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Destroyers are among the most challenging of targets to engage in Silent Hunter 3. Unlike their counterparts, merchants, they can change speed and direction in an instant and come equipped with ASDIC, sonar, depthcharges, and eventually, radar. As the war progresses in Silent Hunter 3, the experience and ability of destroyers increases significantly. A Kapitan must take the utmost caution when considering to engage a destroyer. As mentioned before, the experience of a destroyer crew advances over a period of time. A destroyer crew in late 1939 will not be as proficient as a destroyer crew in 1945. When approaching a destroyer remember that the sonar is located right in the front of the bow, under the waterline. When looking parallel at a destroyer, you will normally see a small bulge in the hull, this is where the hydrophones and ASDIC is located. A destroyer's arc for the their hydrophones is normally from their extreme left to their front and to their extreme right. A destroyer rarely hears anything beyond these boundaries and cannot hear anything to its aft. A seasoned destroyer sonar operator can hear just about anything you do right down to the slightest sound. ALWAYS avoid being in the direct path of a destroyer, even if it has not found you. The chances of them finding you are very high in this situation. With this in mind, it is very important that you approach off to one side and at 50 rpm (you can obtain 50rpm by clicking on your speed indicator and clicking inbetween 0 knots and 1 knot). If your career is before the middle of 1942, chances are that the majority of destroyers will not be equipped with radar. This will allow you to put your periscope up a tad above the water, but not fully extended. If you are close enough to the destroyer, you may be able to make out the nation that it belongs to by the ensign that is flyng at the mast. However, if this is not possible, you might run the chance of misidentifying the destroyer, thus making a solution invalid. After enough practice, you will be able to identify a destroyer through various features including: the number of smoke stacks, the smoke stacks position and size, number of deck guns and their position, and the number and position of the masts. You will then be able to match the destroyer to its nation. Keep in mind that some nations share similar if not identical destroyers. If this is the case, matching the right nation to the destroyer is not nessesary. Look through your recognition manual for the appropriate nation and find the destroyer page that matches your destroyer. When you have successfully identified the destroyer, take into account its angle on bow (the angle of the destroyer to your uboat). If, for example, you have a near perpendicular shot (90 STB), chances are high that you will not need to worry about a magnetic keel shot. You can set the torpedo depth anywhere from 1 metre to 3 metres and still be guarenteed a hit. The average depth of most of the destroyers in SH3 is 2 metres. If the angle on bow doesn't look good or if you think your torpedo will bounce off, you can try a magnetic keel shot. You first need to know the draft of the destroyer you are attacking. This is found in the page of the destroyer within the recognition manual. Say, for example, that the draft is 3.2 metres. You wound have to set the torpedo depth to approximately 5 metres to make sure the torpedo goes under the keel and does not bounce off the bottom. Generally you add 1 to 1.5 metres to torpedo's depth for keel shots. Now make sure you have the torpedo firing pistol set to "M" or magnetic. Destroyers are as adept on the surface as they are locating uboats underwater. Destroyers can spot visible trails of water bubbles from a long distance. This increases as the seas become calmer. With this in mind, it is not a good idea to use a G7a torpedo, commonly knowing as the "steamer". This leaves a visible trail of bubbles on the surface while on its way to the target. The prefered weapon of choice would be the G7e or Type II torpedo. This handy torpedo leaves no visible trail of bubbles but is limited at a speed of slow. With the adjustments made to its depth and firing pistol, the torpedo is ready to be fired. In case you are found before you torpedo reaches its target, it is always handy to have a G7a with similar depth and firing pistol settings as the G7e but set to a speed of fast. I would recommend to use this as a last resort. The majority of British destroyers can only take one torpedo hit. Only in some instances will they take two. On the other hand, U.S. destroyers normally take two torpedos to go down. Make sure you have an extra torpedo, ready to go incase you find yourself in this situation.
