Task Force Attack!

[jasondef]

Got 8 fish left, 4 bow, 4 stern, trying to finish off my patrol when I get a radio update that a task force is nearby, and I'm just in time to get into perfect position. So I go check it out. Wow, 2 Fuso battleships, 3 Shokaku carriers, 2 Takao heavy cruisers, 7 assorted destroyer escorts, and a couple small tankers trailing.

Wondering what different people's strategy here would be, and maybe some tactical tips! I'm still relatively new to SH4 (though a SH3 vet, its been a long time), my third mission (though only second merchant patrol mission), no idea how many torps it takes to sink a battleship, carrier, heavy cruiser etc. My first thought is prioritize the battleships, second the carriers in ranking of tonnage. Or should I just avoid this heavy group with limited torps and just a lone sub? Is this madness!! But c'mon, you can't resist.

So my first run through, I fire 3 out the stern at the furthest Fuso, 1 at Fuso #2, (able to run under the traffic in the way with the Fuso's deep draft) swing around flank for bow shots, 2 at Fuso #2, and the final 2 at the nearest carrier, then dive down deep and silent just in time for the 2 or 3 nearest destroyers to start on me. Before my depth charge into oblivion, I get to see the fireworks a little. Not the most accurate, I get the first 2 in the first fuso, one at the second, and both my carrier shots strike their mark.

Well, the dang Fuso's seemed to shrug them off like mosquito bites, not even slowing down near as I can tell. The carrier's nose dipped down into the sea, but it kept putting along, not quite sinking. Well at least they won't be launching planes off that one any time soon! So my demise and that of my crew had at least some small meaning I guess.

So I'm gearing up for my next try, with some new strategy. I'm thinking with my remaining firepower, maybe I better just focus on the Fuso's, it looks like it may take 4 hits each to sink em' at least. Or maybe more, so focus on one plus a carrier. Or maybe just all at one? And to evade once I'm empty, I think I'll try heading under the fleet, hoping to get lost in the noise to buy some time and get out of there.

What would YOU do??

[FIREWALL]

I think you'll do fine. Personally I'd go for carriers. They do more damage to us and our Task groups in the War.

Good Hunting

[jasondef]

That's a good thought. But I was going for the tonnage, maybe for realism the carriers would be more worthy targets for the war effort. And I'm guessing carriers take less fish to sink, so if I can get the 3 carriers instead of the 2 Fuso's, that'd be more tonnage. That's assuming I get all hits in the right places, unlikely.

[eatmafish]

congrats on winning the lotto man

did you report contacts to HQ? I believe it's time to go all out attack (1 ship at a time) at the cost of abandon ship if neccesary.

[Bathrone]

Funny, as only yesterday I was griping about not having big encounters and playing today....low and behond a nice task force pops up close for me too!

Im not all that experienced and I had to mow through four destroyers before getting to the main pack. I was coming up from behind at night with the diesels whacking away. I later thought I should have veered to the west or east, moved in front of them and then patiently sat while they came to me.

Anyway I took out the four destroyers using between one and two torps each on magnetic triggering - about 0.5 meters under their draft depth. I dont know if this actually does more damage or not but the weather was clear so what the heck.

Now with this pesky ships on fire and plunging to the bottom I got within 5000 meters of the main pack. Two fleet carriers, two cruisers, wow! I tried in for one of the flat tops but I was pinged and I was in a world of hurt from there. I have a savegame at a good point, and long range torp attacks (standard torp fitout) dont work even on such large ships.

It seems to me I need to do better at predicting where I need to be and being positioned at the right time in the right place.

[jasondef]

Not a bad tactic, taking out the destroyers first. I tend to ignore those, saving my fish for the big boys, and rack up the tonnage. Then play the hide and seek game. Plus, I find its easy for me to take out the first destoyer, but after that when they're doing the evasives, tough to hit!

[Taurolas]

Destroyers are going to find you if you so much as fart within 4k.... the other thing is if the destroyers hear you the rest of the group will start doing zig zags if not already doing so. The idea then is to do a work around if possible (track their heading and see which port looks favourable or if a battle group their final destination) and then split and hit the gas you can always track them via radar if you have it and stay well out of visual range.

Have you ever tried long range attacks? This at the moment is something i'm trying as i've had good success so far from outside the general destroyer spotting and hearing distance range, hitting a carrier in rough seas and sink it from 7k is my best so far, neither the destroyers or main convoy saw em comming (roughish seas helped).

