Gun Dueling with Motor Torpedo Boats

UnterseeBoogeyMan · 06-14-09, 10:44 PM

..Generally not a good idea. West of Scapa, June of 1940, we find a Medium Cargo escorted by a Motor Torpedo Boat. Seas are calm enough for the deck gun. Look at the armaments on one of these boats, only a machine gun fore and aft. What's the problem? - let's use the gun and save our last torpedo for something bigger.

We wait for the torp boat to pass first. Once the Cargo ship is 0 bearing to us, and the torp boat is 40 degrees,2km away, we surface.

We open up on the Motor boat first. They are thin-skinned, but here's the catch - you actually have to score a hit on a target that can not only zigzag,but fly at 20 knots and can seemingly riddle your boat with bullets. They do cause damage. So while I am trying to lead this little target, I have my repair crew patch up the leaks. Only 2 shots out 15 scored. But that was enough to set him on fire. I could faintly hear someone, it may have been John Clease, shout "run away, run away!!" then something about an evil bunny. They did run away. Retrained my gun on the cargo ship and sank her with 20 shells.

The little Motor boat, keeping her distance at 3500 meters still manages to put damage in out hull.

I go to periscope depth once it's announced the Medium Cargo is sinking.

So,this may be the last time I challenge a Motor Torpedo Boat. I dont have the setting on that tells me how much damage I took, but the renown gained for the sinking vs.the damage took, may not have made it worthwhile.

Hartmann · 06-14-09, 11:14 PM

Remember that a u- boat is not a surface unit, despite the 88 gun and the AA weapons.

it could be used in case of emergency but the main weapon of the boat is stealth and stay below surface.

Jimbuna · 06-15-09, 04:36 AM

The MTB is a bit of a porcupine and as you rightly pointed out, the renown v damage is heavily stacked against you, plus the fact they often take out your gun crews in addition.

Synthfg · 06-15-09, 04:54 AM

Use the AA guns against MTB's
Hittling the little B£"$"£$ with the deck gun is next to impossible,

Leandros · 06-15-09, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synthfg

Use the AA guns against MTB's
Hittling the little B£"$"£$ with the deck gun is next to impossible,

In my experience some tactics and good gun crews can make a difference. Have your best gunners man the DG and man the AA with specialist (and yourself) to improve loading times. Engage at 2-3000 meters - use the optics. See to that both the DG and AA cannon are in sight of the target all them time. Use flank speed. It helps a lot with the later-generation fast-firing 20 mm's. The 37 mm is good for nothing.

While I agree that a MTB isn't worth risking the Boot for - except it might be the rare occasion that you want to surface to finish off a damaged merchant with the deck gun.

cuthy2k · 06-15-09, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

The MTB is a bit of a porcupine and as you rightly pointed out, the renown v damage is heavily stacked against you, plus the fact they often take out your gun crews in addition.

In SH3 stock i frequently engaged MTB's as they did no damage except a lucky 1/1000 shot on my deck gunners. What a shock i got in GWX!!! I engaged 2 and they sunk me!

Murr44 · 06-15-09, 02:40 PM

Like Jim said the deck is heavily stacked against you. They remind me of the horseflies that sometimes used to bite us when we swam in our backyard pool. They nail you when you were surfaced & it would hurt like hell.

When we'd dive it seemed as if they were just waiting for us to come up so they could have another go.

Task Force · 06-15-09, 02:45 PM

Fighting a MTB is certian death. (only good weapon is those heavy late war flack cannons.

Jimbuna · 06-15-09, 04:44 PM

If you have to stay surfaced and tough it out, the best weapon would be the twin 37mm but personally speaking I just don't see the potential rewards justifying the risk.

bookworm_020 · 06-16-09, 02:29 AM

The twin 37mm is the best for taking them out, but I only do it when I feel mean or I am bored. It isn't worth the grief!

Warhawk · 06-16-09, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartmann

Remember that a u- boat is not a surface unit, despite the 88 gun and the AA weapons.

it could be used in case of emergency but the main weapon of the boat is stealth and stay below surface.

+1

The ONLY time I took one out was he made a direct b-line at me from 4k yards out..I managed to hit him with 3 shells but he kept coming and raked my boat with the "little gun on the bow" when he reached about 500 yards.

I jumped on my AA gun and commenced to light him up as I circled at flank speed...blew his bow gun off and then finally managed to put him out of commission.

Score: a few hundred ton gun boat sank, a u-boat that had to crawl home after loosing 40 something hull strength!!

A u-boat is a silent hunter (ooh where have I heard that from before) not a get on the surface and duke it out with a multi gun destroyer or a light fast gunboat [I gotta keep teaching my son that..he seems to want to slug it out with a destroyer and 99% of the time looses badly!]

War of attrition..it took them almost NO resources to build a gunboat...you sink 10 gunboats and they barely take notice..they sink ONE u-boat and they can slip thru a few more convoys with tens of thousands of tons of supplies and troops!

sharkbit · 06-16-09, 12:11 PM

Many, many moons ago, I torpedoed one while submerged off the coast of Ireland early in the war. It was being a pest and I was kinda curious at what would happen. It was coming right at me, 0 AOB and no zigging. I put a magnetic under it and it actually exploded.

