4-shot salvo or 4 separate shots?

[desirableroasted]

Fellow Kaleuns... what is your preference when you are planning to fire four (or two or three) torpedoes at one target? Salvo or separate?

I ask because I was freely dispensing advice, as is my wont, on another thread (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=179500), and realized I had no real basis for my thoughts other than "salvos don't work for me, really."

Here is what I wrote... I would love to hear the thoughts and experiences of others.

Shooting salvos almost always fails cost/benefit analysis, especially when you can take the time to find your solution and shoot.

It takes only a half minute or so extra to shoot four separate shots, which, even when you are under pressure, gives you far better target control (and spares you the stress of watching spread angle, etc).

For the past year or two, I've only used salvos (two shot salvos only) when making snap-shots under extreme pressure -- and even then, it has rarely been worth the candle.

Run the Courageous single mission a few times and compare how you do with 4-shot salvos against 4 single shots. I think you will be surprised at the results.

[danexpat]

Proviso: it all depends on my position and the situation. Is it an unescorted merchant in the middle of the North Sea or Atlantic -- or is it close to shore or in a convoy with the clock ticking on air/destroyer response? In the former, I can just freely reposition for a 90-degree shot but not so much in the latter.

Assuming my typical SNAFU approach angles I like two-shot mag salvos with next to 0 spread against 7k+ ton targets, under the smokestack if I can to disable her. It's insurance against premature/dud torps and provides a very good likelihood of at least one under-keel hit. I don't use manual torp calculation. I'm proud of myself for just figuring out ruler/compass/protractor intercepts.

N.B.: In rough seas this isn't a great option because you never know at what actual depth the mag torps are going to run.

[Sailor Steve]

I never use the Salvo Switch simply because it fires all the selected torpedoes at once. In real life the Salvo Switch fired them a minimum of eight seconds apart, to avoid interference between the torpedoes.

[Missing Name]

I never use the salvo because of what Sailor Steve just said... and I like hearing the fire button go click for each shot.

[danexpat]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I never use the Salvo Switch simply because it fires all the selected torpedoes at once. In real life the Salvo Switch fired them a minimum of eight seconds apart, to avoid interference between the torpedoes.

There is a delay, but it definitely isn't 8 seconds. I would guess 2, 3 s max.

[JEuler]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

In real life the Salvo Switch fired them a minimum of eight seconds apart, to avoid interference between the torpedoes.

Ah, you always learn something new.

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I never use the Salvo Switch simply because it fires all the selected torpedoes at once. In real life the Salvo Switch fired them a minimum of eight seconds apart, to avoid interference between the torpedoes.

couldnt there be a way to change this in a mod? Or is it hard coded?

I fire my shots one at a time. If I'm shooting multiples I usually give between a 5 and 10 count. I too like the click of the fire button!!

[danexpat]

This is where I get off the verisimilitude train. I just play these things through my initial addiction until I'm ready to move on to my next --

Hey, look! Something shiny!