Disaster off Weihaiwei

[mike_espo]

In my campaign, I had the 1st pacific squadron get ambushed by Togo's Battlegroup....lost the Varyag and 10 torpedo boats. :mad: Scenario took place at night.

My problem, and question is regarding russian torpedo boats: During this disaster, I used the destroyers to screen the retreat of the BBs. Problem is: the DDs never fired any torpedoes!!:mad: :mad:

I made sure they were targeted properly before commiting them. I saw that some of the DDs had perfect shots for a torpedo attack and did not fire! They got chewed up by the secondary armory of the BBs. I should think that at night the DDs have a good chance of survival. But many were destroyed before being able to get within 1000 yards and the few that did, did not even launch torpedoes.....

Whats up?? Am I doing something wrong? If so, could someone offer advice?

thanks

[Rhetor]

But many were destroyed before being able to get within 1000 yards and the few that did, did not even launch torpedoes.....

The maximum range of 1904-5 Russian torpedoes is 900 meters. Therefore you should fire as close as possible, 200-300 meters would be perfect. But when the target vessel is heavilly armed and undamaged and does not fire at any other target save your destroyers, it is next to impossible to close the distance enough to fire torpedoes.
You should bear in mind, that the torpedo launchers might have got damaged/knocked out before the destroyer closed enough to fire the torps.

Edit: During the approach it is wise to keep the DDs in cease fire mode, and select the target manually shortly before the ship gets in the perfect position to fire. Otherwise your destroyer might fire the torpedoes the moment she gets within the maximum range, thus wasting them.

[Damascus]

And watch where your other ships are. I had four DDs cruising off the port side of four cruisers. A night action opened up with the Russians off to port and the cruisers immediately fired torpedoes, sinking three of their own DDs in 10 seconds.

[Rhetor]

And watch where your other ships are. I had four DDs cruising off the port side of four cruisers. A night action opened up with the Russians off to port and the cruisers immediately fired torpedoes, sinking three of their own DDs in 10 seconds.

Oh, that hurts.

It took me some time to realise why the "Pallada" is almost always sunk during the night attack on Port Arthur. Even if she survives the initial wave of Japanese torpedoes, she is sunk by the next in line "Novik", because she fires her stern torpedo tube at the Japanese DDs the moment she becomes active, and usually "Pallada" lays exactly in the way of that torpedo.

Sometimes friendly fire is annoying. One of my battleships became active at Port Arthur, and started firing. It was the only time when I saw 100% accurate 305mm broadside - all four heavy shells hit the "Tsesarevitch" anchored nearby :-D

[mike_espo]

Huh...Did not realize that friendly fire happened in this game....

As for tactics, I can't remember the book I had regarding Tsushima battle. But I seem to remember that torpedo boat/Destroyer attacks happened after the initail clash of artillery..Probably should have waited until the BBs got in range before I unleashed the torpedo craft.....Forgot these are not PT boats that have torpedoes that can range long distances, but I did think that being small and fast that they should be tougher to hit and target...especially at night.

[Daedalus]

Huh...Did not realize that friendly fire happened in this game....

As for tactics, I can't remember the book I had regarding Tsushima battle. But I seem to remember that torpedo boat/Destroyer attacks happened after the initail clash of artillery..Probably should have waited until the BBs got in range before I unleashed the torpedo craft.....Forgot these are not PT boats that have torpedoes that can range long distances, but I did think that being small and fast that they should be tougher to hit and target...especially at night.

At this close range with the bigger guns they could almost bore site the gun and get a hit. The only time I have been able to do what you said is to get a destroyer attacking from the other side and have the Japanese fleet engaging that one, then attacking from the back side with the rest of my destroyers. When I have done this I almost always get hits with my torpedo's. But you have to get a lot of hits on big warships as they are hard to sink . But you can slow them down and then work on them with you ships.

[Robus]

And don't forget, you've stilll got to get 1st Pacific Squadron back home to Port Arthur. Togo is faster than your battleships, so expect repeated engagements and further losses.

Rule #1, know where Togo is before you sortie your battleships, or at least screen ahead thoroughly with several DD recon forces, far enough ahead that your slower BBs will have time to regain port if Togo is discovered.

As for the TBs, just as somebody said. Order them to cease fire until they close a few hundred meters, then target them manually. Left to their own devices they will launch at too long range and at angles that are unfavorable for a hit. Its usually better to pick a single target and unleash swarms of torpodoes against it than try to hit several vessels and wind up damaging none.