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CV32 -> RE: What did I do wrong part 2 (11/29/2007 12:59:25 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd
OK...being as you all were so much help before, what did I do wrong here.
Needed to watch the GI gap, I had 3 destroyers(?) with 3 helos...
Set the formation and sent the helos out on asw.
Got a contact south east of my group from a sonobouy...so I moved my group south at 10knots with helos screening the front.
I use the helo 'formation patrols' to screen the group, basically hunting for potential sub contacts in my path as the group conducts the ASW patrol. As you know, when they're in formation, the helos go about their business automatically, dropping sonobuoys and/or deploying their dipping sonar here and there within their assigned patrol sector.
The size of the formation will be dictated by my assessment of my ships' capabilities, i.e. their own passive sonar range, the range of their ASW weapons, the endurance of their shipborne helicopters, etc. I make adjustments as necessary to try and cover as much water as possible without exposing gaps in the group that a hostile sub might exploit.
When a submarine is discovered, however, the formation patrols are secondary. If the sub is real close, you might choose to launch shipboard torpedoes (the drawback being that a sub will often shoot right back along the bearing) or, if a helo is already close by, have it drop an air launched torpedo on the contact. More often than not, though, the sub is too far to use shipboard torpedoes and no helo is right there on the scene. This is when I launch a ready helo to prosecute the contact. (Sometimes it might be more convenient to simply split off one of the helo's already on formation patrol). I also drop the speed of the ship group to creep, both to aid in my own passive detection and to keep the bad guy from hearing me.
Tip: Don't drop your helo's torpedo(s) until you are right on top of your target and have a good fix on him. If you're using the Attack order, your Staff Assistant will suggest shooting as soon as you are in range, but you're better off trying to maximise your torpedo's endurance (and seeker) by dropping in close proximity to the sub. Drops on subs for which you do not have a good fix (only an area of uncertainty, however small) are less likely to achieve a hit. Also, be sure to keep dropping sonobuoys or deploying dipping sonar to maintain a good fix on the sub.
quote:
I was attacked my 4 missiles from the sub contact
I was advised to turn on radar to engage them which I did
They were shot down
Good. Activating your radars (and weapons) was a good thing to do. The submarine must have detected one or more of your ships with his passive sonar (his is often better than yours) and launched missiles along the bearing.
quote:
Next thing I know, one of my ships was sunk
Then another...about 2 minutes later
Then another
I didn't detect the enemy sub (no solid fix) and I lost 3 ships
I was not told of any torpedoes and I didn't see any missiles
If your radars were still active, it sounds likely to have been a torpedo attack. (Though some ship radars don't do well trying to detect low flying, high speed missiles). Having already come under missile attack, you knew that 'somebody' had detected you. If the sub was close by, I would probably have set off at speed in the opposite direction in anticipation of the torpedo threat.
quote:
I had put my 3 helos at the extreme of the group and within a couple of "areas"
I kept all sensors off as discussed in another thread
Pointers? Thx
Yep, I'd generally put helos in formation patrols ahead of the group and along its intended path. You might want to keep one in reserve for ready launch/prosecution duties (as mentioned above).
Sensor settings might call for a different approach here than it would when you're driving the submarine. While the drawbacks of active sonar use is much the same, you do have a very dangerous tool at your disposal: the ASW helo. Exploit it. Ping away with that dipping sonar and drop sonobuoys like you can get em at Walmart. The ships can stay relatively quiet, employing their passive sonar, while your helos actively hunt for contacts. If the air threat is minimal, you might also want to use the helos' radars to try and detect periscopes.
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