What do you do if you see enemy aircraft? - Page 5

predavolk · 08-21-08, 08:52 AM

Thanks for the answers. One BIG reason to stay on the surface and fight it out is realism. This was indeed what Doenitz ordered boats to do for quite some time in the later stages of the war, coasting a lot of them their lives. Diving whenever you see an airplane may be wise, but it's not realistic. So I'm going to try to fight it out at least once I think.

BasilY · 08-26-08, 02:29 AM

The simple answer to your question is --- DUCK (hard turn and dive)! You submarine is NOT designed to attack planes, while those planes are designed to attack you.

However, if you want to fight, as I did in one of my careers this is what you need:
1. A conning tower with 3-4 flaks,
2. specialised flak crew (2-4 trained Warrant officers and Watch Officer)
3. flak guns with fast firing rate (320/min)
4. a good repairing team standing by.
5. A engine compartment with full efficency (to make fast turns)
6. Willingness to loss a few crews once in a while
7. enough H/I to last through the fight.

Even with all the aobve, NEVER fight if there are more than 3 planes.

During the career that I have all the above, I got a grand total of 7 planes... Many times a wounded plane (more than 20+) will excape back to base. My submarine obviously is in no position to chase down a plane, even a wounded one.

The conclusion is, DUCK!

Jimbuna · 08-26-08, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BasilY

The simple answer to your question is --- DUCK (hard turn and dive)! You submarine is NOT designed to attack planes, while those planes are designed to attack you.

However, if you want to fight, as I did in one of my careers this is what you need:
1. A conning tower with 3-4 flaks,
2. specialised flak crew (2-4 trained Warrant officers and Watch Officer)
3. flak guns with fast firing rate (320/min)
4. a good repairing team standing by.
5. A engine compartment with full efficency (to make fast turns)
6. Willingness to loss a few crews once in a while
7. enough H/I to last through the fight.

Even with all the aobve, NEVER fight if there are more than 3 planes.

During the career that I have all the above, I got a grand total of 7 planes... Many times a wounded plane (more than 20+) will excape back to base. My submarine obviously is in no position to chase down a plane, even a wounded one.

The conclusion is, DUCK!

You forgot to mention the lucky rabbits foot :p

Sailor Steve · 08-26-08, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by predavolk

Thanks for the answers. One BIG reason to stay on the surface and fight it out is realism. This was indeed what Doenitz ordered boats to do for quite some time in the later stages of the war, coasting a lot of them their lives. Diving whenever you see an airplane may be wise, but it's not realistic. So I'm going to try to fight it out at least once I think.

It's only realistic if you want your career to end now. Yes, they were ordered to stay surfaced and fight it out. And they died. Even the much-vaunted U-Flak was fairly easy prey to a small, fast target.

With guns.

Lots of guns.

And rockets.

If you're playing GWX you might want to re-think that plan.

predavolk · 08-26-08, 10:52 AM

Oh, I'm not saying it's a healthy idea to stay and fight, but many people here are striving for realism (isn't that what GWX is all about?). Given that many people also like to play Dead-is-Dead, I thought I'd mention that DiD is a lot less DiD if you ignore reality and avoid airplanes. Avoiding airplanes is, from a realism and difficulty viewpoint, about the same as reloading after dying from a tough convoy attack IMO. For the record, I ignore both (DiD and Doenitz's orders- I wanna live!).

BasilY · 08-26-08, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by predavolk

Oh, I'm not saying it's a healthy idea to stay and fight, but many people here are striving for realism (isn't that what GWX is all about?). Given that many people also like to play Dead-is-Dead, I thought I'd mention that DiD is a lot less DiD if you ignore reality and avoid airplanes. Avoiding airplanes is, from a realism and difficulty viewpoint, about the same as reloading after dying from a tough convoy attack IMO. For the record, I ignore both (DiD and Doenitz's orders- I wanna live!).

