Offensive and Defensive Smoke

[Landing_Skipper]

When I started playing, I had no clue how to use smoke.  For one thing, I didn't understand the simple principle of needing to get back into your smoke screen before you stop spewing the stuff.

 

It was only when I got hold of a Nicholas that I read the term "offensive smoke".  Driving that DD and the Gnevny has taught me how to lay a smoke screen, slowing down toward the end and actually backing up into it just before it peters out.  You must have a spotter though.  Otherwise the smoke gets in your eyes too.  (sorry - couldn't resist)

 

One fun approach in the Minekaze or Isokaze is to get running parallel to your target.  Or even better with target approaching you.  Lay down spread of 6, then pop smoke as soon as you're detected.  If you have the commander skill that speed up torp reloads, you often can get another spread launched before the smoke goes away.  Careful though - good idea to have that speed boost ready for when the smoke clears.

 

Please make any other suggestions on use of smoke too. 

[PelicanHazard]

Breaking an unfavorable engagement for an ally.  did it one game and then had it done to me completely unprompted.

 

In one game, I was a Kiev. Time was ticking down and we were up on points, but a fairly healthy New Orleans was firing on an ally Colorado at his max range. The Colorado was under 6k HP and already burned his repair to extinguish some fires. It was likely that if the NO kept firing, he'd set the BB on fire again while chipping away with HE damage and sink him, possibly costing us the lead at the last second. So I laid a smokescreen to shroud the Colorado. NO lost sight of him before he could set another fire and we won.

 

Another game that same night, I was in a badly beaten up NorCal defending cap from a near full-health Tirpitz. The enemy Lex sent dive bombers after me and a passing Benson noticed. He smoked me up so the Lex didn't know where to drop and lost his bombers to my AA, then with the Benson providing vision and some timely torpedoes, we sunk the Tirpitz. Ultimately lost that game for other reasons, but the smoke was nice.

[Moksie]

Smoke circles bro just maintain max speed and the circle.  Q's and E's ftw.

You come back into your circle right as your torps come back, if you cut speed when you pop back in your half arc.

Stay in your arc on the very side either facing directly at enemy so that his torps go on either side of you.

Or stern to enemy on the other side of your smoke, makes it easier to bail.

 

If you cut speed your arc will decrease.  Do not cut speed until you get back in your smoke arc and then stop or you'll lose it.

IJN has less smoke than the other guys.  Know that your smoke expires 10 seconds after your second salvo of torps fired.....

 

Never waste your smoke on people that don't understand or appreciate it unless you can keep that smoke for a good reason.

Almost every time the guy you went out of your way for and dropped the perfect line of smoke on so he could stop, wont.

He will immediately take the course to get out of your smoke, and into the most danger he can, without fail.

[saagri]

I remember one match in my Benson I got infront of an enemy North Carolina and waited till it was almost within my detection range, popped smoke, and when it got within 4km I launched torps and later rammed it. He survived but I did 20k in flood damage since I believe he repaired after the torps hit. 

[SeaRaptor]

I had a friendly Benson once screen my Hindenburg with smoke while I was holding a flank against 2 opposing cruisers.  It made a huge difference, especially because he was heads-up enough to stay on the other side of it and spot for me.

[MadCaptain_2016]

...Lay down spread of 6, then pop smoke as soon as you're detected...

 

I would argue against this in higher tiers.  In higher tiers, ANY half-way decent player will immediately change their speed and/or course as soon as they spot a DD nearby.  Mostly to negate those torps that you most certainly just sent to them.  

 

To effectively torp at higher tier, you really need to stay unseen, or use islands and close-in tactics, etc.  In lower tiers, I can pretty easily charge a BB and survive, but not higher tiers.

[Landing_Skipper]

 

I would argue against this in higher tiers.  In higher tiers, ANY half-way decent player will immediately change their speed and/or course as soon as they spot a DD nearby.  Mostly to negate those torps that you most certainly just sent to them.  

 

To effectively torp at higher tier, you really need to stay unseen, or use islands and close-in tactics, etc.  In lower tiers, I can pretty easily charge a BB and survive, but not higher tiers.

 

I "get" this.  However, staying unseen at higher tiers (VI and above for me) is a real challenge.  Even when I succeed, the enemy often changes direction and/or speed - as we all should constantly.  Easy to type & hard to do.

[Landing_Skipper]

Smoke circles bro just maintain max speed and the circle.  Q's and E's ftw.

You come back into your circle right as your torps come back, if you cut speed when you pop back in your half arc.

Stay in your arc on the very side either facing directly at enemy so that his torps go on either side of you.

Or stern to enemy on the other side of your smoke, makes it easier to bail.

 

If you cut speed your arc will decrease.  Do not cut speed until you get back in your smoke arc and then stop or you'll lose it.

IJN has less smoke than the other guys.  Know that your smoke expires 10 seconds after your second salvo of torps fired.....

 

Never waste your smoke on people that don't understand or appreciate it unless you can keep that smoke for a good reason.

Almost every time the guy you went out of your way for and dropped the perfect line of smoke on so he could stop, wont.

He will immediately take the course to get out of your smoke, and into the most danger he can, without fail.

 

Thanks for a couple of things here.

 

First off, Russian smoke is WAY better - lasts longer & tastes great!

 

The mad circle definitely works, just remember to start turning AWAY from target at beginning of circle.

 

Last but not least, my first thought on smoke was to protect allies.  Just like I've seen in the movies.  I either got no response or verbal abuse.  Of course they need a spotter for it to help much.  I still pop smoke every once in a while to help a teammate but it doesn't yield any benefit to me due to lack of understanding and/or gratitude.

[PhonkEL]

I recently smoked a Myoko who was low on health, and to me surprise he stopped in it. We managed to scare off three cruisers from the cap we were defending. But yeah, people usually don't even bother and just drive past.

 

My most memorable ranked game was in Strait, I was the only DD so I told my teammates to stay in my smoke while I capped B and spotted enemies for them to shoot at. It was a one way game from that point and some of my teammates were actually grateful for it!

[Delicious_Bait]

If you give pubbies a heads up that you're smoking for them (And if they've got half a brain) they'll typically stop and fire from inside, put out fires or repair or whatever. I've had a few battleships quite thankful for breaking line of sight for them, either against other ships or bombers. But you need to make sure you tell them, otherwise they'll probably just chug right through it.

[Landing_Skipper]

If you give pubbies a heads up that you're smoking for them (And if they've got half a brain) they'll typically stop and fire from inside, put out fires or repair or whatever. I've had a few battleships quite thankful for breaking line of sight for them, either against other ships or bombers. But you need to make sure you tell them, otherwise they'll probably just chug right through it.

 

Thanks - I didn't realize friendly ships might not notice smoke but you're right.  A "heads up" is a good call.