Electric Torpedos and convoys in June 1944...

[Systemlord]

Originally Posted by Peto

Yes! You got it Systemlord. It's a very important part of remaining undetected or getting away.

Wow! I must have played SH3 for 8 solid months and never knew anything about detection methods, no wonder why it seem so random that I would escape. Sometimes changing directions would either kill me or not. I do have another question though, I noticed that my new 5" deck gun only loads anti-aircraft and HE shells, but no AP shells. My two 40mm flak guns can load HE along with AP shells, is there something funny going on here? I do have that bug where I moved my deck gun (from BOW to AFT) and lost my aft and bow deck gun crewman slots, now my gun reload slowly. I could NOT load the game before the bug cause I deleted my old saves.

[Peto]

[quote=Systemlord]

Originally Posted by Peto

I do have another question though, I noticed that my new 5" deck gun only loads anti-aircraft and HE shells, but no AP shells. My two 40mm flak guns can load HE along with AP shells, is there something funny going on here?

I "think" that HE for the 5" is normal. It has enough force behind it to penetrate standard hulls anyway...

[Rockin Robbins]

When pursued by more than two escorts, I'm looking to tag one of them to cause havoc and then creep away in the resulting chaos. In order to do that I'm always looking for the opportunity to come back up from my deep running position to periscope depth to regain the initiative.

My ultimate goal is to find a sneaky escort shut down and listening. I'll give him a newrly 100% probability shot to kill him. An electric torpedo is OK with that but you'll have equal or better success with a Mark 14.

If I have to I'll try a down the throat shot. My experience with Trigger Maru is that a spread of three is no more likely to hit than a single torpedo and three is too high a price for a couple of hundred ton subchaser. I also always shoot Mark 14s on high speed shallowest possible setting on bearing 0º or 180º only. The Mark 18s are so slow that they miss over twice as much. With scope up and moving away from the charging escort, shoot at 400 yards. Down scope, dive and hard left or right immediately. Don't lollygag at the eyepiece looking to see if you have a hit. You'll hear the boom if you hit and you'll need the time if you miss.

Generally I'll turn away from the escort's track 45 to 90º, power down to the thermal at ahead emergency, hit silent running and make a final 90º turn below the layer.

On a down the throat shot I'm perfectly willing to abort the shot if everything isn't perfect and just go deep to try again later. It's hard enough to hit those guys when the shot looks perfect.

[Kloef]

Apart from the Mark 14/18 thing my tactics are the same..

I try to get into the convoy and keep a bearing on one or more destroyers,with the bow of the boat facing the destroyers,keeping a 45 degree angle on the convoy in the path of their zig-zag pattern,so when i see a chance i can attack at least one of the destoyers or try for a convoy ship,if there is no chance,or the risk is too big i dive to the thermal layer,ignoring any safety precautions like silent running or 1/3 ahead,by the time i made my move and the destoryers are making their way to my position i go to silent running and dive as deep as 300 feet,ignoring the thermal layer which doesnt allways seem a safe haven..

Also i have the habit of following any crippled ships that i damaged,so when after a period of time he is left behind by either the convoy or the destroyers i can finish him off..also the situation can occur that one of the dd's stays behind to cover the crippled ships,an excellent time to finish off the dd and the merchant,as it seems the dd stays in a stationary position,easy to sneak away,turn around and surprise him at 1500 feet..

Originally posted by Mush Martin

Do what I do either sink em all from outside five thousand yds, or show your tower above surface to draw the destroyers onto steady CBDR track and albeit converging on you its steady and stable situation for long enough so Sink em all, dine on the convoy at leisure. M

Do you find that you get a lot less response from the destroyers when shooting at long range? Is it easier to slip away with several thousand yards between you and the destroyers? Urge