Enemy task force

[meter]

New to game, playing with gwx. Early 1940, when I get messages of
"enemy task force" should I be chasing them? I am confused as uboats mainly went after merchants correct?

Also, my "damage" control teams. How do I asign them to certain areas?
Can't find info in manual.

Thanks

[KL-alfman]

1) you are right. mainly you are supposed to sink merchant-vessels. but if the opportunity arises and the TF is nearing your position, hmm - it's up to you then

2) be sure is the damage-repair team is "on duty" (i.e. in the left upper corner) and you're not silent running. then just click onto the compartment you like to be repaired (usually the flooding has to stop first).
some areas can only be repaired when surfaced (the guns and the deck e.g.)

edit: welcome to the pack!

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by meter

New to game, playing with gwx. Early 1940, when I get messages of
"enemy task force" should I be chasing them? I am confused as uboats mainly went after merchants correct?

Also, my "damage" control teams. How do I asign them to certain areas?
Can't find info in manual.

Thanks

If it's a radio message, they are usually only in there for gameplay immersion. If they show up on your nav map they are fair game but usually hard to intercept because of they're high speed.

You'll find the damage control section in the top left of the crew screen....simply drag and drop them into the empty spaces or alternatively right click on a compartment and then left click on the damage control section to move crew en mass.

The mouse clicks may be the other way round (it's been a while since I've performed such a procedure) so try both ways, you'll soon know the right one.

Welcome to SubSim

[Vipper]

Convoys sometimes have a large warships in it too, even battleships (that is why i don't approach convoy in dense fog, armed merchants and cruisers will shot me to pieces at close range) and they are a lot slower than in Task Force that does sail like 20 knots...I think it is not worth to hunt task force, if you happen to be on path one of those you may wait it.

[krashkart]

I've only intercepted one task force, and it was because I happened to be ahead of them when the radio transmission came in. They move fast, too. That one was clocking along at over 30 knots until they saw my torpedoes coming.

Welcome aboard, meter.

[applesthecat]

All task forces are mostly destroyers and other sub killers. There really is no logic in going after task forces as a result. They have the edge, and even if you do sink a destroyer, it doesn't help the war effort like sinking a merchant. And what's more, if you sink a destroyer, there will be three more hounding you and each one is capable of killing you.

If it is a troop ship, it will be traveling so fast that you have virtually no chance of setting up a shot, plus with the zigzag tactic, and your slow torpedoes, they can mostly out run your fish, or avoid them.

What the Germans should have created is a small sub with a small crew, capable of great depths, with a huge battery capacity capable of fast underwater speed, carrying a few reliable sound-seeking torpedoes. Attacking is one thing, but being able to get away afterward is the key to survival. Depth and speed are key and those are the two things subs lack.

[Dissaray]

I have found a great chalange in hunting task forces. Their speed and leathality make for quite the adventurous duel. That said I generaly only engage them when they have some thing worth the killing; if all I come across in a task force is distroyers I let them go on their mary way. But if they have a cruser or better I let fly on them.

In one attack I managed to down a heavy cruser and an escort carier in a single attack run, I also winged a distroyer in the attack that went down befor the evading was all said and done. They are fast and can be hard to run down but with a little trigonomitry and some luck you can get out ahead of them and into a 90deg fireing position that will put you close enuf that you can strike with relitive ease. In my attack they didn't know I was there until the CV was burning and listing heavy to port and by that point it was too late for the other ships to take evasive actions that would save them. I nearly died on the way out of that attack but the tonage was well worth the risk.

[sharkbit]

I think it is a case of being in the right palce at the right time when it comes to making an attack on a task force. Unless you're ahead of them and almost on their track, you'll never get them. Save the gas.

When I get a radio report, I take a look at it to see if they're heading my way and not too far off. If they're more than 100km or so or not even heading my way, I save the fuel for hunting merchies.

I got lucky last patrol out of Bergen in 6/42. I ran into my first task force, which was unreported, with a Southampton cruiser escorted by 3 destroyers. I was in perfect position, right off his track. I had to do very little manuevering to get in position and got him with 3 eels.

The escorts barely had a clue, although I suffered some minor damage to my conning tower and Flak guns from a luck nearby depth charge. Other than that, I escaped after about an hour of hunting by an escort.

[desirableroasted]

I never chase after a TF, but if I can reasonably move into their path, I will.

They are fast, but rarely zigzagging. If you have good weather (that is, night, moderate visibility, etc) it's worth taking a look to see if there's a capital ship in the middle.

I have bagged Nelson, Hood (twice), Rodney, etc on patrols.

You need to set up your firing solution quickly, aim only for the capital ship, and head for your crush depth as soon as the last eel leaves the tubes. The last time I whanged Nelson, I had 9 Tribals and C&Ws on me for an hour.

If the TF is nothing but destroyers/cruisers, leave it alone. Not worth the hassle.

[maillemaker]

Interesting. I always assumed task forces were hunter-killer groups and avoided them.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by maillemaker

Interesting. I always assumed task forces were hunter-killer groups and avoided them.

Sometimes when they only contain destroyers or escorts they can give you that impression.

After mid 43 and especially in the Bay of Biscay you will start to be aware of dedicated units....very deadly.