Dealing with Destroyers

[old_tex]

I have to agree that "the best defense is a good offense." I have, after a number of attempts, been able to successfully engage destoyers using the following technique:
1) Navigate so that the destroyer is coming from the rear.
2) Set your torpedo depth between five and ten feet for destoyers (five feet for gun boats.
3) Lock the periscope on the target.
4) Use rudder control rather than compass. Maintain the average enemy route on the 180 degree line. That is, directly aft of the sub. Try not to use large rudder movements. Maintain a speed of at least "standard." Keeping him on the 180 degree line lessens the gyro angle and shortens the run time for the torpedo because the route is shorter.
5) Open the torpedo doors to save time ("Q"). Torps on "fast" and "contact/influence"
6) Use the attack map to verify torpedo's track. Wait until the destroyer get within about 400 yds and fire. I don't even use the periscope, but rather use the attack map. My XO can call out info to me.

I can confidently engage destroyers using this method (and survive). I have tried a "Down the throat" approach, which is more difficult because of the closing rate between the two vessels.

Note: If you fire too late, the torpedo will not arm. If that happens "Crash Dive" and pull down the periscope because he is going to run over you. Immediately order "periscope depth" as he goes over and re-engage as he moves away. Set up again. This time with the forward tubes. Make sure that you get everything ready BEFORE you start the engagement. Good Luck. Let me know how you do. Old_tex

[Sledgehammer427]

the only thing i would add to ur strategem old_tex is to turn your rudder hard in either direction to gain just a little more leverage on your escape...

what i do is the down the throat idea from soundman,
but i launch a spread of at least 3 torps and wait at peri depth until he veers.
when he veers, i veer in the opposite direction, stfu, and dive until the hull threatens to cave

[Soundman]

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer427

the only thing i would add to ur strategem old_tex is to turn your rudder hard in either direction to gain just a little more leverage on your escape...

what i do is the down the throat idea from soundman,
but i launch a spread of at least 3 torps and wait at peri depth until he veers.
when he veers, i veer in the opposite direction, stfu, and dive until the hull threatens to cave

I have used stern tubes as well, it just depends. If I'm getting low on bow torpedoes, I will tend to use the stern tubes if time allows enough turn rate to maneuver into position. Both will work equally well with this technique. The (sometimes) disadvantage with Tex's method, is the time you may have to turn 180 degrees from them, may not be long enough. It all depends on how close they are to you. The important thing is that we are in agreement with taking an offensive stance, because in most cases, the percentages of taking them down with this technique, outweighs the survival percentage of a DD on top of you (given you are competent with this method). AND, you may very well end up with two or three on top of you before it's over.

One thing I failed to mention first time around...It helps to have knowledge of how to fire on any bearing you desire in a moments notice. I always re-enter the solution (update the bearing) just before firing. i.e... Upon determining it's time to fire NOW, and the target is at say, 1/2 a degree starboard, I will update the TDC to that bearing. If the boat is nearing minimum firing range and is not at exactly zero degrees, you will not have the time to turn the boat to put him at zero degrees. All this is hard to explain in detail, you just have to experiment for yourself to understand. Again...it takes a little practice to become proficient with this method, and it is really not that hard. You don't need to do any fancy calculations or use any tools, it's really a pretty instinctive, shoot from the hip kind of technique, but man is it fun !

[NEON DEON]

Well lets say you are in bad shape. Your air is FUBAR and the DD is making another run.

Keep your sound profile to a minimum by presenting your arse to his bearing. Come up to 25 meters. Under 2 knots silent running.

Thats right its going to get hairy

Set four forward tubes to contact and shallow. Make sure tdc is clear. no last bearings no position keeper and open the tubes!

Sound battle stations. (maximum crew reaction)

Follow nearest target with sonar.

Put the scope up at minimum zoom at 000. (more hairyness as thats just below destroyer draft.)

Set gun crew to fire at will and target weapons.(only if you have forward firing deck gun. Dont be a pussy!)


When the bearing changes rapidly thats when he is right over your head.

Ie: pinging crazy map showing rapid change in bearing.

Order back emergancy!

Emergency surface!

Watch the gun icon. once it has signaled manned, man the foward AA yourself(not the deck gun) and aim at the depth charges!


Poof!

bye bye destroyer.

now in case it does not work then fire a spread with no bearings at left 2 right 2 left 5 right 5.

PS at slow speed.

This only works if one DD is on top o you.

[gimpy117]

I pop off a couple Noise makers and do a spiral as I crash dive....seems to work...
the whole point is to make it difficult to anticipate where you will be to drop charges and the noise maker makes it even harder. Basically if you're shallow and not in a maneuver you're pretty well dead.

you have 32 hours of battery at 1/3 but a little less air (I think I'll have to time it); get the "historical Crush depths mod"
and go to about 400+ feet and your usually golden if you're at 1/3 and rigged for silent (I've made it to 412-420 in a porpoise class and more in a later class)

[old_tex]

Another evasive tactic I try to use is, as follows:
I came up inside a convoy and pop a couple of targets. That, of course, alerts the DEs. In looking around, I see that one of my hits has disabled a freighter. She is dead in the water. I mark her bow and stern on the attack map with "X"s and draw a line on each side. Then I dive. The DEs start looking for me as I creep away SLOW. As they begin to move away and I can make my way toward the disabled ship, I come up to periscope depth along side as close to the lines along one of her sides. Then I sit and wait for the DEs to start circling the area. Of course I use good periscope practice so as not to be noticed by the search lights (Night) or their being too close during the day. As a DE comes within range, I pop him. Then I wait for the next one. A little sneaky, but all's fair. Old_tex