If like you say you got shook up by destroyers then it would seem they've already heard you so i'd say set your torps for magnetic (depending on date) or set depth no deaper than the cruisers and fire a spread at the 2nd main ship in line, you should then hit something of interest apart from a suicidal destroyer and if they zig / zag someone will get on the wrong end of a torp, this is the hail mary shot hehe. then go as deep as possible, now when i say deep i mean lights popping in the conning tower deep... those destroyers just dont know when to give up. depth charges from above and lights popping in the tower man its intense hehe.

[Baywing]

Personally, I'll always go for the carriers, they are the prizes of WW2, and they can do the most damage to our fleet. With 8 torps, I'd pick one carrier and send at least 3, maybe all 4. At the first hit, the entire task force will start evasive, so I think it best to get the job done fast and before the DD's get after you. I'd make my first shot with the stern tubes if possible. Then, I'd keep plugging away at that one carrier until she goes under. With any torps left, I'd evade and try to take out a tanker or 2, without oil, they ain't gettin' very far.

[The Fishlord]

Originally Posted by jasondef

What would YOU do??

Move at 2/3 speed to within 2000-1500 yards of the first Fuso. Fire all your bow torps at him (be sure to spread them out in this order: 1 centered using lock, 1 1 degree forward, 1 2 degrees forward, and 1 1 degree backward). Set your torp speed to fast, then fire all of them as quick as possible. Dive under him; destroyers will have a tough time going after you when they all bunch up in the center with the battleships.

Pop up on the other side and wait till you're in the same position with the second Fuso as with the first, except with stern tubes. Get closer if possible (within 1500 yards, too close to avoid). Fire ONE, ONE torpedo under his B turret.

Depending on your AI settings either battleship may stop moving. If any of them keeps moving, fire another torp into them until the propellors stop. When they do, just wait. They'll probably list pretty far if you've hit them in the right places. Finish them off at your discretion if they don't sink on their own (go deep and use silent running, then turn on timecompression until they stop sinking, then resurface and finish them).

[jasondef]

OK, I took all ideas into thought. Second time around, I got in front of the pack, fired 2 fish at each of the battleships with my stern, torps on slow. Turned around flank, fired at the closest carrier with 2 from bow high speed torps, saving my final 2 for finishing off any limping ships. I tried to work the torp speeds in this manner to get all torps to hit as close to the same time as possible. Then I headed for the approaching middle of the convoy. Managed hits with all but one fish this time! One battle ship sunk, the other crippled & listing, screws dead, same for the carrier. Was able to finish off each one with one of my remaining two torps each, easy when they are slowing to a stop. Talk about tonnage! Then I snuck out the back of the convoy, getting lost in the rest of the traffic on the way, steering directly under a couple vessels intentionally. I was well clear heading in the opposite direction, when the 7 destoyers were depth charging the front, opposite side of the convoy from me, no idea where I was. Couldn't find me, running on silent at about 1 knot the rest of the way. My battery was down around 15-20% by this time, but I was able to do 1 knot seemingly forever.

After maybe 2 hours of game time, I was able to surface and start to recharge, just out of sight of the convoy. Hard part was the continous patrol planes that plagued me, had to submerge seemed like every five minutes for a few hours until they thinned out, barely able to keep my battery charged above zero and keep moving away. Maybe that's another good reason to go after all the carriers first, so at least you can make your getaway easier without the constant buzzing of those annoying mosquitos, lesson learned for the future.

[Captain Vlad]

What would I do...*ponders*

Assuming a successful approach, I'd fire all four bow tubes at the carrier that I'm most likely to hit. I would then go ahead flank, bring my aft tubes to bear as fast as I could, and fire the four stern torpedoes at the same carrier.

What I decide to shoot at, sinks. Period.

Then dive like hell and get ready for the mother of all depth chargings.

[C DuDe]

Hmmmmz,

Sitting in my S-class is thinking of getting just the 1 carrier , but it's a carrier!!!!

[NealT]

Carriers. They would take out the carriers. I am sure of it.

[bookworm_020]

What would I do??

I've already have done it!

[Schultzy]

Nice work guys, i've never even seen a TG yet...i'm happy to go home with a Sampan under my belt.