Harpoons Useless?

[Unknown]

Every time i fire a harpoon every asw plane in a 1000 mile radius comes to destroy me. Is there any reason therefore to use the harpoons?

[scbypwr]

Must clear datum after launching missiles. A missile launch is a beacon inviting every enemy platform to come calling.

Best thing to do before launching is to make sure that you have a MOSS in the water moving away from you. After launch.... DIVE, dive, dive and increase speed to move away from the launch point.

All stealth is lost the moment you launch a missile of any kind.

[PeppersGhost]

I think they are relatively ineffective atm, i tried launching on Tankers from different angles out of the reach of destroyers or the Kiev for that matter, they are allways downed by flak or other defenses. They are supposed to skim the surface so the enemy cant get the angle on them to burst fire but out of 10 Harpoons maybe 2 hit the target.

The big investment you make, the sound you produce is a give away to any ship or task force for that matter not to mention the Tu-95's and remnant Kamov's..

My advise, only use them when all ships but your primary is destroyed and load up four of those suckers, fire them all and load back to 48's, go deep and run, run, run!!

[comsubpac]

Originally posted by Unknown:

Every time i fire a harpoon every asw plane in a 1000 mile radius comes to destroy me. Is there any reason therefore to use the harpoons?

You are basically fireing a flare and scream "Here I am! Come and get me!"

[Chris]

Maybe its only safe to use Harpoons and TASM when you're confident theres' no enemy surface combatants with ASW weapons, or if theres' no ASW aircraft above. Then again any surface combatant will have an air search capable radar so they will detect the launch and vector ASW aircraft to you. So...the only safe bet is to use them against non combatants- as non combatants (think all of them) only have navigation radar.

This theory however renders anti ship missiles as almost useless. It'll just be that you use missiles on non combatant targets to save on torps.

[Zaltark]

I find the best way to use the harboons is to periscope up and get ships and course seen, then launch a few harpoons and dive immediately. Theyll drop a torpedo where you were, but thats why you move. Think of it like sniping. You move immediately after shooting.

[Thjan]

I've head great success with harpoons so far. Any intel on when to use the TASM over the UGM-84?

[dr0r]

Originally posted by Thjan:

I've head great success with harpoons so far. Any intel on when to use the TASM over the UGM-84?

Long story short:
The TASM is superior in almost every way, and by a lot.
Only "downside" is that it takes 1 hour to load/unload when docked, where the UGM-84 takes half an hour.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

[dr0r]

Originally posted by Unknown:

Every time i fire a harpoon every asw plane in a 1000 mile radius comes to destroy me. Is there any reason therefore to use the harpoons?

Yes, there is a point in raining hell over a big enemy fleet.

Make yourself missions of increasing difficulty IN JUST 1 minute each and simply practice it. It is very fun.

[Darkstar]

Originally posted by dr0r:

Originally posted by Thjan:

I've head great success with harpoons so far. Any intel on when to use the TASM over the UGM-84?

Long story short:
The TASM is superior in almost every way, and by a lot.
Only "downside" is that it takes 1 hour to load/unload when docked, where the UGM-84 takes half an hour.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

TASM is slower IRL and is larger too. It is therefore easier to shoot down. Whether or not that's true in game, I have no idea. It has a larger warhead than the puny one on the Harpoon though.

[ghostdog_688]

Originally posted by Thjan:

I've head great success with harpoons so far. Any intel on when to use the TASM over the UGM-84?

you've now come across the reason why TASM's were phased out in real life. harpoons are equal to the task intended and TASM's are crazy expensive, unwieldy to use and fire (not to mention HIGHLY visibile - moreso than harpoons). Yes, the damage they did was smller per unit, but the rise of CIWS on fleet vessels meant that it was better to fire lots of smaller, low-damage missiles (some can get through then) than a few massive missiles (most would get shot down before they could get a hit in).

[Darkstar]

Originally posted by ghostdog_688:

Originally posted by Thjan:

I've head great success with harpoons so far. Any intel on when to use the TASM over the UGM-84?

you've now come across the reason why TASM's were phased out in real life. harpoons are equal to the task intended and TASM's are crazy expensive, unwieldy to use and fire (not to mention HIGHLY visibile - moreso than harpoons). Yes, the damage they did was insance, but the rise of CIWS on fleet vessels meant that it was better to fire lots of smaller, low-damage missiles (some can get through then) than a few massive missiles (most would get shot down before they could get a hit in).

The Harpoon has also essentially been phased out of service on SSNs as well, for various reasons.

[ghostdog_688]

Originally posted by Darkstar:

Originally posted by ghostdog_688:

you've now come across the reason why TASM's were phased out in real life. harpoons are equal to the task intended and TASM's are crazy expensive, unwieldy to use and fire (not to mention HIGHLY visibile - moreso than harpoons). Yes, the damage they did was insance, but the rise of CIWS on fleet vessels meant that it was better to fire lots of smaller, low-damage missiles (some can get through then) than a few massive missiles (most would get shot down before they could get a hit in).

The Harpoon has also essentially been phased out of service on SSNs as well, for various reasons.

yes, most of the reasons have been discussed here. they broadcast the subs location so much, and CIWS has upgraded to the point it can even handle the quantity of missiles an individual sub can deploy in a short space.
Fortunately, they still have use in 1984 :D

[MixedupJim]

My tactic is to launch them down the trail left by sonar pings. You can use the harpoons in tandem with the VSL (if you have one) to simply overwhelm the enemy and potentially take them all out in one go without needing a high SOL, although having a good idea of range helps.

They're also useful if you've got a cruiser hightailing it away from you and too far for torpedos.

You gotta run afterwards though.

[Darkstar]

The Virginia Class boats apparently can't even carry Harpoons. That should speak to the Navy's "confidence" in them as a sub launched weapon.

[ghostdog_688]

Originally posted by MixedupJim:

My tactic is to launch them down the trail left by sonar pings. You can use the harpoons in tandem with the VSL (if you have one) to simply overwhelm the enemy and potentially take them all out in one go without needing a high SOL, although having a good idea of range helps.

They're also useful if you've got a cruiser hightailing it away from you and too far for torpedos.

You gotta run afterwards though.

thats fine if you have a rough idea of range, but 4-6 missile will declare your exact bearing too.
Harpoons are usually able to be deployed in one direction and then turn on a final attack heading before starting their search with the radar in its nose. for maximum effect in defeating CIWS, you should have multiple directions of attack.