Need some tactical advice...

CptLoonee · 05-02-11, 01:39 PM

I have honestly never used the 40s for anything but AA. Are they really effective against ships?

Thrair · 05-03-11, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptLoonee

I have honestly never used the 40s for anything but AA. Are they really effective against ships?

I've the same question.

Also, if you have cuties loaded into the aft tubes, bring her around and launch em in the general direction of the target ships, assuming this appears to be close range. Cuties, while weak and slow, have a notable tendency to blow the props off of ships, especially merchants. They may even get a warship, given the storm conditions (which tends to result in the AI slowing down).

Eventually escorts will leave the stricken ship to rejoin the main group, allowing you to finish the target off at your leisure.

CptLoonee · 05-03-11, 08:36 PM

I decided to shadow the convoy and weather the storm. It took 3 days!

Finally I set up in a good spot for a night time Dick O'kane attack and destroyed a 20000 ton carrier and a heavy cruiser!

Now I have 6 destroyers all over me depth charging me to hell. Not sure I'll make it.

Armistead · 05-03-11, 10:51 PM

The 40's work as fast or faster than the deckgun.. The 20 doesn't harm ships, not with TMO anyway, but it works better than the 40 for shooting off depth charge racks. Often in a storm I'll use it to come up behind a escort and shoot his racks off, but stay out of his visual range. Least if I have to dive, he can't dump anything on me.

Now, if this is a TF and not a convoy, deckguns and 40's are basically useless, a planned surface attack with torps is the best option. I may have to dive due to radar, but after I shoot, I surface and run away and dive somewhere else gaining position.

Good luck with the 6 DD's, should've attacked in the storm and ran out on the surface decks awash. Works great in a storm. I dive about 28 feet so the engines stay on, but waves will somtimes take you deeper, cutting on your electrics. You'll pop off and on on radar confusing them.

Radar may be bugged in stock. The JPS have two types, surface and air, but seems the air will pick up surface as it's detection rate is set too low to the surface. Mods correct this by adjusting the air radars height value so it can't hit surface ships. If you stay decks awash you can usually stay under the JPS surface radar.

magic452 · 05-04-11, 12:31 AM

Bad weather is your friend.

Magic

Daniel Prates · 05-04-11, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptLoonee

I decided to shadow the convoy and weather the storm. It took 3 days!

Finally I set up in a good spot for a night time Dick O'kane attack and destroyed a 20000 ton carrier and a heavy cruiser!

Now I have 6 destroyers all over me depth charging me to hell. Not sure I'll make it.

Easy to come in, difficult to come out, eh?

Personally I would never hit a convoy in very shallow waters, specially with heavy escort all around. Regardless of the weather. When we play SH it's all fun and games, but let's try to imagine ourselves in the real deal: attacking in this situation is close to suicide.

There is always the chance that, by sheer lack of luck, you run into 2 or 3 destroyers at the same time. Lack of visibility could cause you getting into such a situation. You would be dead before you had the time to say "damn the torpedoes!"

CptLoonee · 05-04-11, 11:26 PM

Good news. After the carrier and cruiser went down the destroyers all made one pass on me. I waited until I heard their screws almost directly overhead then kicked it to flank and made a 90 degree turn. I took damage and thought I was done for. I rose to about 100 feet in case my hull damage was bad enough for the pressure to get me. After six passes, three of the destroyers left to catch up to the remaining fleet of tankers and marus (this was a strange convoy).

The other three either ran out of charges, thought I was dead, lost contact with me or left to catch up after a few more passes.

I was able to escape and make it back to port with my second career carrier kill.

A really fun patrol

Thanks for the help!

05-04-11, 12:31 AM	#5
magic452 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Reno Nevada USA Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Bad weather is your friend. Magic __________________ Reported lost 11 Feb. 1942 Signature by depthtok33l

05-02-11, 01:39 PM	#1
CptLoonee Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 110 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	I have honestly never used the 40s for anything but AA. Are they really effective against ships?

05-03-11, 08:36 PM	#3
CptLoonee Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 110 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	I decided to shadow the convoy and weather the storm. It took 3 days! Finally I set up in a good spot for a night time Dick O'kane attack and destroyed a 20000 ton carrier and a heavy cruiser! Now I have 6 destroyers all over me depth charging me to hell. Not sure I'll make it.

05-03-11, 10:51 PM	#4
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	The 40's work as fast or faster than the deckgun.. The 20 doesn't harm ships, not with TMO anyway, but it works better than the 40 for shooting off depth charge racks. Often in a storm I'll use it to come up behind a escort and shoot his racks off, but stay out of his visual range. Least if I have to dive, he can't dump anything on me. Now, if this is a TF and not a convoy, deckguns and 40's are basically useless, a planned surface attack with torps is the best option. I may have to dive due to radar, but after I shoot, I surface and run away and dive somewhere else gaining position. Good luck with the 6 DD's, should've attacked in the storm and ran out on the surface decks awash. Works great in a storm. I dive about 28 feet so the engines stay on, but waves will somtimes take you deeper, cutting on your electrics. You'll pop off and on on radar confusing them. Radar may be bugged in stock. The JPS have two types, surface and air, but seems the air will pick up surface as it's detection rate is set too low to the surface. Mods correct this by adjusting the air radars height value so it can't hit surface ships. If you stay decks awash you can usually stay under the JPS surface radar.

05-04-11, 11:26 PM	#7
CptLoonee Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 110 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Good news. After the carrier and cruiser went down the destroyers all made one pass on me. I waited until I heard their screws almost directly overhead then kicked it to flank and made a 90 degree turn. I took damage and thought I was done for. I rose to about 100 feet in case my hull damage was bad enough for the pressure to get me. After six passes, three of the destroyers left to catch up to the remaining fleet of tankers and marus (this was a strange convoy). The other three either ran out of charges, thought I was dead, lost contact with me or left to catch up after a few more passes. I was able to escape and make it back to port with my second career carrier kill. A really fun patrol Thanks for the help!