Deck Gun Aiming

[Kip Chiakopf]

What's the best aiming point for a deck gun?

[Mittelwaechter]

In Stock SH3 you simply have to hit the ship to reduce its 'lifepoints'; in GWX you'll have to hit below the waterline.

If you shoot yourself - shorten the 1WO reported distance for 50 to 100 meters. You'll see a watersplash and directly after the impact explosion below the waterline.

[Jimbuna]

Also aim for different locations along the length of the hull to include quicker flooding rates in each compartment.

[Missing Name]

I like to concentrate on the bow for a bit and then move along the side. If possible, nail both port and starboard.

Depending upon what you are attacking, different superstructures can have a nice effect. Depth charge and mine racks go up with a really big bang, while lifeboats make a flash and nothing else. Of course, if your target has depth charge racks, you probably shouldn't be using the deck gun anyway. DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO.

Has anyone successfully knocked a rudder or propeller out of commission? I've gotten it so that the target rudder has very obvious damage decals, but there is no change in performance.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Missing Name

IDO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO.

If you want to sink the target efficiently, and are playing GWX, you shoot as far below the waterline as possible.

All else is expensive eye-candy.

I am on a patrol now in which I have sunk 35K with three torps and about 70 shells. Completely embarrassing amateur hour. Luckily, I am not at my patrol grid, yet, so I may be able to redeem myself.

Many newcomers to SHIII forget, or miss, that it is a simulation, not an arcade shoot-em-up. Largely it is about efficiency and reality. Use your fuel wisely, use your torpedoes carefully, use your shells to best effect.

[bookworm_020]

The only targets above the waterline worth hitting are the gun positions! If you don't, it can cause you large amounts of pain!

[Tessa]

Originally Posted by Missing Name

I like to concentrate on the bow for a bit and then move along the side. If possible, nail both port and starboard.

Depending upon what you are attacking, different superstructures can have a nice effect. Depth charge and mine racks go up with a really big bang, while lifeboats make a flash and nothing else. Of course, if your target has depth charge racks, you probably shouldn't be using the deck gun anyway. DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO.

Has anyone successfully knocked a rudder or propeller out of commission? I've gotten it so that the target rudder has very obvious damage decals, but there is no change in performance.

There has been one instance where I (might) have knocked the propeller out of commision. I had already scored several good hits against her so I can't be sure that the hit directly to the rudder disabled it or not.



The reference to the ship sinking was another disabled merchant the I had left behind to take care of later but it ended up sinking anyways. From the fire you see above water this ship has already sustained massive damage, I'm unsure it that one lucky hit knocked it out or not, either way it did stop moving after I made that shot.

Waterline shots are tricky as the frequently look like misses. When done right there will be the splash a few meters away from the boat followed by a little spark that goes up in the area you hit - that is the kind of hits needed to sink the ship.

[kbak303]

I hit a gun emplacement for the first time...was letting the AI deck crew fire the gun will I looked via the UZO....VERY satisfying seeing the explosion and two wee lil crewmen going sailing off into the air and over the side...
was low on torps on trip home, picking off a coastal freighter by itself...

[Gargamel]

I know I have knocked a prop on a ship. First shot looked like it went aft of the target, but she stopped moving. I zoom in and theres no prop! Easy shooting from there. Lucky first shot is all though. Unless i'm trying to knock out the guns on a weakly armed merchant, I dont go for sniper shots, just waterlines.

[Tessa]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

I know I have knocked a prop on a ship. First shot looked like it went aft of the target, but she stopped moving. I zoom in and theres no prop! Easy shooting from there. Lucky first shot is all though. Unless i'm trying to knock out the guns on a weakly armed merchant, I dont go for sniper shots, just waterlines.

Knocking out the propeller isn't really helpful unless you do it in a convoy where you create a disabled ship that you can come back later to finish. As paradoxical as it sounds, sinking a stationary target can be more difficult than one in motion. At sea I can sink the Hood, Rodney, Revenge with 1 well placed shot they go down easy, inside a harbor it can take 4 or 5 eels before they finally sink.

Depending on your range you might not have much choice on where to hit. When I'm finishing off an armed large merchant with the deck gun I'll always be at least 3000-4000m away. Just far enough that I can continually hit the target, and such an extreme range for them that they can't hit anything. The shots location is largely irrelevant, what is most important is getting it under the waterline which can deal out some serious damage.

[kapuhy]

I'm using stock SH3 and contrary to what I've heard, shooting below waterline is still the proper way to sink ships - yes there's the hitpoint thing that allows you to sink any target by repeatedly hitting it anywhere until it blows up, but they seem to go down much faster if you concentrate on making as many holes along one side of the hull, below waterline, as you can. The ship will usually capsize fairly quick.

Only with tankers I try to go for blowing the ship up instead.

[Missing Name]

Originally Posted by kapuhy

Only with tankers I try to go for blowing the ship up instead.

Indeed, quite satisfying.