bad weather, or: to shoot or not to shoot

Elmer Kosterman · 04-15-08, 04:04 AM

I've had some good success on recent patrols in bad weather. First, if I got a contact report, I knew the target wasn't neutral without having to identify it. Second, I tried to get the best estimate of target course and speed from the report and from the hydrophone. I then set mayself up about 500 meters from the projected course at periscope depth, programmed the torpedo computer, and listened. If the target came into view across my bow, great (sometimes I had to go back full to get a shot off). Otherwise I used the hydrophen and fired two torpedos when the sound contact was dead ahead.
The accuracy was surprising. I even got a hit on a C-3 with a torpedo whose door I forgot to open beforehand. Unfortunately, I had to leave her crippled because it was my last fish, and I had no deck gun.

04-15-08, 04:04 AM	#11
Elmer Kosterman A-ganger Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: München Posts: 71 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	I've had some good success on recent patrols in bad weather. First, if I got a contact report, I knew the target wasn't neutral without having to identify it. Second, I tried to get the best estimate of target course and speed from the report and from the hydrophone. I then set mayself up about 500 meters from the projected course at periscope depth, programmed the torpedo computer, and listened. If the target came into view across my bow, great (sometimes I had to go back full to get a shot off). Otherwise I used the hydrophen and fired two torpedos when the sound contact was dead ahead. The accuracy was surprising. I even got a hit on a C-3 with a torpedo whose door I forgot to open beforehand. Unfortunately, I had to leave her crippled because it was my last fish, and I had no deck gun.