Doenitz also mentioned, in the Laconia Order, that the first priority of a Uboat skipper is the safety of the boat and crew. In the real world (for the sake of realism), your crew might very well mutiny if they think you are exposing them to un-necessary danger (maybe they will make you walk the plank

). So here is a compromise for you, and myself (doing DiD), fight the first aerial encounter out (I just did, in my latest career, with HI 80% left). Then, with the danger of air attack and futility of fighting back etched on the mind of everybody in the boat, duck the rest.

Sailor Steve · 08-26-08, 02:08 PM

You act like the crew and boat are real. Like there's something really at stake in the way you play.

I like that. Back when I played SH1 I would do a lifeguard mission, then imagine what it was like for the poor flyboys to be cooped up in my boat for a few weeks.

bigboywooly · 08-26-08, 03:05 PM

If the aircraft is too close to avoid by diving I man the guns for the first pass
Once the plane has passed the sub then I order a crash dive

I prefer to dive first though
The rockets make a real mess quick later in the war even on first pass

spike12 · 08-26-08, 08:06 PM

With me...well... ALARRRRMMMM,ALL AHEAD FLANK,HARD TO PORT/STARBORD(dedends on where the plane's coming from as I like to turn towards it)and finally,DIVE AWAYYYYY DIVE AWAYYYYY !!!!!!!!!!!:p

Schöneboom · 08-26-08, 09:04 PM

Imagine this scenario: You're in shallow water, hardly more than periscope depth. Caught on the surface by a bomber squadron -- and they kill your whole flak crew. You can either replace them with guys who won't be any better (more likely worse) -- or you can dive at flank and turn. Either way, time to start praying!

Task Force · 08-26-08, 09:11 PM

I dont take on those things in late war, With GWX those bullets can cause some serious damage, They can easly kill your entire crew.

They should be your biggest fear, even higer on the totem pole than distroyers.

predavolk · 08-27-08, 02:14 PM

That's a good solution BasilY. And I'm chasing your 2,000,000 career tonnage mark, but I might fall short. It depends on what I can do with my XXI now. I just had to try one out for kicks. But for pure tonnage, I probably should've stuck with my IXB and the Caribbean.

PappyCain · 08-29-08, 03:23 PM

We put a bikini clad blow up doll on the bridge. Really works. One time the boys used helium and she shot skyward and the pilot freaked out ...

Von Manteuffel · 08-30-08, 05:30 AM

If you have enough water under your keel - Dive and turn at ahead flank, changing the direction of your turn as soon as you hit periscope-depth and are no longer leaving a visible wake on the surface.

If you can't dive - Ahead flank and do what you can with the flak guns. Twist and turn to present the least favourable target to the attacking plane - running at flank broadside on to the line of attack is often the best choice agaisnt bombs. Head on agaisnt a strafing attack presents the smallest target to the plane's forward-pointing guns but if they get lucky they walk their rounds the full length of your boat - So, even though it's a bigger target I usually try to get broadside on to the attack - but only when I have no other choice and only until I can dive.

Against aircraft, my rule is avoid if humanly possible.

08-26-08, 02:08 PM	#67
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	You act like the crew and boat are real. Like there's something really at stake in the way you play. I like that. Back when I played SH1 I would do a lifeguard mission, then imagine what it was like for the poor flyboys to be cooped up in my boat for a few weeks. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-26-08, 03:05 PM	#68
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	If the aircraft is too close to avoid by diving I man the guns for the first pass Once the plane has passed the sub then I order a crash dive I prefer to dive first though The rockets make a real mess quick later in the war even on first pass __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

08-26-08, 09:04 PM	#70
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Imagine this scenario: You're in shallow water, hardly more than periscope depth. Caught on the surface by a bomber squadron -- and they kill your whole flak crew. You can either replace them with guys who won't be any better (more likely worse) -- or you can dive at flank and turn. Either way, time to start praying! __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher."

