Armed merchants in 1939?

johnm · 04-08-08, 11:33 AM

Running S-boote mod in NYGM as a relaxer (honest!)

Came up against a medium merchant. Attacked and put a torpedo under it's rear. It slowed down and lay dead in the water.

Came in for a gun attack to speed up the sinking, next thing I know is the merchant opens up on me from a rear deck gun! in september 1939!

Being a full blooded hero, I yanked the throttles open and run for the hills!

Stopped about 3k away. Waited. then tried another run in with the bow 20mm blazing. Worked a treat - for them! tok out my radio, one diesel and the bridge damaged. retired at 40 knots to a safe distance, I'd forgot that SHIII doesnt allow you to kill the gun's crew on a ship. Nasty game.

While trying to repair the S-boote to try again, the merchant slowly sank. Success. It was a polish ship.

Off we went - home.

What a dirty trick - arming a merchant right at the start of the war - Sept 1939! How come?

Zajcev · 04-08-08, 12:01 PM

Actually you can make the enemy gun silent by hitting it with your gun

. When I see a merchant firing at me, I stay ~2km away from it and keep firing at his gun. It can be destroyed with single hit.

bigboywooly · 04-08-08, 12:05 PM

I know some British merchants were armed at wars outbreak
Caught a couple of uboat skippers by surprise too especially as they were going about restricted warfare and using prize rules

I guess its totally possible Polish mercs were armed hastily too

Though you may have been unlucky with that one

Avatar · 04-08-08, 12:53 PM

I was about to post a thread concerning this. That all merchants had a deck gun even in 1941. I thought only the largets merchants had deck guns? Now in 41 everyone is packing heat. Does this seem realistic?

Jimbuna · 04-08-08, 01:26 PM

Shortly after Dunkirk (May 40)......Britain started to feel the real benefits of being able to concentrate a little more than she had previously on her merchant shipping.

Vessels were 'armed' with increasing speed from then on.

U-84 · 04-08-08, 09:32 PM

i have seen as early as early 1940, merchants being armed. Came as a big surprise to me to see a shell come flying at me from a merchant im about to sink.

johnm · 04-09-08, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zajcev

Actually you can make the enemy gun silent by hitting it with your gun

. When I see a merchant firing at me, I stay ~2km away from it and keep firing at his gun. It can be destroyed with single hit.

That's probably true but as I was using an S-Boote, the biggest gun I've got is 3.7 mm Flak gun. I don't think I could throw a shell 2km. I usually try to get within 1km before serious shooting.

At least I now know - it's possible to silence a merchant ship's gun!

Thanks

04-08-08, 11:33 AM	#1
johnm Navy Dude Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North of England Posts: 173 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	Armed merchants in 1939? Running S-boote mod in NYGM as a relaxer (honest!) Came up against a medium merchant. Attacked and put a torpedo under it's rear. It slowed down and lay dead in the water. Came in for a gun attack to speed up the sinking, next thing I know is the merchant opens up on me from a rear deck gun! in september 1939! Being a full blooded hero, I yanked the throttles open and run for the hills! Stopped about 3k away. Waited. then tried another run in with the bow 20mm blazing. Worked a treat - for them! tok out my radio, one diesel and the bridge damaged. retired at 40 knots to a safe distance, I'd forgot that SHIII doesnt allow you to kill the gun's crew on a ship. Nasty game. While trying to repair the S-boote to try again, the merchant slowly sank. Success. It was a polish ship. Off we went - home. What a dirty trick - arming a merchant right at the start of the war - Sept 1939! How come?

04-08-08, 12:05 PM	#3
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	I know some British merchants were armed at wars outbreak Caught a couple of uboat skippers by surprise too especially as they were going about restricted warfare and using prize rules I guess its totally possible Polish mercs were armed hastily too Though you may have been unlucky with that one __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

04-08-08, 01:26 PM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,552 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Shortly after Dunkirk (May 40)......Britain started to feel the real benefits of being able to concentrate a little more than she had previously on her merchant shipping. Vessels were 'armed' with increasing speed from then on. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-08-08, 09:32 PM	#6
U-84 Medic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: under you in my VIIC Posts: 168 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	i have seen as early as early 1940, merchants being armed. Came as a big surprise to me to see a shell come flying at me from a merchant im about to sink. __________________ Never fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning- Field Marshall Erwin Rommel Courage is being scared to death, but saddeling up anyways- John Wayne

04-08-08, 12:01 PM	#2
Zajcev Seaman Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 34 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Actually you can make the enemy gun silent by hitting it with your gun . When I see a merchant firing at me, I stay ~2km away from it and keep firing at his gun. It can be destroyed with single hit.

04-08-08, 12:53 PM	#4
Avatar Commodore Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Way out there Posts: 603 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	I was about to post a thread concerning this. That all merchants had a deck gun even in 1941. I thought only the largets merchants had deck guns? Now in 41 everyone is packing heat. Does this seem realistic?