Advice on how to deal with airplanes?

jdupree · 03-12-10, 08:22 AM

Need some help on how to combat airplanes. I will be heading to a destination when planes appear. Should I dive for awhile and then come back up or try to take them on? One thing is for sure, I find it difficult to shoot them down! Just needed some advice from the pros! Thanks!

Dread Knot · 03-12-10, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdupree

Need some help on how to combat airplanes. I will be heading to a destination when planes appear. Should I dive for awhile and then come back up or try to take them on? One thing is for sure, I find it difficult to shoot them down! Just needed some advice from the pros! Thanks!

I never duke it out with planes. A submarine's job is to sink ships. It' s a fighter pilot's job to shoot down planes. The AA guns on US subs were there for an emergency defense when you can't dive in time or you're too damaged to avoid aircraft. If my radar gives me ample warning, I pull the plug no matter how annoying or time-consuming it is. In the actual conflict those US skippers who stayed on the surface even to take on those slow, lumbering Japanese flying boats when they didn't have to often got reprimanded.

You might get lucky and knock down the odd plane, but if they put a dent in your pressure hull and you have to go home for weeks of repairs---or not home at all, then Tojo got the better deal.

Schroeder · 03-12-10, 08:59 AM

I always dive. I's not worth the risk. I usually go to 200 feet and remain there for 1.5 hours.

jdupree · 03-12-10, 09:10 AM

I guess just dive for an hour or to and do a little time compression and come back up before the batteries get too low?

Dread Knot · 03-12-10, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdupree

I guess just dive for an hour or to and do a little time compression and come back up before the batteries get too low?

Sounds good. Just be sure to scan the skies with your radar mast and periscope before surfacing completely.

razark · 03-12-10, 09:57 AM

On receiving a radar contact on an airplane, I watch it for a moment. If it's going to pass rather far away, I simply ignore it, or change course away from it.

If it looks like it is going to be close, I take her down to periscope depth with the radar mast up, and watch for a bit longer. If it is still coming towards me, then I take her deep.

I hate having to go deep for airplanes, so I try to avoid it if possible. But I'd rather go deep instead of trying to dodge falling bombs.

When coming back up, pause at periscope depth for a bit, and use the radar. It's not good to surface right in front of an airplane. It's a lesson you only need to learn once.

TH0R · 03-12-10, 09:59 AM

In addition to all of the advices above, you can stay submerged during the day and cruise during the night.

But this becomes unnecessary once you get radar.

03-12-10, 08:22 AM	#1
jdupree Seaman Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 40 Downloads: 51 Uploads: 0	Advice on how to deal with airplanes? Need some help on how to combat airplanes. I will be heading to a destination when planes appear. Should I dive for awhile and then come back up or try to take them on? One thing is for sure, I find it difficult to shoot them down! Just needed some advice from the pros! Thanks!

03-12-10, 08:59 AM	#3
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	I always dive. I's not worth the risk. I usually go to 200 feet and remain there for 1.5 hours. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

03-12-10, 09:57 AM	#6
razark Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,731 Downloads: 393 Uploads: 12	On receiving a radar contact on an airplane, I watch it for a moment. If it's going to pass rather far away, I simply ignore it, or change course away from it. If it looks like it is going to be close, I take her down to periscope depth with the radar mast up, and watch for a bit longer. If it is still coming towards me, then I take her deep. I hate having to go deep for airplanes, so I try to avoid it if possible. But I'd rather go deep instead of trying to dodge falling bombs. When coming back up, pause at periscope depth for a bit, and use the radar. It's not good to surface right in front of an airplane. It's a lesson you only need to learn once. __________________ "Never ask a World War II history buff for a 'final solution' to your problem!"

03-12-10, 09:59 AM	#7
TH0R XO Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Croatia Posts: 420 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	In addition to all of the advices above, you can stay submerged during the day and cruise during the night. But this becomes unnecessary once you get radar. __________________ *My IL2 stuff:* LEVEL BOMBING MANUAL v2.0 \| 'MUSTANG'

03-12-10, 09:10 AM	#4
jdupree Seaman Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 40 Downloads: 51 Uploads: 0	I guess just dive for an hour or to and do a little time compression and come back up before the batteries get too low?