Dealing with Destroyers

[Leon West]

Originally Posted by Soundman

Sometimes the best defense in a strong offense. I generally try to avoid them, but if I'm detected, depending on the circumstance, I'll take him on with a "down the throat shot". This takes some practice, but I'm successful about 85% of the time doing this.

I've done this once! I was tracking a convoy of British Ships, and I didn't realize they had a J-Class Destroyer circling the formation (He must've been on the opposite end of the formation because my hydrophones never picked up warship sounds) Anyways, I surfaced figuring I was safe, and on the surface I could cover more water and get closer to the ships...

That's when I noticed the destroyer's silhouette on the horizon. They cranked her hard rudder and jammed that throttle to flank speed.

I immediately dove to periscope depth, went silent, lined up my sights, and fired off two torps.

The J-Class tried to evade and went hard starboard, which only exposed her entire left side, and both torps struck, one near the bow, the other midships...sunk like a rock.

I blame pure luck.

Any time other than this that I've face destroyes usually ends badly...In other words, me crawling along being hammered by depth charges.