Tactic&Tipp "PRE-FLOODING" "DECKS AWASH"

[See_Wolf]

Pre-flooding ...

… is an outstanding method to creep up on enemy or to overtake him. You are able to come very close and in a good shooting position.

What to do?

If you know where’s the enemy – in visibility range or not – then:

alter course about 90 deg to probably bearing of him
gather (full) speed
go to depth of 8 m (type II boat) or 9 m (type VII boat)*
extend periscope, but only at lowest position

Now your boat is driving with diesel engine! You are driving “pre-flooded”.

* type II: samey if peri is extended or not
type VII: if you are on 9m and pull in Peri you have status as “submerged” and
will be detected at full speed
so let peri extended and you already are able to aim

Check the detection range of enemy ships, there are differences between periscope positions and also of your own depth.

pros:
you come closer very fast, if too close, slow down
you are nearly invisible to unaided eye, only sail is projecting off the sea
fast submerged in case of air attack
saves battery resources, enables to charge batteries
ASDIC is unable to detect you
you can attack like surfaced (but with peri) – very good during night or fog
quick relocation after attack
radio transmission possible
you may man the AA
nav off can calculate course RTB
skip on tactical map is possible

cons:
radar of planes/DDs may detect you (if they have)
only periscope usable (no lookout on deck who reports planes/ships)
no deck gun available, it’s already flooded

annotations:
If your nav off take course rtb or you set course to other destination you will stay pre-flooded.

If you have to dive don’t forget to slow down (begin with 2 kn) to stay undetected!!!

Thank you very much, Kaleu Klingsor for the translate.

[lonjon]

this is really good information. +1

any idea why I might sometimes be spotted outside the "grey" zone while at 8/9m? (assuming no aircraft, no torps fired etc, but on a clear day)

[See_Wolf]

Radar can discover you.

mfg
See_Wolf

[lonjon]

Ok, good to know, though I didnt think enemy had radar in phase 2 but I will keep it in mind. Might also have been browser/map lag on my end.

[Klingsor]

Escorts may detect you as their detecting radius shows it. Capital ships detect you about 1.5x ... 2x of their visibility range.
There are also differences between their minimum range of artillery. An escort isn't able to shot targets with distance lower 1.500m but cap. ships hit from about 700 (750?) m upwards. Important if you decide to attack with deck gun - close enough you are safe

[lonjon]

Capital ships would indeed explain it, QE... Time to refine my plan of attack

[DurstBlut]

That's kind of like snorkling i gather

[AlbertRoss]

Avoiding depth charges and hedgehogs, these tactics I have used successfully many times:

D/Cs:

These seem to usually be deployed or dropped by the rear of the escort, so avoid that area most of all.
Abeam (to the sides) of an escort appears to be the least dangerous place to be, it seems. (Directly underneath too, but that could badly wrong very quickly).
I have found that in general (and especially when too close to escort) that running in reverse helps to confuse escort and sonar, and most importantly, the accuracy of D/Cs - you have, of course, to use opposite navigation headings though.
In times of emergency, a burst of full reverse then back to slow with heading change can avert almost certain destruction.
They always seem to detonate at about the depth of the sub (grrr) but also appear less effective at greater depths (?).

Link to uboat.net>depthcharges

H/Hs:

These are fired ahead of the escort, so avoid this general area too.
They are a pattern spread (of 24 in a circle) and explode on contact, not by depth, so are extremely dangerous.

Link to uboat.net>hedgehogs

However, it is of course best to try and avoid being in these positions in the first place rather than to have to use these methods

Another tip that is useful - after completing a mission, and before leaving port, is to switch to Home Waters in order to avoid being jumped by 'planes, but ALWAYS go to Decks Awash and put up Flak as a matter of habit. (So the tenous link to this thread is made, ha ha).

Hope you find this helpful.

AlbertRoss.

[Zaruk]

Ahoi captains,

where's the tower?

surfaced

pre-flooded

periscope-depth