Dealing with Destroyers

PoweredBySoy · 01-08-09, 02:17 PM

Now, I realize they're called Destroyers for a reason - but I just can't ever seem to shake these guys. What are some common strategies for remaining undetected? And once detected, how do I escape them?

Currently in my campaign I have a Destroyer right on top of me. I've gotten pretty good at avoiding his depth charges (as he's passing over me I turn hard 90 degrees and hit flank speed) - but no matter what I do he always knows where I am. I've tried remaining in flank as he passes over me and just outrunning him, hoping I'd spend enough time in his 'dead zone' so I could get away. I've tried submerging down to 350 feet and shutting off the engines. I've tried zig zagging at 1/3rd and silent running..... Nothing. He's on my like white on rice.

Any tips?

dangerclose · 01-08-09, 02:28 PM

How about ejecting garbage out of the stern tube so when it surfaces it'll fool them into thinking you've been destroyed. I think this worked in a movie once.

JonB · 01-08-09, 02:30 PM

Well, to remain undetected in generall, dont get too close. If you can spot a destroyer in daylight, it´s time to dive. Mind that you shouldn´t use more than 1/3 ahead/backwards when you have dived coz then they can hear you. Also go for "silent running" if possible. Note that when you are in silent running mode, neither damage controll team or torpedo crews can do their job. Basicly, avoid anything that makes noices, such as checking how far to the bottom (since this is done by sending a soundsignal and messuring time for it to come back).

If you have been detected, dive to a deeper depht, preferely beneth the thermolayer. Make sure to deploy a decoy on your way down for them to ping on. When you are deep down, make a 90 degree turn in some direction and just stay silent...

There is one time you can go "ahead flank" and that is when the destroyer is right on top of you or have just gone pass you... THOUGH, dont do it unless they are dropping deaphtcharges on you because they might hear you anyway. Only do it if neccessary to avoid those DC´s...

In Silent Hunter 3, you could launch a torpedo in any direction. When it had travelled as far as it could, it would explode. Sometimes, the destroyers went there to check it out. Though, havent tried it on SH4...

Good luck and happy hunting!

PS If the destroyers where escorts to a convoy, there is problably more then one destroyer. Keep an eye out for the others...

Dread Knot · 01-08-09, 02:48 PM

Funny....I always seem to tangle with the clueless destroyers. They'll race over, drop a few charges, play the searchlights about a bit, run some circles and eventually wander off.

That being said, I usually creep at about one knot with the silent running, hope for a thermocline and try to avoid operations in shallow water.

V.C. Sniper · 01-08-09, 03:10 PM

Deeper

SteamWake · 01-08-09, 03:17 PM

Yes deeper, seek out the thermal layer, also quieter, dial up 2 knots.

When the DD makes its run which can be easily detected as he is close, headed straight at you running at flank... when he does jump into flank youself and change course... hard.. one way or the other. after a few minutes drop back to 2 knots, put the rudder amid ships change to silent running again and pray you can slowly slip away.

There are a few DD's out there that are good... really good. Espically later in the war. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose.

PoweredBySoy · 01-08-09, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Yes deeper, seek out the thermal layer, also quieter, dial up 2 knots.

When the DD makes its run which can be easily detected as he is close, headed straight at you running at flank... when he does jump into flank youself and change course... hard.. one way or the other. after a few minutes drop back to 2 knots, put the rudder amid ships change to silent running again and pray you can slowly slip away.

There are a few DD's out there that are good... really good. Espically later in the war. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose.

Yeah, that's pretty much exactly what I'm doing. Perhaps I just got one of the 'good' ones. =(

And on my way down to 300 I did cross a thermalcline. Not sure it helped much though.

AVGWarhawk · 01-08-09, 03:25 PM

Sounds like you got Hell's Spawn running the surface. Dead stop does not work. Full ahead is not working either. Hit the silent running button. Go as deep as you can. If Hell's Spawn is after you, be prepared to take a peppering and take it for quite sometime. It is just the nature of the beast. After awhile, he will return to his charges. I usually just lay a path in the opposite direction his charges are going. I go get coffee and a smoke. I watch a TV show with one eye glued to the monitor. If he does not drop an ash can down your hatch, you should be able to get away. However, if he is Hell's Spawn, your chances of getting beat up 'real good' is very high. Good luck Capt.

I'm goin' down · 01-08-09, 04:57 PM

Download a supergun mod, surface, go down swinging (uh... shooting.)

Soundman · 01-08-09, 04:59 PM

Sometimes the best defense in a strong offense. I generally try to avoid them, but if I'm detected, depending on the circumstance, I'll take him on with a "down the throat shot". This takes some practice, but I'm successful about 85% of the time doing this.

