Tactics vs Convoys

ColonelSandersLite · 08-12-15, 09:26 PM

Ok, so I was thinking about something here in regards to attacking convoys.

Consider:
In general, the strongest possible attack you can make is generally your first when the convoy is not alerted and not squirreling around unpredictably. In this situation, I can hit my targets pretty reliably from 4,000 yards.

Ideally, you probably want to set it up so that you can hit two or three targets.

You probably also want all torpedo impacts to be within a few seconds of each other so that when the SHTF and the targets start evading, none of your shots are fouled.

Setting an attack up that meets all of the above criteria requires a fair amount of preparation and planning, with certain approaches lending themselves well to hitting certain combinations of ships in this manner.

Most convoys move fairly slowly.

In the era where you have good radar, you can figure out your approach and have it planned out well in advance of actually seeing the contents of the convoy, but the result is that you are picking an arbitrary setup without seeing what the targets actually are.

So the thought I had, and I've never really seen it discussed, is that it might be a good idea to dedicate the first pass on a convoy to reconnaissance. Suppose that the sub submerges and heads on the opposing course of the convoy, about 5,000 yards off their track. Maybe not that exact distance, but the idea being to be close enough to identify most or all of the targets, but far enough away to reliably avoid detection from the escorts. From here, the sub lets the convoy steam past and follows with an end around. The next time the sub is ahead of the convoy, it already knows where the choice targets are and has plenty of time to set up any desired approach accordingly.

Thoughts?

08-12-15, 09:26 PM	#1
ColonelSandersLite Captain Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 481 Downloads: 74 Uploads: 3	Tactics vs Convoys Ok, so I was thinking about something here in regards to attacking convoys. Consider: In general, the strongest possible attack you can make is generally your first when the convoy is not alerted and not squirreling around unpredictably. In this situation, I can hit my targets pretty reliably from 4,000 yards. Ideally, you probably want to set it up so that you can hit two or three targets. You probably also want all torpedo impacts to be within a few seconds of each other so that when the SHTF and the targets start evading, none of your shots are fouled. Setting an attack up that meets all of the above criteria requires a fair amount of preparation and planning, with certain approaches lending themselves well to hitting certain combinations of ships in this manner. Most convoys move fairly slowly. In the era where you have good radar, you can figure out your approach and have it planned out well in advance of actually seeing the contents of the convoy, but the result is that you are picking an arbitrary setup without seeing what the targets actually are. So the thought I had, and I've never really seen it discussed, is that it might be a good idea to dedicate the first pass on a convoy to reconnaissance. Suppose that the sub submerges and heads on the opposing course of the convoy, about 5,000 yards off their track. Maybe not that exact distance, but the idea being to be close enough to identify most or all of the targets, but far enough away to reliably avoid detection from the escorts. From here, the sub lets the convoy steam past and follows with an end around. The next time the sub is ahead of the convoy, it already knows where the choice targets are and has plenty of time to set up any desired approach accordingly. Thoughts? __________________ My SH4 LP