Matrix Games Forums

How can I make best use of my submarine chasers (SC's)?

There is a similar question regarding minelayers. As a rule they are massacred by Japanese aircrafts before they were able to deploy their mines.

Allied minelayers due to there range are not much good in trying to portay minewarefare. They are best used in home waters.

Sub chasers in groups of 3 or 4 are a deterent to subs when attached to transports

I find my SCs are most effective at removing ammunition from IJN subs - by having the torpedoes fired into them. This causes the subs to leave to rearm, and thus leave more important targets alone.

This led LordHawke and I to redub my Sub Chasers as Torpedo Catchers (TC).

Perhaps they would be more effective if they were officially designated 'Sub Catchers' instead of merely chasers.

Allied SCs can be very effective. Start by making some TFs with 6 SCs and 2 DDs. Give them good commanders and sail around Nouema looking for subs. The commanders and crews on the DDs are much better than the ones on the SCs and will give you a much higher chance of detecting the subs before they fire. Over time they wll get better. Once you have some with night experience at 55 or greater then they can hunt on their own. Don't forget to send them back to PH at least once for AA and ASW upgrades. You can also train them by using them as escorts for transport TFs around the Nouema area. It will take a while and you will lose some but by the end of 1942 you can efectively end any IJN sub activity in the game. Just remember that they do not have a lot of endurance so need to be kept on short runs.

Single SC in a convoy prevents subs attacking on surface. Usefull with barge convoy, as this basicly prevents any sub attacking your barges.

Incidentally, historically, not a single SC was recorded sunk by subs. Here's how they went:

Submarine Chaser, (110 foot) (SC)

USS SC-521 foundered off Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands, 10 July 1945.

USS SC-700 sunk by accidental fire off Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands, 10 March 1944.

USS SC-740 grounded on Great Barrier Reef, Australia, 17 June 1943.

USS SC-744 sunk by Kamikaze attack in Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, 27 November 1944.

USS SC-751 grounded off Western Australia, 22 June 1943.

USS SC-984 grounded off New Hebrides, 9 April 1944.

USS SC-1019 lost by grounding, 22 April 1945.

USS SC-1067 foundered off Attu, Aleutian Islands, 19 November 1943.

Didnt realize the SCs could upgrade their weaponry if sent back to PH. Really?

They will double their AA from 65 to 135. Sometime later they will upgrade their DCs and Mousetraps, don't remember when but it is later in the long senarios.

ORIGINAL: Nomad

They will double their AA from 65 to 135. Sometime later they will upgrade their DCs and Mousetraps, don't remember when but it is later in the long senarios.

In 1943, any Allied ship with depth charges Mk 6 will upgrade to Mk 9 if sent to PH. This applies to DD, SC, DM, APD. New SC will arrive will them. Mk 9 are deadly, never seen a submarine survive a hit, contrary to Mk 6.

By the way, destroyers with Mk 7 DC will upgrade them to Mk 7/m (or /l, don't remember) that are slightly better.

Only PBEM I playes as USN in 1943 was one were I had lost 4 CV to an IJN CVL and a CVE, but had sunk 80+ Japanese transports and crushed 2 Japanese attempts of auto-victory (Townsville and Rockhampton) and killed 100 000+ Jap on Australia. But I still had only one CV and two CVE and the IJN 7 CV so wasn't planning a push north until March 1943. I sent back more than 60% of my ships (IJN has no more troops to threaten me), all that can have any upgrades, especially ASW and AA (AP and TK are really plane killers once they have upgraded). Anyway WITP arrived then and we both agree to restart a big game.. once the patch is over.

They are also useful decoys...i had Rabaul attack a TF of SC/DMS instead of my defenceless 25 ship AK/AP convoy [:D]

IMO, the best use for SCs is as "Betty Bait".

Once you get good fighters, put SCs in the port with good CAP and watch the Betties waste themselves trying to kill these insignificant craft. They'll get some kills, and 1 point each, but more important, their fighter and bomber force will get exhausted or eliminated in the process.