1) Lock on to the DD with your scope.
2) Go to at least standard speed, faster if you need to turn more quickly.
3) Put him at zero degrees in front of you (head on)
4) Set from your compass (lower right hand screen dial) to make small rudder adjustments. Once you get him to zero degrees, you shouldn't need more than about five degrees of rudder to keep him in the crosshairs. DO NOT use full rudder or you will over correct.
5) Use the small adjustments to keep him at zero degrees.
6) Make sure you have your bow tube doors open and set up for a zero degree gyro angle shot (i.e. straight in front of you)
7) Set depth as shallow as possible.
8) When he gets about 800 yds from you, let it rip.
9) If he starts a zig-zag, you have two options.. (a) fire one tube just to the left of his bow and immediately follow with another to the right of his bow. One of these is bound to get him. (b) practice until you can anticipate the time of firing to hit him in the side with one fish. this is risky !

Often you will be able to hit him before he starts to zigzag. The best insurance and also the way I'd do it in real life, would be to fire two, as in real life, we don't get to load a save and get a do-over. It is kinda fun using this technique, but again it takes practice. Once you get it down, you don't fear them as badly. I usually feel I have a better chance taking them down, than to let them get on top of me and hope to evade them and it's much more rewarding. Give it shot !

Leon West · 02-06-09, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundman

Sometimes the best defense in a strong offense. I generally try to avoid them, but if I'm detected, depending on the circumstance, I'll take him on with a "down the throat shot". This takes some practice, but I'm successful about 85% of the time doing this.

I've done this once! I was tracking a convoy of British Ships, and I didn't realize they had a J-Class Destroyer circling the formation (He must've been on the opposite end of the formation because my hydrophones never picked up warship sounds) Anyways, I surfaced figuring I was safe, and on the surface I could cover more water and get closer to the ships...

That's when I noticed the destroyer's silhouette on the horizon. They cranked her hard rudder and jammed that throttle to flank speed.

I immediately dove to periscope depth, went silent, lined up my sights, and fired off two torps.

The J-Class tried to evade and went hard starboard, which only exposed her entire left side, and both torps struck, one near the bow, the other midships...sunk like a rock.

I blame pure luck.

Any time other than this that I've face destroyes usually ends badly...In other words, me crawling along being hammered by depth charges.

gut eater · 02-22-09, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonB

Basicly, avoid anything that makes noices, such as checking how far to the bottom (since this is done by sending a soundsignal and messuring time for it to come back).

...dive to a deeper depht, preferely beneth the thermolayer. Make sure to deploy a decoy on your way down for them to ping on...

How exactly do I make the ship/crew refrain from "checking how far to the bottom"?? I didn't know that was an option.

What depth is typically the "thermolayer"?

Arclight · 02-22-09, 07:47 AM

Depthsounding only happens on your order, no need to worry about it. Just don't do it with warships about.

Thermal layer varies in depth, depending on temperature, salinity and what not. You'll know you're below it when you hear a voice saying "passing thermal layer". Sadly there is no BT modeled in the game apart from that voice (if you can call that BT modeling).

captgeo · 02-22-09, 08:58 AM

When detected and being hunted by DD's , I usually try to head towards the closest one at flank speed with a torp ready to fire, I wait till its about 800 yrd's away and fire torp , then crash dive to thermal layer and discharge a decoy, then hard rudder for 45 degree's , trim the boat and reduce speed and creep away. Sometimes I get lucky(about 40% of the time) and the torp hit its target.

When I am trying to conserve torp's, I dont fire, and I follow the rest of the above action's.

gut eater · 02-23-09, 03:58 AM

Thanks

01-08-09, 02:17 PM	#1
PoweredBySoy Watch Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 18 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Dealing with Destroyers Now, I realize they're called Destroyers for a reason - but I just can't ever seem to shake these guys. What are some common strategies for remaining undetected? And once detected, how do I escape them? Currently in my campaign I have a Destroyer right on top of me. I've gotten pretty good at avoiding his depth charges (as he's passing over me I turn hard 90 degrees and hit flank speed) - but no matter what I do he always knows where I am. I've tried remaining in flank as he passes over me and just outrunning him, hoping I'd spend enough time in his 'dead zone' so I could get away. I've tried submerging down to 350 feet and shutting off the engines. I've tried zig zagging at 1/3rd and silent running..... Nothing. He's on my like white on rice. Any tips?

01-08-09, 02:28 PM	#2
dangerclose Swabbie Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	How about ejecting garbage out of the stern tube so when it surfaces it'll fool them into thinking you've been destroyed. I think this worked in a movie once. __________________

01-08-09, 02:30 PM	#3
JonB Bosun Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Halmstad, Sweden Posts: 69 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Well, to remain undetected in generall, dont get too close. If you can spot a destroyer in daylight, it´s time to dive. Mind that you shouldn´t use more than 1/3 ahead/backwards when you have dived coz then they can hear you. Also go for "silent running" if possible. Note that when you are in silent running mode, neither damage controll team or torpedo crews can do their job. Basicly, avoid anything that makes noices, such as checking how far to the bottom (since this is done by sending a soundsignal and messuring time for it to come back). If you have been detected, dive to a deeper depht, preferely beneth the thermolayer. Make sure to deploy a decoy on your way down for them to ping on. When you are deep down, make a 90 degree turn in some direction and just stay silent... There is one time you can go "ahead flank" and that is when the destroyer is right on top of you or have just gone pass you... THOUGH, dont do it unless they are dropping deaphtcharges on you because they might hear you anyway. Only do it if neccessary to avoid those DC´s... In Silent Hunter 3, you could launch a torpedo in any direction. When it had travelled as far as it could, it would explode. Sometimes, the destroyers went there to check it out. Though, havent tried it on SH4... Good luck and happy hunting! PS If the destroyers where escorts to a convoy, there is problably more then one destroyer. Keep an eye out for the others... Last edited by JonB; 01-08-09 at 04:58 PM.

