Stupid C2 -- Torpedo sponges!

predavolk · 10-21-08, 08:30 AM

99% of ships will sink with two well-placed torpedoes. About 40% sink with one. It's a very rare ship (of any size) that requires 3 torpedoes. 4+ is overkill. Remember that in GWX most ships are lost because they sink, not because they are destroyed. So:

1- Bow shots are generally viewed as the most effective. The momentum of the ship drives it under water.

2- Stern shots can be effective, as the stern is usually lower than the bow, and so floods more easily. Midship shots are the least effective.

3- Shots will off-set each other. E.g., a port bow shot will correct the lean of a starboard bow shot. Better to make a second stardboard bow shot slightly further back. This is much more effective. Same with bow-stern shots (although you might be able to get the ship to lean to one side).

4- Smoke-stack shots tend to stop the ship without sinking it, unless you use magnetics. Then sometimes, you break the back of the ship. The exception are ships with volatile cargo, that sometimes blow up when hit midships (e.g., tankers, ammo, ore).

5- Larger, thinner ships are easier to sink. Use length/thickness as a your best indicator of how easy it is to sink. E.g., large merchant, ore carrier, are easier to sink than a medium cargo, or sometimes, even a small cargo. You'd have better luck sinking a cruiser with one torpedo than a liberty cargo.

6- For most shots, impact work as well or better than magnetics. Magnetics sometimes give you a back-breaking shot, but they can easily malfunction.

7- Homing torps tend to damage the props, but they can sink ships if you shoot them from a side or forward angle. Rear shots are much less effective (against cargo ships, against escorts any homing torp is crippling or lethal).

8- It may be obvious, but get up close for more accurate shooting. Use faster steam settings when possible. Both minimize the impact of targeting errors.

9- The deckgun is great for finishing off ships, but by late-war (44-45), big merchants have 3-4 large guns and 4-8 small guns. Basically, they're destroyers+, so they are extremely dangerous to engage (only done it once on a twice-hit, almost sunk, Victory cargo in my XXI- and I lost my deck officer!). The best gun technique is to get close, parellel, in front of the merchant. Emergency surface, and hammer away. Keep its stack between you and the larger rear guns. Fire like hell from 1,000M where you can still hit below the waterline. Submerge after no more than 10-15 hits (10 if damaged).

10- Don't rush your shots. Impatience is the biggest reason for my missed shots. Better to back off and set up again, unless the ship is travelling too fast for you to do so, or you won't get another change (e.g., convoy attack).

Hope those hints help!

10-21-08, 08:30 AM	#7
predavolk Weps Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 369 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	99% of ships will sink with two well-placed torpedoes. About 40% sink with one. It's a very rare ship (of any size) that requires 3 torpedoes. 4+ is overkill. Remember that in GWX most ships are lost because they sink, not because they are destroyed. So: 1- Bow shots are generally viewed as the most effective. The momentum of the ship drives it under water. 2- Stern shots can be effective, as the stern is usually lower than the bow, and so floods more easily. Midship shots are the least effective. 3- Shots will off-set each other. E.g., a port bow shot will correct the lean of a starboard bow shot. Better to make a second stardboard bow shot slightly further back. This is much more effective. Same with bow-stern shots (although you might be able to get the ship to lean to one side). 4- Smoke-stack shots tend to stop the ship without sinking it, unless you use magnetics. Then sometimes, you break the back of the ship. The exception are ships with volatile cargo, that sometimes blow up when hit midships (e.g., tankers, ammo, ore). 5- Larger, thinner ships are easier to sink. Use length/thickness as a your best indicator of how easy it is to sink. E.g., large merchant, ore carrier, are easier to sink than a medium cargo, or sometimes, even a small cargo. You'd have better luck sinking a cruiser with one torpedo than a liberty cargo. 6- For most shots, impact work as well or better than magnetics. Magnetics sometimes give you a back-breaking shot, but they can easily malfunction. 7- Homing torps tend to damage the props, but they can sink ships if you shoot them from a side or forward angle. Rear shots are much less effective (against cargo ships, against escorts any homing torp is crippling or lethal). 8- It may be obvious, but get up close for more accurate shooting. Use faster steam settings when possible. Both minimize the impact of targeting errors. 9- The deckgun is great for finishing off ships, but by late-war (44-45), big merchants have 3-4 large guns and 4-8 small guns. Basically, they're destroyers+, so they are extremely dangerous to engage (only done it once on a twice-hit, almost sunk, Victory cargo in my XXI- and I lost my deck officer!). The best gun technique is to get close, parellel, in front of the merchant. Emergency surface, and hammer away. Keep its stack between you and the larger rear guns. Fire like hell from 1,000M where you can still hit below the waterline. Submerge after no more than 10-15 hits (10 if damaged). 10- Don't rush your shots. Impatience is the biggest reason for my missed shots. Better to back off and set up again, unless the ship is travelling too fast for you to do so, or you won't get another change (e.g., convoy attack). Hope those hints help!