Deck gun location preference

[Hitman]

Historically the deck gun was orginally thought of as a last ditch defenseive weapon. Hence the aft mouting. (handy if somethings chasing you) Some more aggressive skippers found other offensive uses for it, and mounted it forward. (handy if your chasing something down).

Correct There is a record in "Clear the Bridge!" or in "Wahoo" (Can't remember right now) where O'Kane comments how much he had to insist for being allowed to mount his deck gun forward....doctrine of that era considered the deck gun as a defensive weapon for subs that were unable to dive and had to run away in the surface, so they could shoot meanwhile at the pursuer.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Bow, but a nice option in-game to move it around


RDP

[Bluesub 6]

I had SS Balao with two 5"/25 guns, 1945.
Edit!

[longam]

AFT - not much of a gunner

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Bluesub 6

I had SS Balao with two 5.25 guns, 1945.

More likely they were 5"/25 cal.

[Steeltrap]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Correct There is a record in "Clear the Bridge!" or in "Wahoo" (Can't remember right now) where O'Kane comments how much he had to insist for being allowed to mount his deck gun forward....doctrine of that era considered the deck gun as a defensive weapon for subs that were unable to dive and had to run away in the surface, so they could shoot meanwhile at the pursuer.

In fact it was the reverse: in Clear the Bridge, O'Kane recalls the discussion he had about wanting the gun located aft of the tower - see page 161 for complete discussion, but, FYI, here's the pertinent quote:

"During construction I had argued to at least have our gun moved aft of the conning tower"

I think he was absolutely correct in his reasoning. The trouble with the deck gun is that it is far too powerful in the sim, and, perversely, your sub seems too durable against shell hits. A hit from a decent sized gun would have a good chance of crippling a sub, or, at least, rendering it unable to dive. That's not the case in the sim, so it's possible to expose your sub to fire that a real skipper would never do if given a choice. Even Morton wouldn't hang about when receiving any sort of fire - I remember well the passage in Wahoo mentioned earlier.

I've only ever used it finishing unarmed cripples.

[cavenaugh]

Forward of the conning tower.It´s easier to keep a good position and speed. :hmm:

[Hillsy_]

Stern for pursuing destroyers. Match your stern to the bow of the destroyers and they cannot fire there own guns due to damaging themselves. Good tactic, very useful when being pursued. Stern mounting can also be used against merchant ships Yes, you cannot fire in front but you can get ahead of them and fire across the beam. Watch out for some enemy merchants as they do fire back and are pretty deadly.

[JSF]

I like and have both....Does anyone know how to switch between both mounts. The default seems to be the forward but I can't get switched to the aft mount.

[Frederf]

It's in the "Trade renoun for cool stuff" screen where you get SD Improved Radar and Twin 20mm AA Gun, there might be an option to equip a deck gun (bow mount) or a deck gun (aft mount).

The real reason I have an aft mount deck gun is because the front mount deck gun is bugged for me right now and it removes the crew slots.

Also I'm confused why having 2 AA guns doesn't mean having 2 AA gun crews?

[WilhelmSchulz.]

Stern. If I cant out run a aggreser or dive I have the option fight it out. Would never like to though.

[WilhelmSchulz.]

In retro spect why not give the player the option. like in the stock game?

[Lafferty]

I perfer it to be in the front.

[DyingCrow]

i like the bow mount to chase down lone merchants, and as the majority have the gun mounted fwd, they wont shoot back, and if they try, its easy to cut their angle. i also use the deck gun to shoot aircraft, its fun

[Raptor22ADF]

Bow for me.

Is cavitation of objects dangling all over the sub modelled?