Aircraft on ASW Patrol: any successes?

[SWODOG]

I have PBY and some Navy B-24's conducting ASW Patrol in the vicinity of Lunga and Noumea. Although they frequently sight subs they NEVER attack. Two questions: Will they only perform attacks when set to Naval Attack and if they will attack at what altitudes are ya'll setting your ac at to get them to attack.

[WW2'er]

They will attack. I sunk an American sub by setting all my planes on ASW. I believe I had the planes searching at 1000 or 2000 feet at most.

Good Hunting!

[The Gnome]

Excellent point on the altitude, I keep forgetting to check that on my ASW aircraft. I think I haven't had much in the way of success as my planes need to descend from 6000ft to attack and by that time the sub has gone.

[von Murrin]

I've sunk one, and gotten a fair number of hits at 100 ft.

Edit: I trained my Hudsons into the ground and got their experience up to 75 or something expressly for sub hunting. They're not much good for anything else.

[Mugwump]

well thats nice to here that someone is sinking subs with planes-

ive got 3 jap subs off Noumea and my planes are doing nothing

[Erik Rutins]

Yes, low altitude is best for subhunting in my experience as well. I fly my experienced Catalinas at 100 feet and have seen sub hits.

By the way, Hudsons are really quite good at all kinds of missions. I often use them in conjunction with my B-17s for medium range bombing missions on ports or airfields. They're also halfway decent at low altitude (1000 feet) at bombing ships.

Regards,

- Erik

[The Gnome]

Haha, someone else that likes the poor Hudson! I use them in the anti-shipping role in non-critical areas. I may rethink things and put them on ASW missions.

[Erik Rutins]

If you can see the subs then your planes are at least spotting them and reducing their effectiveness by forcing them to operate less openly. They're also increasing your chances to finally hunt them down, but it's certainly not easy, even with experienced plane and ship crews. Hang in there.

Regards,

- Erik