08-26-08, 09:11 PM	#71
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I dont take on those things in late war, With GWX those bullets can cause some serious damage, They can easly kill your entire crew. They should be your biggest fear, even higer on the totem pole than distroyers. __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

08-29-08, 03:23 PM	#73
PappyCain Samurai Navy Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: on the Atlantic Ocean Posts: 559 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	We put a bikini clad blow up doll on the bridge. Really works. One time the boys used helium and she shot skyward and the pilot freaked out ... __________________ DID, no cheats, no shortcuts, no non-historic equipment deviations. Boat and crew safety is integral with my immersion style! Follow the historic events during your patrol: http://www.uboat.net/today.html

08-21-08, 08:52 AM	#61
predavolk Weps Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 369 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the answers. One BIG reason to stay on the surface and fight it out is realism. This was indeed what Doenitz ordered boats to do for quite some time in the later stages of the war, coasting a lot of them their lives. Diving whenever you see an airplane may be wise, but it's not realistic. So I'm going to try to fight it out at least once I think.

08-26-08, 02:29 AM	#62
BasilY Weps Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 359 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	The simple answer to your question is --- DUCK (hard turn and dive)! You submarine is NOT designed to attack planes, while those planes are designed to attack you. However, if you want to fight, as I did in one of my careers this is what you need: 1. A conning tower with 3-4 flaks, 2. specialised flak crew (2-4 trained Warrant officers and Watch Officer) 3. flak guns with fast firing rate (320/min) 4. a good repairing team standing by. 5. A engine compartment with full efficency (to make fast turns) 6. Willingness to loss a few crews once in a while 7. enough H/I to last through the fight. Even with all the aobve, NEVER fight if there are more than 3 planes. During the career that I have all the above, I got a grand total of 7 planes... Many times a wounded plane (more than 20+) will excape back to base. My submarine obviously is in no position to chase down a plane, even a wounded one. The conclusion is, DUCK!

08-26-08, 10:52 AM	#65
predavolk Weps Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 369 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Oh, I'm not saying it's a healthy idea to stay and fight, but many people here are striving for realism (isn't that what GWX is all about?). Given that many people also like to play Dead-is-Dead, I thought I'd mention that DiD is a lot less DiD if you ignore reality and avoid airplanes. Avoiding airplanes is, from a realism and difficulty viewpoint, about the same as reloading after dying from a tough convoy attack IMO. For the record, I ignore both (DiD and Doenitz's orders- I wanna live!).

08-26-08, 08:06 PM	#69
spike12 Gunner Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 98 Downloads: 113 Uploads: 0	With me...well... ALARRRRMMMM,ALL AHEAD FLANK,HARD TO PORT/STARBORD(dedends on where the plane's coming from as I like to turn towards it)and finally,DIVE AWAYYYYY DIVE AWAYYYYY !!!!!!!!!!!:p

08-27-08, 02:14 PM	#72
predavolk Weps Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 369 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That's a good solution BasilY. And I'm chasing your 2,000,000 career tonnage mark, but I might fall short. It depends on what I can do with my XXI now. I just had to try one out for kicks. But for pure tonnage, I probably should've stuck with my IXB and the Caribbean.

08-30-08, 05:30 AM	#74
Von Manteuffel Commander Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: UK Posts: 473 Downloads: 411 Uploads: 0	If you have enough water under your keel - Dive and turn at ahead flank, changing the direction of your turn as soon as you hit periscope-depth and are no longer leaving a visible wake on the surface. If you can't dive - Ahead flank and do what you can with the flak guns. Twist and turn to present the least favourable target to the attacking plane - running at flank broadside on to the line of attack is often the best choice agaisnt bombs. Head on agaisnt a strafing attack presents the smallest target to the plane's forward-pointing guns but if they get lucky they walk their rounds the full length of your boat - So, even though it's a bigger target I usually try to get broadside on to the attack - but only when I have no other choice and only until I can dive. Against aircraft, my rule is avoid if humanly possible.