to avoid a threat, if you dive as soon as it makes contact, the dive time is usually a non-issue. Even early SD radar will generally allow you to get under before the plane actually gets close enough.

SD radar, not AA guns, is a fleet boat's real plane antidote

TheBrauerHour · 11-06-10, 08:39 AM

So far, in 3 patrols of the USS Barb that I am reading in "Thunder Below", the only time AA guns have been used is in attacking junks/sampans. He also ordered the 40mm and 20mm guns manned for true AA duties when they were rescuing shipwreck survivors since they had to come to a stop. Otherwise, Fluckey never even thought to duke it out with an airplane.

The preferred method of dealing with airplanes is to yo-yo (dive and wait until the plane leaves, then surface)

11-03-10, 10:55 PM	#1
RodBorza Electrician's Mate Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brazil, Brasilia (Capital city) Posts: 140 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Effectiveness of AA guns Hello all! I was wondering what was the effectiveness of AA guns in real life. If they used it to their intended use or not. Also, I would like to know if US subs in WWII got to shoot down some airplanes. Because in the game, and I am early 1942 with a single 20 mm and when I detect a plane coming my way all that I do is "go for a dive and hide". I'm playing TMO 2.0 (with Vickers Xmas Tree - It's eye candy, but a very nice one ) and RSRD v550. __________________ I won't say nothing until SHVI comes out... good thing subskippers are known for their patience... "On the ship sinking business since 1996"

11-04-10, 12:40 AM	#2
Diopos Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Athens, the original one. Posts: 1,226 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	If it is "coming your way", diving is the proper AA tactic. And in TMO diving deeper is even more "proper". Against aircraft, the AA gun is - or should be- a last resort thingy. Subs are way to fragile, to slug it out with aircraft on a regular basis. . __________________ - Oh God! They're all over the place! CRASH DIVE!!! - Ehm... we can't honey. We're in the car right now. - What?... er right... Doesn't matter! We'll give it a try anyway!

11-05-10, 04:23 PM	#9
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	Submarines are generally poor gunnery platforms, and that certainly applies to AA guns as well. They're unstable, inaccurate, and most importantly vulnerable. Even when you look at you look at German U-boats in the extreme circumstances (i.e. obeying the Stand-and-Fight order, or U-Flak boats), their successes when actually confronting aircraft were poor. I believe the absolute record for any submarine against aircraft (over a career) was 4. From the plane's perspective, even a 20mm gun is no peashooter and could be absolutely fatal. In a shootout, the aircraft was still about 3 times more likely than a submarine to be destroyed. However when you consider the cost and compliment of an average ASW aircraft vs. that of a submarine, it becomes apparent that even at that success ratio it was extremely prudent for airplanes to keep pressing. So airplanes, provided they have any kind of armament capable of actually destroying a sub, are always an EXTREME danger. Dive when able. The one caveat to this, though, is that the best time for an airplane to attack is WHILE the submarine is diving, when it's slowest, most exposed, least maneuvarable, most likely to go to the bottom if hit, and 100% blind. So you really have to judge the distance before diving, and do it really fast. Oftentimes it is better to drive off one hostile pass on the surface, while maneuvering at speed, and then pull the plug while the plane is coming around. You don't want to get hit in the time it takes you to dive. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

11-05-10, 06:28 PM	#10
WarlordATF Frogman Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SW Florida Posts: 288 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	The only sub kills i know of was during the Pearl Harbor attack, the USS Narwhal split two kills with the USS Tautog. __________________

11-05-10, 06:32 PM	#11
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	Actually, I got a little wrapped up in U-boats with my thinking and forgot about one decisive advantage that the US submarines had from quite early on in the war: effective, working SD radar. The SD radar honestly does do wonders, and while you still need to react to its signals in time to avoid a threat, if you dive as soon as it makes contact, the dive time is usually a non-issue. Even early SD radar will generally allow you to get under before the plane actually gets close enough. SD radar, not AA guns, is a fleet boat's real plane antidote __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

11-04-10, 05:57 AM	#3
Thrair Helmsman Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 102 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Yah, planes are bad. Only time I'll try to use the AA gun on one is if I've taken too much damage to risk diving. Otherwise I dive deep and stay deep. Until night. I fear planes more than DDs. Course, I run TMO, so not only are planes tougher to shoot down, but they also report your position and can see you submerged if you're not deep. With Stock, the planes are a lot less of a threat and can be shot down by AI gunners quite easily. But it's still not worth it because A) They are worth no renown, and B) They have a chance of nailing you with a bomb and causing heavy damage or sinking you outright. High risk, nil reward. As to real life, I don't know of any subs that shot down planes. But I know of a lot of subs that were sunk by them.

11-04-10, 06:13 AM	#4
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Sometimes you have to deal with planes, shallow water, doing end arounds chasing fast TF, can't dive. Still, until I get a full load out of two AA guns or the third AA gun TMO gives later war I prefrer to dive. Late war I like the Formosa convoys that hug the coast, you seldom have more than 50 ft of water. I'll certainly try to wait until night. Now, if the damage was realistic, I would never fight a plane, but you can take direct hits from bombs and usually get no more than 20% damage.

11-04-10, 03:31 PM	#5
Thrair Helmsman Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 102 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	20% hull damage, yah. But I've found those bombs have an annoying habit of hitting the worst spot. "Diesel Engines Destroyed, Sir!"

11-06-10, 08:39 AM	#12
TheBrauerHour Mr. Eastwood Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 364 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	So far, in 3 patrols of the USS Barb that I am reading in "Thunder Below", the only time AA guns have been used is in attacking junks/sampans. He also ordered the 40mm and 20mm guns manned for true AA duties when they were rescuing shipwreck survivors since they had to come to a stop. Otherwise, Fluckey never even thought to duke it out with an airplane. The preferred method of dealing with airplanes is to yo-yo (dive and wait until the plane leaves, then surface)