Not much left of it and, like everyone says, not worth the effort. I just slunk away when his partner came sniffing around.

Never tried taking one on while surfaced and never will unless they catch me with my pants down.

Murr44 · 06-17-09, 03:07 PM

They're very common in BF13 - BF16 and often operate in pairs so watch out if you're in that area.

UnterseeBoogeyMan · 06-17-09, 11:32 PM

Yes, these motorboat dreadnoughts are deadly when they cross the T and bring their 50 calibres to bear

. It's Nelson at Trafalgar all over again.

Sgtmonkeynads · 06-18-09, 04:18 AM

QUESTION: would a magnetic really go off under a patrol boat. U.S. pt boats were wooden, so I was wondering if British boats were differeent or if all boats/ships will set off a magnetic torp.

I am now hunting for a sailboat to torpedo to test thhe theory, but just like cops, you can't find them when you need one.

06-14-09, 10:44 PM	#1
UnterseeBoogeyMan Ensign Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Land of Cholla Cactus and Red Chile Posts: 224 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Gun Dueling with Motor Torpedo Boats ..Generally not a good idea. West of Scapa, June of 1940, we find a Medium Cargo escorted by a Motor Torpedo Boat. Seas are calm enough for the deck gun. Look at the armaments on one of these boats, only a machine gun fore and aft. What's the problem? - let's use the gun and save our last torpedo for something bigger. We wait for the torp boat to pass first. Once the Cargo ship is 0 bearing to us, and the torp boat is 40 degrees,2km away, we surface. We open up on the Motor boat first. They are thin-skinned, but here's the catch - you actually have to score a hit on a target that can not only zigzag,but fly at 20 knots and can seemingly riddle your boat with bullets. They do cause damage. So while I am trying to lead this little target, I have my repair crew patch up the leaks. Only 2 shots out 15 scored. But that was enough to set him on fire. I could faintly hear someone, it may have been John Clease, shout "run away, run away!!" then something about an evil bunny. They did run away. Retrained my gun on the cargo ship and sank her with 20 shells. The little Motor boat, keeping her distance at 3500 meters still manages to put damage in out hull. I go to periscope depth once it's announced the Medium Cargo is sinking. So,this may be the last time I challenge a Motor Torpedo Boat. I dont have the setting on that tells me how much damage I took, but the renown gained for the sinking vs.the damage took, may not have made it worthwhile.

06-14-09, 11:14 PM	#2
Hartmann Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grid CH 26, Spain ,Barcelona Posts: 1,857 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	Remember that a u- boat is not a surface unit, despite the 88 gun and the AA weapons. it could be used in case of emergency but the main weapon of the boat is stealth and stay below surface. __________________ But this ship can't sink!... She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Strength and honor

06-15-09, 04:36 AM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	The MTB is a bit of a porcupine and as you rightly pointed out, the renown v damage is heavily stacked against you, plus the fact they often take out your gun crews in addition. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

06-15-09, 02:40 PM	#7
Murr44 Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 913 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Like Jim said the deck is heavily stacked against you. They remind me of the horseflies that sometimes used to bite us when we swam in our backyard pool. They nail you when you were surfaced & it would hurt like hell.When we'd dive it seemed as if they were just waiting for us to come up so they could have another go.

06-15-09, 02:45 PM	#8
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Fighting a MTB is certian death. (only good weapon is those heavy late war flack cannons. __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

06-15-09, 04:54 AM	#4
Synthfg Sparky Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 154 Downloads: 64 Uploads: 0	Use the AA guns against MTB's Hittling the little B£"$"£$ with the deck gun is next to impossible,

06-15-09, 04:44 PM	#9
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	If you have to stay surfaced and tough it out, the best weapon would be the twin 37mm but personally speaking I just don't see the potential rewards justifying the risk. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

06-16-09, 02:29 AM	#10
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The twin 37mm is the best for taking them out, but I only do it when I feel mean or I am bored. It isn't worth the grief! __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

06-16-09, 12:11 PM	#12
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	Many, many moons ago, I torpedoed one while submerged off the coast of Ireland early in the war. It was being a pest and I was kinda curious at what would happen. It was coming right at me, 0 AOB and no zigging. I put a magnetic under it and it actually exploded. Not much left of it and, like everyone says, not worth the effort. I just slunk away when his partner came sniffing around. Never tried taking one on while surfaced and never will unless they catch me with my pants down. __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

06-17-09, 03:07 PM	#13
Murr44 Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 913 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	They're very common in BF13 - BF16 and often operate in pairs so watch out if you're in that area.

06-17-09, 11:32 PM	#14
UnterseeBoogeyMan Ensign Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Land of Cholla Cactus and Red Chile Posts: 224 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Yes, these motorboat dreadnoughts are deadly when they cross the T and bring their 50 calibres to bear . It's Nelson at Trafalgar all over again.

06-18-09, 04:18 AM	#15
Sgtmonkeynads Ships Secretary Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MilesCity Montana Posts: 583 Downloads: 614 Uploads: 0	QUESTION: would a magnetic really go off under a patrol boat. U.S. pt boats were wooden, so I was wondering if British boats were differeent or if all boats/ships will set off a magnetic torp. I am now hunting for a sailboat to torpedo to test thhe theory, but just like cops, you can't find them when you need one. __________________ Just help someone.....it makes a difference