How to send torpedoes at 2 or 3 ships at the same time ?

[xiombargdei]

hello

I have been reading a lot of tutorials about manual targetting and such. I'm getting a pretty good grasp on how to do it and can sink quite any lonely boat now.

But, in the case of a convoy how do you set up several firing solutions to fire at 2 or 3 boats at the same time ? reading this article it says :

Originally Posted by Rocks'n'Shoals

Additional comment: For a convoy attack, I use the same procedure, and set up for an average distance. Using an AoB between 60° and 80° (depending on target speed), I can fire at two or three ships which are aligned in a row, furthest first, nearest last, to time the torpedo impacts near-simultaneous. Let them run into the firing reticle, one ship after another, they are all traveling at the same course and speed - unless previously alerted, which is when they go into wild zigs...

How can you hit the furthest ship first if you let the ships "run into the firing reticle, one after another" ?
If I hit the first ship, the others will get allerted and slow down / zigzag and avoid my torpedoes.

can anyone point me to the right direction ?

[DrBeast]

There's a couple of tutorial videos about convoy attacks in the Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks thread. Worth checking them out.

[Nicolas]

I use this, it adjust the aob when you enter a new bearing (sh3 style).

http://www.gamefront.com/files/servi...ou?id=16309923

[Armistead]

I don't worry so much about it until I get some M18's, wakeless torps help.

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by xiombargdei

hello

How can you hit the furthest ship first if you let the ships "run into the firing reticle, one after another" ?
If I hit the first ship, the others will get allerted and slow down / zigzag and avoid my torpedoes.

can anyone point me to the right direction ?

After you launch on the first (farthest) target, you must pivot the periscope onto (or just ahead of) the second target. If you do this quickly, it is possible to get near simultaineous hits on two targets.

[denny927]

better do this when the first torpedo you launch is set in low speed, so you have enough time to set up the next target, and launch the second fish in high speed, so the impacts will be in the same time(almost).

I prefer do this when I intercept a ships in a row, and dont in a couple side by side.

My record was 3 ships in a row with 1 torpedo each well placed under the keel.the first sunked immediatly with a great red mushroom, the other two sunked slowly but constantly, 10 minutes after

But a good plotting is necessary....oooops I have map contacts on

[Rockin Robbins]

I'm a strong believer that targeting multiple targets is largely a waste of time and torpedoes. Just as the real US subs did, I think it is best to stalk an individual target, do your mischief, then bug out to attack again from another angle.

This is most helpful when you are attacking an escorted convoy. You can't get really close without detection. But if you carefully shoot the largest target only with a couple torpedoes from longer range you accomplish two things.

First, you sink the target.....okay you could damage or miss it. But secondly, you just rang the dinner bell for all the escorts, who will streak to where they think the torpedoes came from. But you've turned tail and are running away at top speed.

You're going to circle around behind the convoy to approach from the other side. And because those escorts are looking for you on the side away from the convoy, you will be able to get as close as you want.

Attack at leisure. Rinse and repeat as necessary. I've left escorts completely stripped of their convoy from mutliple attacks taking the whole night, leaving the dejected guard dogs to slink off to find other targets to guard.

[denny927]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

I'm a strong believer that targeting multiple targets is largely a waste of time and torpedoes. Just as the real US subs did, I think it is best to stalk an individual target, do your mischief, then bug out to attack again from another angle.

This is most helpful when you are attacking an escorted convoy. You can't get really close without detection. But if you carefully shoot the largest target only with a couple torpedoes from longer range you accomplish two things.

First, you sink the target.....okay you could damage or miss it. But secondly, you just rang the dinner bell for all the escorts, who will streak to where they think the torpedoes came from. But you've turned tail and are running away at top speed.

You're going to circle around behind the convoy to approach from the other side. And because those escorts are looking for you on the side away from the convoy, you will be able to get as close as you want.

Attack at leisure. Rinse and repeat as necessary. I've left escorts completely stripped of their convoy from mutliple attacks taking the whole night, leaving the dejected guard dogs to slink off to find other targets to guard.

I dont understand, how you can avoid escorts, turning away at full speed?maybe at maximum 3 knots, but at full speed I dont believe is a good idea.
another thing, if you shoot a torp at 1000- 1500 yd submergeged(obvious), reach the other side of convoy is a little bit complicated, at that speed, more if the convoy after shooting the first torpedo, start to accelerate....Please explain this
maybe is not real like the US sub did, but the question posted was clear, how shoot multiple targets, not if this was real or not.

Despite of this, I think is more safe for my crew hit hard and sneak away, but is my opinion, and im sure your knowledge is more accurate than mine.

anyway RR, a good tip is always welcome, maybe you can do a great tutorial as a gift for us, how eliminate a convoy using your tactics.


...im not attacking you, so, dont blow me up.

