Destroyers

[Neubaufahrzeug]

I looked through the forum, but did not found a thread:

Why have Destroyers a range of only just one hex? Due to the torpedoes?

[BiteNibbleChomp]

I looked through the forum, but did not found a thread:

Why have Destroyers a range of only just one hex? Due to the torpedoes?

DDs are the only ship that can use depth charges to kill subs. Have you ever seen someone shoot a depth charge at a sub 30km away?

- BNC

[skyfox122]

I looked through the forum, but did not found a thread:

Why have Destroyers a range of only just one hex? Due to the torpedoes?

Torpedoes - at least for the Allies were not very accurate especially at long range. The 1 hex is appropriate also due to scale of the conflict\map.
The Japanese Long Lance torpedo proved to be the only truly useful long range torpedo of the war.

[tinchow]

I'm new at the forum, and now that I found this topic, I would like to ask... since destroyers have torpedoes and depth charges, why not make them deadlier in the short range against surface vessels, like a submarine?

[Vorskl]

I'm new at the forum, and now that I found this topic, I would like to ask... since destroyers have torpedoes and depth charges, why not make the deadlier in the short range against surface vessels, like a submarine?

Because historically destroyers were used as a screen to protect battleships, cruisers and carriers. Their main task was to kill submarines and other destroyers - exactly that is portrayed in the game

[skyfox122]

I'm new at the forum, and now that I found this topic, I would like to ask... since destroyers have torpedoes and depth charges, why not make them deadlier in the short range against surface vessels, like a submarine?

They normally only carried 5" guns and other ships much larger guns - so the larger the ship the further they could shoot thus the Destroyer normally if spotted at a distance would be shelled and run away not into closer range to be sunk normally.

Plus - subs are not normally on the surface except at night to recharge batteries - " deadlier in the short range against surface vessels, like a submarine?"

[smashtheaxis]

Plus - subs are not normally on the surface except at night to recharge batteries

As far as I know, WW2 subs operated on the surface most of the time and only submerged during daylight battle. On battery, the range and speed of the submarine was much, much lower than on diesel, so they had to operate on surface when not directly engaged in combat. At night time, there were times in the war when being on surface at night was saver than being submerged, thanks to limitations of Allied sonar. Only end of the war Type XXI u-boats could stay underwater for several days on battery power, thanks to the Snorkel that allowed to take air from the surface while still being submerged, allowing to recharge batteries with the diesel engine.

[tinchow]

The vast majority of destroyer classes had torpedo tubes mounted, and in many cases where they were employed against larger warships, like the japanese in Guadalcanal, for example. For me, it's an interesting possibility to give them the same attack caracteristics as the submarines, only that they are much more vulnerable to enemy fire.