Questions on night attack tactics.

[gi_dan2987]

I am curious to know how to successfully execute a night attack. I use the 4 bearings method by Nefelodamon, but that only works assuming the target ship maintains its heading and speed. If anyone has any answers please let me know.

Well what exactly do you mean?? and are you using complete manual targeting or what??

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by gi_dan2987

I am curious to know how to successfully execute a night attack. I use the 4 bearings method by Nefelodamon, but that only works assuming the target ship maintains its heading and speed. If anyone has any answers please let me know.

The 4 bearings method isn't generally used for night situations, but more when having (sound) bearings only without a range measurement. But nothing is keeping you from it if you find it difficult to see the target and measure range to it. It still works since you have directions. It just happens more quickly than long distance sounds because they are nearby. Alternatively, you can ask the watch-officer (when he is on the bridge) to give you a bearing and range. He has less of a problem with the dark. You can then plot the position of the target on the map after you add your own course. When you know where he is going and how fast, then you setup your attack at some point further along the track and lie in wait there.

Unless a target sees you then it does keep it's course until the next waypoint. Even if it does see you then it's only a slight wandering around it's base course. Still no biggie to average out. And depending on the campaign mod this doesn't happen very frequent. You might still have a few hours before it happens.

So I wonder why you are having problems with night attack. Is it because you can't see them? Are you getting caught too quickly? Or something else?

[Gargamel]

Night attacks were preferably done on the surface, at least early on. Only later in the war did they start doing mainly submerged attacks, if they even got a chance to attack at all.

[Wulfgar44]

I have had no problem with attacks at night. Sometimes I stumble upon ships and can still have a successful attack. As it was already stated, U can use your officer, it's realistic too,... on the surface. When I get close I make sure my EnGINES are not too loud, that is running at high speeds. I have been able to just run the Merchants down at night. I, mean I do set my attack angle, maybe stay of a little ways to get ahead. But it is usually EASY PICKINS'. I am in March '40 right now so it will not stay that way.

[Walruss]

If seas are good, and it's small (less than 5,000 GRT), then nothing beats sneaking up to about 1,500 meters and sneaking an 88 just below their water line. I'm still in '39, so if there's a good opp to save an eel, I always do.

Elsewise, no radar, surface attacks are the way to go.... Tried it in the middle of a convoy last night (see my convoy tactics question thread), worked an absolute charm.

[papa_smurf]

In my current patrol (Late '41 in a Type IX/C), I managed to attack and sink a large cargo and Granville type whilst surfaced, even though they were been protected by a Hunt II destroyer. Fortunately the weather was in my favour, with it been low cloud and at night, so I could get relatively close (around 3800m) before firing 4 eels then diving immediately and evading the Hunt II.

[Missing Name]

I like night surface raids as well. I tend to do a "Das Boot" attack - run at the convoy, cause lots of ruckus. But when I'm not suicidal, I wait very patiently for the convoy to come to me. On a particularly foggy night, I was only 1000 meters away from my target before I opened fire. Or I wait submerged and then surface (slowly) right in the center, next to the best targets.