As mentioned above, a destroyer's sonar and ASDIC operator is always on duty and will be relentless in your pursuit. This is the one person you are truely fighting aside from the depth charge operator. Your probably wondering, is it possible to outsmart and escape from such a rentless crew given their technology ? Yes, technology has limits and you can exploit them. Sonar and ASDIC has a limit on its arc of projection. In laymans terms, a destroyer cannot hear or use ASDIC anytime the target is outside its extreme left and right arcs. Think of the destroyer as a compass. Anywhere beyond 90 degrees or 270 degrees cannot really be heard by the destroyer. There is always a chance an experienced sonar operator can still pick you up but as long as the destroyer has its propellers and engines going it makes it all that much more difficult to locate you. The same goes for your uboat. If you were to go to "Ahead flank" then were to man your sonar station it is near impossible to hear anything to your aft. The next thing you can try to counteract is the ASDIC itself. ASDIC can be projected within the same arc as sonar but even an experienced ASDIC operator can sometimes project it outside the normal arc. Since ASDIC is nothing more than ultra sound waves reflecting off your sub, it is best to dive deeper (usually beyond 100-150 meters). If your lucky enough to be an area where there is a current of warm water, also known as a thermal layer, it will help to deflect the ultra sonic waves and give the ASDIC oeprator a false reading on your depth. Keep in mind, a destroyer's depth charge crew will always set some charges to a deeper depth than what you are currently at. Now your probably wondering "How can I follow a destroyer without my periscope ?" The answer is your sonar operator. Ask your sonar operator to do a normal sweep. Wait for atleast a minute then ask him to follow the nearest warship. Hopefully, he will lock onto the destroyer that is on you and follow him. Now, like the destroyer, imagine your uboat as a compass, don't use the magnetic compass in the heads up display. The front of your uboat is 0 degrees, your left and right, 270 and 90 degrees respectively, while your aft being 180 degrees. Your sonar operator will get the bearing of the warship every few seconds. Take this bearing into perspective with your "compass". For example, if the destroyer is bearing 300 degrees, then he is to your forward and just to the left of your position. I also recommend you turn off the music ingame so that you can hear the destroyer. A destroyer's engine sound is a big indication if its searching for you or if its in its attack run. When a destroyer locates you, it will first be with sonar. Simply being within 1000m all quiet and all stop is enough for a destroyer to locate you. A destroyer will then use its ASDIC to properly locate your depth, speed, and direction. When a destroyer is using ASDIC, it has to go slow otherwise the noise and cavitation from the propellers will drown out the sonar and have an impact on the ASDIC waves. You will also notice that a destroyer will not use ASDIC when it goes into its attack run and from your command room and you will hear the engines power up really quickly. If you are before 1942, most destroyers will not have side racks and possess only rear facing depth charge racks. These racks are relatively easy to avoid, providing you have the depth to maneuver. This is where your sonar operator, the previous theory, and a bit of luck all combine. Using the bearings of the destroyer relative to your position, you can begin planning the best ways to avoid the deadly depth charges. Remember, it only takes one depth charge to end your career. The simpliest way to avoid the depth charges is to get to atleast 100 metres, ahead flank, and turning towards the inside of a destroyer's turn. For example, if a destroyer is approaching from 160 degrees (aft and to the right a bit), the destroyer will naturally make a turn to starboard to get as many depth charges ontop of as they can. Your best bet is to turn with the destroyer to limit the amount of depth charges that will actually be near you. Normally you would perform a 90 degree turn, after that you center your rudder. When the depth charges begin to explode, silent speed, then manually set your speed for 50 RPM and stay quiet. As the depth charges explode, the destroyer cannot use ASDIC or sonar. With some luck, the destroyer will start to use their ASDIC on a location other to where you are. If you are deep enough and in the right area, you can even take advantage of thermal layers. The weather will also play an important part in escaping from destroyers. If it is calm seas outside, then the destroyer will have an easier time picking you up. On the opposite end, if its 15 metre waves, a destroyer will not be able to effectively use ASDIC or Sonar. Now your probably wondering about destroyers with side racks ? This is where I haven't quite figured out a sure win tactic as the side racks can be adjusted for range firing compared to the predictable rear racks. One tactic I have not yet effectively used is quite similar to the one mentioned above where you would make a 90 degree turn. As you may already be aware, side racks fire outwards, perpendicular to the destroyer so a 90 degree turn would be ill-advised. Instead, you can try 45 degree turn and hope that the destroyer doesn't fire at the right moment. A destroyer with sideracks is extremely lethal and contact should be avoided unless absolutely nessesary
Finally, one of the feared weapons of the mid to the late war destroyer is known as the "Hedgehog". These are small projectiles that are fitted on the front of the destroyer sometime in the middle of 1942 onwards. They are fired in a circle pattern just before a destroyer goes into an attack run. If one impacts your sub it does tremendous damage to the pressure hull and thus reduces your ability to get away from the destroyer. When you know you can't defeat the destroyer with torpedos, dive away as quickly as you can to take advantage of the deep sea and do your best to implement some of the tactics mentioned above. The overall golden rule is to REMAIN SILENT.
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