01-08-09, 03:10 PM	#5
V.C. Sniper Watch Officer Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 339 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Deeper __________________ I only need one torpedo.

01-08-09, 03:25 PM	#8
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Sounds like you got Hell's Spawn running the surface. Dead stop does not work. Full ahead is not working either. Hit the silent running button. Go as deep as you can. If Hell's Spawn is after you, be prepared to take a peppering and take it for quite sometime. It is just the nature of the beast. After awhile, he will return to his charges. I usually just lay a path in the opposite direction his charges are going. I go get coffee and a smoke. I watch a TV show with one eye glued to the monitor. If he does not drop an ash can down your hatch, you should be able to get away. However, if he is Hell's Spawn, your chances of getting beat up 'real good' is very high. Good luck Capt. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

01-08-09, 02:48 PM	#4
Dread Knot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,288 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Funny....I always seem to tangle with the clueless destroyers. They'll race over, drop a few charges, play the searchlights about a bit, run some circles and eventually wander off. That being said, I usually creep at about one knot with the silent running, hope for a thermocline and try to avoid operations in shallow water.

01-08-09, 03:17 PM	#6
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Yes deeper, seek out the thermal layer, also quieter, dial up 2 knots. When the DD makes its run which can be easily detected as he is close, headed straight at you running at flank... when he does jump into flank youself and change course... hard.. one way or the other. after a few minutes drop back to 2 knots, put the rudder amid ships change to silent running again and pray you can slowly slip away. There are a few DD's out there that are good... really good. Espically later in the war. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose.

01-08-09, 04:57 PM	#9
I'm goin' down Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Notify command we have entered the Grass Sea Posts: 2,822 Downloads: 813 Uploads: 0	Uh Download a supergun mod, surface, go down swinging (uh... shooting.)

01-08-09, 04:59 PM	#10
Soundman Commodore Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 617 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	Sometimes the best defense in a strong offense. I generally try to avoid them, but if I'm detected, depending on the circumstance, I'll take him on with a "down the throat shot". This takes some practice, but I'm successful about 85% of the time doing this. 1) Lock on to the DD with your scope. 2) Go to at least standard speed, faster if you need to turn more quickly. 3) Put him at zero degrees in front of you (head on) 4) Set from your compass (lower right hand screen dial) to make small rudder adjustments. Once you get him to zero degrees, you shouldn't need more than about five degrees of rudder to keep him in the crosshairs. DO NOT use full rudder or you will over correct. 5) Use the small adjustments to keep him at zero degrees. 6) Make sure you have your bow tube doors open and set up for a zero degree gyro angle shot (i.e. straight in front of you) 7) Set depth as shallow as possible. 8) When he gets about 800 yds from you, let it rip. 9) If he starts a zig-zag, you have two options.. (a) fire one tube just to the left of his bow and immediately follow with another to the right of his bow. One of these is bound to get him. (b) practice until you can anticipate the time of firing to hit him in the side with one fish. this is risky ! Often you will be able to hit him before he starts to zigzag. The best insurance and also the way I'd do it in real life, would be to fire two, as in real life, we don't get to load a save and get a do-over. It is kinda fun using this technique, but again it takes practice. Once you get it down, you don't fear them as badly. I usually feel I have a better chance taking them down, than to let them get on top of me and hope to evade them and it's much more rewarding. Give it shot ! Last edited by Soundman; 01-08-09 at 05:18 PM.

02-22-09, 07:47 AM	#13
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Depthsounding only happens on your order, no need to worry about it. Just don't do it with warships about. Thermal layer varies in depth, depending on temperature, salinity and what not. You'll know you're below it when you hear a voice saying "passing thermal layer". Sadly there is no BT modeled in the game apart from that voice (if you can call that BT modeling). __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

02-22-09, 08:58 AM	#14
captgeo Samurai Navy Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ontario,Canada Posts: 550 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	When detected and being hunted by DD's , I usually try to head towards the closest one at flank speed with a torp ready to fire, I wait till its about 800 yrd's away and fire torp , then crash dive to thermal layer and discharge a decoy, then hard rudder for 45 degree's , trim the boat and reduce speed and creep away. Sometimes I get lucky(about 40% of the time) and the torp hit its target. When I am trying to conserve torp's, I dont fire, and I follow the rest of the above action's.

02-23-09, 03:58 AM	#15
gut eater Swabbie Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Thanks