Atacking escorts

[Petr]

Hi, how do you attack escorts? I tried it, but they are zig zaging not only when I am detected. Is possible to "aim" them? What is your tactics?

[Torplexed]

Escorts are tough and wily prey. Not much in the way of tonnage points either. I've come across them motionless sometimes after a convoy battle and crept in for a close range shot. At the last second they seem to 'hear' the torpedo and scamper out of it's way. If you do aim for one make sure the torpedo is set for shallow as they don't have much of a draft.

The 'cutie' homing torpedoes which come late in the war are ideal for shooting and maybe crippling escorts. Cuties don't have much of a warhead so they're not ideal for much else.

[old_tex]

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=146572 Old_tex

[JonB]

Originally Posted by Petr

Hi, how do you attack escorts? I tried it, but they are zig zaging not only when I am detected. Is possible to "aim" them? What is your tactics?

Yes, they are allways zig-zaging ahead of the rest of the convoy but when they are done, they do a 180 degree turn, heads back to the convoy and just cruises ahead of it for a few minutes. That´s your window of opportunity...

The only problem is thou, when you are done with the one up fron of the convoy, you usually have 2 (or more) escorts left to deal with. You might wanna consider however the escorts are worth dealing with or if you should just go for the merchants and then hide...



Talking of wich, I actually came across a convoy today containing 4 merchants and 5 (five!) escorts to go with it. Not very big merchants either...


Happy hunting, m8.

[Rockin Robbins]

In general there is one word of advice for attacking escorts: don't. But if you must, take a look at the thread referenced above.

[gimpy117]

unless they're on to you don't do it...

[peabody]

Everything that is commented above plus an addition. When I first started, I thought it would be a good idea to try to take out the lead escort, but realized rather quickly that if you are lucky enough to get it, the explosion alerts the convoy, now EVERYONE is zig-zagging, and all the escorts are headed your way.

Peabody

[rifleman13]

If they're really a threat, you could always aim and fire either the aft or fore while they're coming at you at 0 degrees AOB, preferably with a Mk 18 or a 27...

It usually works... if I'm lucky!

[Petr]

Problem is, that I received an order to attack escorts. and I dont know, how to do that.

[rifleman13]

Order to attack escorts?

Maybe the order was meant for what are the escorts are escorting:
Capital ships and merchant ships.

Those are the primary targets, sink the escorts if you have to: use Mk 27 Cutie if possible.

[Petr]

I reported contact with convoy and I get new task to my tasklist "Attack escorts".

[Rockin Robbins]

If you're going to purposely attack escorts before detection, I'd target them from the side, just like a merchant. Down the throat shots are not very accurate and are basically creatures of survival. They aren't a primary attack method.

Once you're detected, hopefully by very loud booms, you can think about using the down the throat angle.

[tomoose]

"Attack escorts"?? I don't think I've received that message before. I'm using 1.4 with TMO and RSRD.

Personally I'd ignore that message and concentrate on the merchants. As RR stated above escorts should be avoided if possible (sometimes easier said than done, LOL).

[JonB]

Well, attacking escorts is working best during the night. The escorts are fast and can accelerate away from incoming torpedos wich they will spot early in daylight.

I usually set the torp about 0,5 metres below the draft and break them. I know some people have experienced problems with it but it has allways worked for me.


Orders or no orders, however I attack the escorts or not depends on how many they are comparing to the merchants.

A week ago a came across a convoy with about 9 merchants and only two escorts. I took the escorts out before surficing and then sunk the rest by deckgun and torps.
Compared to the 5 escorts and 4 merchants - situation I meantioned earlier in this thread...

[AngronIsAngry]

I am still one of the new guys around here and from what little I have seen, the best way to take down escorts is by Deck Gun ( at least in Stock 1.4 and given that you can avoid getting ganged up by the escorts).
The Natural Sinking Mod [NSM] has now cured me of such follies.

If you want to take a more "serious" approach than the Deck Gun, I consider stealth and decoys the most valuable tools and zero gyro torpedo shots the most helpful technique.

This worked for me in Stock 1.4 with NSM and Mk 14 Torps
Lets say you managed to take down the first escort with your method of choice(hint, from the side you might even be able to score on one or two additional merchies). With the first BOOOOOM! deploy a decoy and fix your speed at 1kn. If you haven't Rigged for Silence, do so now. Slowly creep away from the decoy as very soon, there'll be some hostiles circling it.
Try getting some 700-1000 yards of water filled space between yourself and the circlers. Get your TDC to think of a target with 0kn(speed dial) at either 000 or 180 bearing (stadimeter or sonar station).
Now the catch or tricky or fun part (depending on persnal opinion): Deciding on the Lead Angle
For me it is pretty much just guessing as you have to estimate the speed of a circling target and your relative position to it. Usually at a roughly 90° approach, a lead around 15° works (give or take 5°)
Once that worked you can repeat form "deploy a decoy" atop.

Staying at Periscope Depth or sink.... sry.... dive beneath the thermal layer is kinda a touch-and-go thing. For reloading I tend to leave a decoy just above the thermal layer and dive beneath it. Everytime the escorts get close, I drop a decoy and do a turn.

hope that helps
have fun