Convoy in sight, best attack parameters?

[commandosolo2009]

Hello,

I'm really frustrated about having wasted my entire 24 eels on 4 convoys on my first patrol, and I wonder what was the best attack plan in terms of positioning, angle, retirement, depths, salvo countdown, salvo spread and how it is calculated, also, at what range from DE/DD would lurking be effective if you yo-yo your scope for markings.

And how to calculate convoys cours relative and convert it to true?

These things definitely are taught in navy schools, but in subsim, well...

[Pappy55]

Get ahead of the group whilst staying out of sight. Then you have plenty of time to get into position. Pick out your targets then unleash hell and dive as deep as you can go and creap away at silent running..

There are some great tutorial videos on the forum..

[TorpX]

For making a submerged attack, I consider it best to get ahead of the convoy (or ship) and be fairly close to its track. That way they will come to you and you need not make any noisy high speed maneuvers. If you are making a night surface attack, and your boat has good speed, you can most likely pick any angle you want.

As far as the escorts go, I can't really say. I'm in a new career, Dec. '41 and I just attacked a convoy where the escorts couldn't seem to hear me. Kind of like my sonar man. Of course, I didn't push my luck.....

I don't know what you mean by relative course. If you want to know the targets true bearing:

true bearing = your course + relative bearing (if > 360, subtract 360)

I'm guessing you don't do a plot now. If you plot out your targets movements, you will be able to obtain the targets course, as well as any other data you need, fairly easily. Plotting can be done on the in game chart or on paper.

Hope this is helpful.

[commandosolo2009]

first of all, thank you for the input. It seems I didnt explain myself that good.

I want the ideal attack numbers for approach, distance from DE, or DD, or both, which would make his sonar not detect me even if hes zigging,

Reading Dick O'Kane's book, he mentions he kept them

Ideal attack time for night and distance as well..

Ideal AoB config, and for God's sake ppl, I'm lost with the AoB. Is there a mathematical formula to determine it?

Also, plainly as desired, the torpedo spread knob corresponds to what markings on the periscope? (Maybe I have to hit a pier in order to answer meself...)...

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by commandosolo2009

first of all, thank you for the input. It seems I didnt explain myself that good.

I want the ideal attack numbers for approach, distance from DE, or DD, or both, which would make his sonar not detect me even if hes zigging,

I don't think the whole business of making an attack can be reduced to "ideal" numbers. There are too many variables to consider. Equiptment, tactics and objectives changed for both sides, as the war progressed. Also, there are unrealistic elements, in the game, which factor in.

Originally Posted by commandosolo2009

Reading Dick O'Kane's book, he mentions he kept them

???????????

Originally Posted by commandosolo2009

Ideal attack time for night and distance as well..

I think it depends largely on moonlight. I've made approaches at night that were successful, and I've made about as many that were not. My impression is that the IJN will be able to see you at a greater distance than in RL. Just my opinion. If you start an approach at night, and the moon is coming up behind you, expect to be detected.

Originally Posted by commandosolo2009

Ideal AoB config, and for God's sake ppl, I'm lost with the AoB. Is there a mathematical formula to determine it?

This is a subject worthy of it's own thread. Judging from what I read on this forum, many do not understand AoB. First off, there is no "ideal" AoB config. Anybody who says there is, doesn't understand the problem. AoB is simply the machanism for inputting the targets course into the TDC. The TDC's position keeper needs to have the targets course to predict it's future position. It doesn't care what your periscope view looks like. The Aob is just a means to an end. To put it another way, AoB and target's course, are two halves of the same coin.

AoB can be obtained by measuring the angle in your plot, or by using the fact that the 3 angles of any triangle add up to 180 deg. The angles being:

1. AoB, the angle between targets course and the line of sight to your sub
2. bearing angle, the angle between your course and the line of sight to target
3. approach angle, the angle between your course and targets course

Originally Posted by commandosolo2009

Also, plainly as desired, the torpedo spread knob corresponds to what markings on the periscope? (Maybe I have to hit a pier in order to answer meself...)...

I'm not sure what the marks correspond to. I don't know if all the periscope reticles are the same. The marks on the offset angle knob are supposed to be 1 deg.

[commandosolo2009]

Thank you, and about Dick O'Kanes book,

I was saying how he shadowed the convoys and sometimes, he mentioned he came too close, so he let them slide, get to far behind, catch up. What TC is best to keep the convoy on the rim of my radar and does increasing TC to 32 X while watching the blips go behind me in a linear manner possible, that is, does TC retain target info or does the continous pip on the radar only represents the first contact and bearing that you spotted them with and it doesnt change with the target and I'm talking about PPI not Ascope since watching Ascope while on PPI seems impossible as you could have false reading.?

I don't think the whole business of making an attack can be reduced to "ideal" numbers.

Me neither, I just meant what ordinary position [aka, how far away and whats your landmark where you position yourself, the escort, middle frontmost ship or central ship?] do you usually attack from, and how do you orient your boat after firing eels ( personally, I retire opposite the convoys plotted course, since DDs are forced to catch up so they'll definitely get off my back, but sometimes one of them lingers, and forces me to take him out, could he send a distress to the others ahead to return to him if he's crippled? In real life, yes he can, but in game?)

On numerous occasions, I get a (will send further assets to intercept) message and sometimes USAF pops out of nowhere to save the day, is it possible, cuz as far as I know, only KM gets the royal treatment.

This is a subject worthy of it's own thread. Judging from what I read on this forum, many do not understand AoB. First off, there is no "ideal" AoB config. Anybody who says there is, doesn't understand the problem. AoB is simply the machanism for inputting the targets course into the TDC. The TDC's position keeper needs to have the targets course to predict it's future position. It doesn't care what your periscope view looks like. The Aob is just a means to an end. To put it another way, AoB and target's course, are two halves of the same coin.

or by using the fact that the 3 angles of any triangle add up to 180 deg. The angles being:

1. AoB, the angle between targets course and the line of sight to your sub
2. bearing angle, the angle between your course and the line of sight to target
3. approach angle, the angle between your course and targets course

^^^^ This, This I could use, Thanks

I'm not sure what the marks correspond to. I don't know if all the periscope reticles are the same. The marks on the offset angle knob are supposed to be 1 deg.

I'll try a few at one of Pearls empty piers, and will see how it plays out.