Balao sub's 40mm AA guns

ddiplock · 08-23-09, 10:44 AM

Hey guys. I've just loaded my USS Balao up with an aft and a fore 40mm AA guns, but i've fired them off while leaving port to realise they're real slow firing weapons.

Anyone have any experience with these guns? Is it worth having them on or should I swap back to the twin 20mm AA guns next patrol?

Cheers

Torplexed · 08-23-09, 11:10 AM

They're slow firing because they pack a heavier slug. Useful for sinking small fry like fishing boats and sampans and damaging larger ships. I never think much about how they perform against aircraft as I'm don't stick on the surface to find out.

Rockin Robbins · 08-23-09, 02:10 PM

Used in conjunction with the deck gun you might sink merchies a significant (life saving) amount of time sooner.

Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford · 08-23-09, 02:30 PM

A submarine does not really have enough guns to effectively engage enemy aircraft with even or better odds of success. The 40MM Bofors is really intended to be installed in large quantities (5+ pairs or better) when used in an AA application. On a submarine, two pair is about all you can install, and even two pair of Bofors can't offer the volume of fire needed for AA work. Honestly, a submarine should never attempt to fight aircraft if it can submerge to a depth of 150 feet or deeper. Aircraft are just a lot more effective as anti-shipping weapons than submarines are as anti-aircraft weapons.

If you can score hits with the Bofors, it is of course far more effective than a 20MM, but the slow rate of fire makes scoring hits on a moving target more difficult with the Bofors.

That being said, given the choice, I'd take Bofors over the 20MM. I'd just use them on ships as opposed to aircraft, which I avoid at nearly any cost.

Armistead · 08-23-09, 03:13 PM

They're totally worthless in TMO against ships, can't even sink junks with them.. I do carry one when available for planes, but never two.

ddiplock · 08-23-09, 03:19 PM

Well, given the size of the guns, it defo gives me the impression that if an aircraft is coming in to dive and you open fire with a 40mm and managed to HIT the aircraft, it should pretty much be blown to scrap metal and plunge into the ocean.

Sooner or later I am going to have to try these out in an AA capacity against an incoming plane or two....however dangerous that may be

Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford · 08-23-09, 06:18 PM

What ammunition do you get with them?

Torplexed · 08-23-09, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford

What ammunition do you get with them?

Wild guess...but I would imagine 40mm anti-aircraft shells.

donut · 08-23-09, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

They're totally worthless in TMO against ships, can't even sink junks with them.. I do carry one when available for planes, but never two.

TMO only gives HE rounds to AA guns, W/no hit points on surface craft ?
Modding is not a Nerf job, but an addition to game play, an enhancement. not why, will my guns not do damage

AOTD FOTRS for version 1.4,Nerf's the Radar down to 30,000yrds., to make it harder to find contacts, but cheat time. watch the clock @ TC512 when minute hand hangs, go to 1TC, dive an pickup Sonar contact. Outherwise you may, depending on contacts course/speed you may miss even knowing they are there.

Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford · 08-23-09, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Wild guess...but I would imagine 40mm anti-aircraft shells.

If that is the case, the 40MM Bofors should be able to do considerably more damage to surface vessels than the 50 BMG or 20MM Hispano cannon. In fact, it should really tear up any unarmored ship.

Frederf · 08-23-09, 11:20 PM

One of the most noticeable advantages of the 40mm is range.

Rockin Robbins · 08-24-09, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

They're totally worthless in TMO against ships, can't even sink junks with them.. I do carry one when available for planes, but never two.

Now hold it! I totally got rid of my 20mm last cruise in favor of two 40mm guns. They were invaluable in sinking ships and sampans. Two merchies went down because I was able to damage them enough with the 40mm to slow them down to put that last torpedo into them. One got the coup de grace from the 40mm and went up in a nice explosion as well. All this in TMO. I'm very satisfied with the 40mm effectiveness! They're awesome guns.

CaptainMattJ. · 08-26-09, 03:14 PM

US subs Suck in terms of AA. German uboats, however, are the SHieeeet. I man the heavy AA gun and wait for the light AA gunners to show me where the airplane is (i look at fire) and I shoot it down w/ heavy flak. i usually never dive in a uboat for Airplanes. but in US, i ALWAys dive. i dont know where the plane is and it reloads way to slow and i cant see whereim shooting cause of the metal thing surrounding the AA gun.

Armistead · 08-26-09, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

Now hold it! I totally got rid of my 20mm last cruise in favor of two 40mm guns. They were invaluable in sinking ships and sampans. Two merchies went down because I was able to damage them enough with the 40mm to slow them down to put that last torpedo into them. One got the coup de grace from the 40mm and went up in a nice explosion as well. All this in TMO. I'm very satisfied with the 40mm effectiveness! They're awesome guns.

