T-61 is in the shop.

Alright ... lemme try my best, keeping in mind I ain't no superunicum.

Basically, I will almost never shoot during a beginning-of-the-game cap engagement for two reasons:

1. The bloom after you shoot lasts 20 seconds, and EVERYTHING within range will shoot at you when you're spotted at the beginning of a game. (I'll even load HE in a BB for my first salvo if there are a lot of DDs in the game, and then wait until one is spotted to unleash my first salvo. Depends on how good your DDs are at spotting them, however.) And, as we all probably know, that 20 seconds can seem like a lifetime.

2. There is a good chance the other DD you're engaging will smoke up. Once he does, boom -- you're unspotted, and can now adjust course to dodge incoming fire or pull back. HOWEVER ... this where German DDs shine. If the DD is kinida isolated, you can pop hydro, rush the smoke, and flush that DD out. 

Exceptions to this are if that DD is isolated, or I am in a gunbote and have a lot of backup and, thus, can rek 'em and smoke up afterward to escape. (Which is why knowing radar cruisers is vital -- don't waste the smoke if one is close.) 

As the game progresses, I will only shoot if:

A. I am behind an island or other hard cover that keeps me safe.

2. I can safely smoke up without being torped whilst in said smoke, or losing vision for my team. NOTE: This is best for Soviets, as they are NOT cap contesters due to shit concealment and all-but-useless torps-- they are baby CLs. Their smoke is great to use offensively. Other time smoke works is late game where you can smoke up and farm the remaining reds.

iii. I am going to be spotted anyway, so why the fuck not?

And, finally, for other various reasons: De-capping ... distracted enemies I can shoot for a while and then either escape, dodge, or smoke-up afterward once they're sufficiently annoyed ... we're losing/winning big so FARM ALL THE DAMAGES, etc.

Anyway, hope that helps! 

Oh, and unless you're in a Kidd, turn off your AA by pressing the P button. Your AA guns will show up to the enemies if you're in smoke and they can blindfire you that way. Just ... trust me and my Fushun on this one. )