elite enemy gun crews

[Vanilla]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The average hit rate for naval gunnery overall in World War Two was about 7%. Outside of five miles it was only 2%, inside of that 12%, hence the average of seven.

2% is no wonder since shooting at 20-30km distance was usual.

5NM is 9.26km I am rarely able to spot a merchant at that range, neither they are - so they do not shoot at me at this kind of range. And according to the data you've given although we can barely see the target inside this range we still get 12% precision. And 12% is 1-2 shells out of ten hit if they were able to spot me. Then as far as I remember precision percentage increases exponentialy with range decreasing, doesn't it? So 2-3 km give what 70%?

Let's look at it from another perespective:

Originally Posted by wiki

In the American Civil War Confederate troops equipped with barrel-length three power scopes mounted on the exceptionally accurate British Whitworth rifle had been known to kill Union officers at ranges of about 800 yards (731.5m)

730m to hit a man in those times! And we are talking WWII and gun shells that are much more precise: they are heavier (less wind and other aerodynamic's issues), many of naval guns aren't rifled - so no nutation issues, etc., and we are not shooting at a person, but rather a U-boot, that is way bigger - the shell can even land a bit short of the target and still hit it (ricochet or underwater hit).
Another example is Tiger tank - its gun was precise up to 3km (Wiki: Tigers were reported to have knocked out enemy tanks at ranges greater than 2.5 miles (4,000 m)), standard range to hit a tank with a first shot was 1.5km. I don't think naval guns are that much different. I agree that the tanks do not rock and sway while shooting - but on the other hand tank is much smaller target then a U-boot. So I am still not convenienced re guns' precision.

Completely agree on the damage part.