I've blasted at sampams with them forever. Even Ducimas said he changed them not to do damage to ships, but would adjust them in 1.8. Everyone I know says they're nerfed in 1.7. Plus, most mechants have deckguns and machine guns that will tear you apart. Almost impossible to get in 40 range without getting your sub blasted out of the water. I sometimes shoot for the heck of it, can blow the boats up, but have to stay way out of their gun range, so you waste a ton of ammo.

I can empty all ammo in a merchant and nothing. You can shoot the sails of sampams, but never sunk one with it.
We just had a big discussion about it and everyone said the same, Duc said he would up it some in 1.8, but had his reasons to make them AA only, cuz the damage zones are tied together. In making the ships stronger, it nerfed the guns......so not sure why yours are different.
Maybe you're just seeing effects from other damage taking place why you're shooting.

You're not running one of your nuke mods are ya.....

Task Force · 08-26-09, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainMattJ.

US subs Suck in terms of AA. German uboats, however, are the SHieeeet. I man the heavy AA gun and wait for the light AA gunners to show me where the airplane is (i look at fire) and I shoot it down w/ heavy flak. i usually never dive in a uboat for Airplanes. but in US, i ALWAys dive. i dont know where the plane is and it reloads way to slow and i cant see whereim shooting cause of the metal thing surrounding the AA gun.

what mods are you useing... Airplanes were some of the #1 uboat killers... the stock game has the planes set up like paper airplanes...

08-23-09, 02:10 PM	#3
Rockin Robbins Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DeLand, FL Posts: 8,900 Downloads: 135 Uploads: 52	Used in conjunction with the deck gun you might sink merchies a significant (life saving) amount of time sooner. __________________ Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks, Slightly Subnuclear Mk 14 & Cutie, Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun, EZPlot 2.0, TMOPlot, TMOKeys, SH4CMS

08-23-09, 10:44 AM	#1
ddiplock Samurai Navy Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 552 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	Balao sub's 40mm AA guns Hey guys. I've just loaded my USS Balao up with an aft and a fore 40mm AA guns, but i've fired them off while leaving port to realise they're real slow firing weapons. Anyone have any experience with these guns? Is it worth having them on or should I swap back to the twin 20mm AA guns next patrol? Cheers

08-23-09, 11:10 AM	#2
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	They're slow firing because they pack a heavier slug. Useful for sinking small fry like fishing boats and sampans and damaging larger ships. I never think much about how they perform against aircraft as I'm don't stick on the surface to find out.

08-23-09, 02:30 PM	#4
Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford Mate Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 59 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	A submarine does not really have enough guns to effectively engage enemy aircraft with even or better odds of success. The 40MM Bofors is really intended to be installed in large quantities (5+ pairs or better) when used in an AA application. On a submarine, two pair is about all you can install, and even two pair of Bofors can't offer the volume of fire needed for AA work. Honestly, a submarine should never attempt to fight aircraft if it can submerge to a depth of 150 feet or deeper. Aircraft are just a lot more effective as anti-shipping weapons than submarines are as anti-aircraft weapons. If you can score hits with the Bofors, it is of course far more effective than a 20MM, but the slow rate of fire makes scoring hits on a moving target more difficult with the Bofors. That being said, given the choice, I'd take Bofors over the 20MM. I'd just use them on ships as opposed to aircraft, which I avoid at nearly any cost.

08-23-09, 03:13 PM	#5
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	They're totally worthless in TMO against ships, can't even sink junks with them.. I do carry one when available for planes, but never two.

08-23-09, 03:19 PM	#6
ddiplock Samurai Navy Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 552 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	Well, given the size of the guns, it defo gives me the impression that if an aircraft is coming in to dive and you open fire with a 40mm and managed to HIT the aircraft, it should pretty much be blown to scrap metal and plunge into the ocean. Sooner or later I am going to have to try these out in an AA capacity against an incoming plane or two....however dangerous that may be

08-23-09, 06:18 PM	#7
Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford Mate Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 59 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	What ammunition do you get with them?

08-23-09, 11:20 PM	#11
Frederf Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 665 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 1	One of the most noticeable advantages of the 40mm is range.

08-26-09, 03:14 PM	#13
CaptainMattJ. The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,364 Downloads: 55 Uploads: 0	US subs Suck in terms of AA. German uboats, however, are the SHieeeet. I man the heavy AA gun and wait for the light AA gunners to show me where the airplane is (i look at fire) and I shoot it down w/ heavy flak. i usually never dive in a uboat for Airplanes. but in US, i ALWAys dive. i dont know where the plane is and it reloads way to slow and i cant see whereim shooting cause of the metal thing surrounding the AA gun.