[Horus3K]

Back in the SH3 days, when ive met a convoy with medium or even better, light escorts i always tried to eliminate the escorts at one side of the convoy, which leaves time enough to shoot on the merchants...if the merchants werent armed i often tried to sink all escorts so i could fight the convoy surfaced with maximum dmg and maneuverability!

But shooting on multiple targets i never intentionally did iirc...for example yesterday ive met my very first merchant convoy in SH4, heavily guarded by small escorts but very chaotic formation, some ships moving, some not...i picked the nearest and biggest ship, fired 4 torps on it...one was a premature, and the ship tried to turn away from the other 3 torps, but 2 fishes hit it and the other one hit another small freighter perfectely!

A good way to practise that is by using free camera setting to control your actions better, and not to use manual aim so you can fully focus on things like multiple shots or other basic things like avoid escorts, keep the contact with the convoy etc

[timmyg00]

I've found that using the Cromwell method in combination with the Solution Solver, i can attack 2 ships in adjacent columns one after the other (so, not simultaneously, sorry, but effective!). In my method, i've had to shoot at the furthest ship first, because that's the one that crosses my firing bearing first. If i wasn't at work, i'd draw a diagram and post it to explain what i do... It would also depend on the convoy formation.

TG

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

I'm a strong believer that targeting multiple targets is largely a waste of time and torpedoes. ...

I'm inclined to agree. If one is playing at high realism, it will be fairly difficult to get multiple targets. Even at the highest difficulty settings, the game is easier than RL. When I am in a S-boat, and not using the TDC, attacking multiple targets is a practical impossibility.

[Rockin Robbins]

You have to consider that simultaneous hits are basically an impossibility with the tools we and the real submarines have. Even if there is a ten second difference in impact times, the other ships will react to the first hits, causing many torpedoes to miss entirely.

Shooting at escorts is also something to avoid as you are basically wasting a torpedo for next to zero tons. Escorts can dance to avoid your torpedoes with ease. I've shot torpedoes at a stationary escort at night from 600 yards and watched them hit the jets and still avoid this high speed Mark 14 from right in their lap. That doesn't mean I won't try it again, but I'll never waste more than one shot on an escort, and that ONLY if I can get to 600 yards and the water is rough and the escort is stopped and unaware of my presence.

To answer denny's concerns: my first shots at a convoy are on the surface, about 2000 yards out. I already have my stern to the convoy and this gives me a great chance to exercise my after torpedo room crew. This is a late evening event. Doing this in the daytime will get you gunned to death. Escorts at 2000 yards are deadly with their guns. So do this after dark!

I just shoot two torpedoes. I'm usually doing a Dick O'Kane or Cromewell attack because I don't want range errors ruining my attack. Immediately after you shoot, you go to ahead emergency straight away from the escorts. I get away just about every time, make the turn to the rear of the convoy and get a range of three miles or more to avoid being seen.

Yes the convoy will put on a short 10 knot or so spurt after the booms, but they will settle down to 5 or 7 knots really quickly. You're doing 20+ so you can easily circle around behind to the other side. It's not a difficult thing at all and works every time. If any escorts are not pounding your last estimated position, they've arrayed in front of the convoy where you are supposed to be maneuvering for position.

Maneuvering yes. In front, no. You're where they are not looking, and going to press the next attack really close before you pull the trigger, a fully submerged in your face, can't miss 600 yard range attack. Again, I shoot two. If you just injure them they'll be left behind for later festivities. Most likely they'll go down.

Now you are in a different but the same position you were after your first longer range attack. You are possibly closer to the escorts, but they have friendly merchants between them and you. Same strategy. Hit the surface and run away at 20 knots, circle behind at 3+ mile range to attack the other side while the escorts waste depth charges on your last known position.

Remember, the escorts' goal is not necessarily to sink you. It is to keep you pinned down, maneuvering at 2 knots or less long enough for the convoy to attain an impregnable position from which you cannot make an attack. If you let them get above you and you evade submerged, they have won that round of the war.

If you shoot at multiple ships, then, you will waste more torpedoes for less tonnage. Those shots will most likely be the only shots you will ever get at that convoy.

I play with TMO and manual targeting with map plotting on. There is no realism to turning plotting off, just frustration that in no way replicates the real experience. There is no real realism option in Silent Hunter 4. It is a difficulty option only.

I don't even believe that attacking with auto targeting changes the results here. You have the same problem that ships struck after the first booms will maneuver, avoiding most or all of the other torpedoes. You are still subject to being pinned down after the attack because you took longer to execute it.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your planning was defective. Don't give 'em a chance I say. Hit 'em where they aint. Never give battle on their terms and never trade blows. Run away where appropriate. You are a mortal man in a fragile craft accompanied by a crew of 70 other mortal men. The enemy is not only very good but often very lucky. But they can't hit a target they do not shoot at or don't depth charge.

War is dangerous enough without false heroics. Dead men can't win wars.