Running out of compressed air..

[Armistead]

Got myself in a mess after attacking a large invasion force. Escaped, but still fighting a bow dive. Had to blow tanks once. Me and Bubblehead discussed this once, but hard to remember. I didn't take any damage other than forward torp bulkhead, totally flooded. Had to blow tanks once, but slowly I noticed my compressed air going down each hour until the icon displayed. Never blew tanks again, but finally out of compressed air after about 10 hours after blowing tanks..

Course once I got the boat to where it wouldn't sink to the bottom, i'm sure you've all seen the yo yo effect, where you bounce around 30 ft or so.

It appears the game uses compressed air to help control the boat in some way, other than blowing tanks and it's during the yo yo effect. So what is exactly going on here with the compressed air, what's it being used on to run out slowly over time without blowing tanks and no damage to compressor?

[WernherVonTrapp]

Isn't compressed air used to adjust/maintain the ballast? Maybe the tanks are damaged.

[Armistead]

Doe's a lot of things in reality, not sure in game if it's that programmed. I swear I don't recall this happening, just over time, about a day kept going down until I ran out. You can hear compressed air in the ship blowing at times, but can't believe someone actually put it in.

[Bubblehead1980]

Got myself in a mess after attacking a large invasion force. Escaped, but still fighting a bow dive. Had to blow tanks once. Me and Bubblehead discussed this once, but hard to remember. I didn't take any damage other than forward torp bulkhead, totally flooded. Had to blow tanks once, but slowly I noticed my compressed air going down each hour until the icon displayed. Never blew tanks again, but finally out of compressed air after about 10 hours after blowing tanks..

Course once I got the boat to where it wouldn't sink to the bottom, i'm sure you've all seen the yo yo effect, where you bounce around 30 ft or so.

It appears the game uses compressed air to help control the boat in some way, other than blowing tanks and it's during the yo yo effect. So what is exactly going on here with the compressed air, what's it being used on to run out slowly over time without blowing tanks and no damage to compressor?


We did talk about this, I believe through various patrols of trial and error, the game does simulate using compressed air when surfacing and all, thing is according to the game a small amount is used and it doesnt show on the compressed air monitor usually.I have stayed under for many hours and though it doesnt show up on the meter/monitor thing, the OOD will report "compressed air reserve at 100 sir" after surfacing and getting under way.When you take damage say flooding in boy and order blow tanks or depth change from say 200 feet to 100 feet, well a lot more compressed air is used than normal to try and level off the boat or get an up angle so it sucks them dry in trying to get the boat under control sometimes, depends.

So in a nutshell, the sub always uses compressed air, just the routine use is usually small enough is doesnt show up on the little compressed air monitor where as when damaged and trying to get boat under control, much more than routine amount is used thus it shows up.

I'm 100% sure I am correct, seen it several times now.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I TYPE TOO SLOW REPLY:
If I remember correctly, and many times I don't, the ballast tanks were located in sections Fore, Midship and Aft. The air was pumped into the tanks, forcing the water (ballast) out to maintain the boat's buoyancy and/or depth. If you received damage to the hull or superstructure, it might be possible that your ballast tanks became damaged. What about your dive planes, they intact?

Bubblehead, I've noticed that too on rare occasion, when the OD calls out the compressed air status. I've noticed that it usually happens only when surfaced. Can the air be replaced effectively when submerged?

[Armistead]

No...air can't be replaced submerged.

[Diopos]

My "impression" on compressed air consumption:
1. Blowing ballast (obviously)
2. Changing depth while at at zero (or very low) speed.

Now from what Armistead said he was submerged (probably avoiding surface vessel) so the loss of his compressed air seems to be a combination of case 2 (above) and damage/hull integrity ...:hmmm:


.

[Armistead]

Actually my speed varied, but batteries were damaged and I had to go reverse since I had a out of control bow dive. So basically I could hold depth at a yo yo between 100 to 150 ft. Had one escort make a pass, so I had to go forward to get depth which took me down fast, but pulled out by flank reverse and blowing tank once.

Had 80% compressed air after blowing tanks. I stayed reversed at 3kts to escape, took about 10 hrs and compressed air ran out...surfaced later, so no problems...

[Bubblehead1980]

Update:


During an evasion last night(Balao, Jan 1944) I dove to 500 feet and leveled off to evade enemy DD's after an attack.After ordering surfacing 5 hours later, noticed my compressed air was at 87%.Never blew ballast or took any damage, no charges were even remotely close.Game does accoutn for compressed air usage.

TMO
TMO update "beta" patch
RSRD

[Armistead]

I agree, what I find rather confusing or better amazing is how it uses it.
I lost all of mine in 10 hours, rather quickly.

I wonder if you use more trying to change to a shallower depth over and over, such as you do in a out of control dive. Maybe it's better to not keep hitting the depth icon or periscope depth option over and over.

I assumed compressed air could be replinished. I cut silent running off a few times, but I don't think silent running deals with issues. It appears even with it on your crew will do repairs, even loud repairs as it shows pumps removing water after bulkheads are fixed, ect.

I've never seen detailed explanations on how these systems work within the game or how they relate to each other. Technically if you lose one system, it could have dire consquences on others, not sure the game is that complex, but you can lose compressed air quickly trying to control a dive.

[Bubblehead1980]

I agree, what I find rather confusing or better amazing is how it uses it.
I lost all of mine in 10 hours, rather quickly.

I wonder if you use more trying to change to a shallower depth over and over, such as you do in a out of control dive. Maybe it's better to not keep hitting the depth icon or periscope depth option over and over.

I assumed compressed air could be replinished. I cut silent running off a few times, but I don't think silent running deals with issues. It appears even with it on your crew will do repairs, even loud repairs as it shows pumps removing water after bulkheads are fixed, ect.

I've never seen detailed explanations on how these systems work within the game or how they relate to each other. Technically if you lose one system, it could have dire consquences on others, not sure the game is that complex, but you can lose compressed air quickly trying to control a dive.


Sub does use a lot of your air when having to fight to change and maintain depths.Compressed air can only be replenished on surface and if compressor is in working order.Talk about a dire consquence.Imagine getting your compressor destroyed then taking on water, fighting for hours, running your compressed air reserve down to nil and making it out alive, only to be unable to replenish your compressed air reserve:damn:

[Armistead]

I know little of sub systems or how they work, other than reading a few manuals, obvious hundreds of functions relate to compressed air.

I understand it can only be loaded on the surface, but doe's it work if you have silent running on? I assume in reality the compressor runs many systems using stored air while submerged. I just wonder if you cut silent running off it would be easier to maintain depth, make sense? I still don't know what, if any system silent running shuts down. It would be interesting to know what factors, loss rates, ect., you lose in air changing depth causes.

The other strange thing, often in a out of control dive, manually setting depth will not bring you up, but hitting the periscope depth, P key, brings you right up? Wonder if game wise is that is causing some equipment to function that manually setting it doesn't.

[Bubblehead1980]

I know little of sub systems or how they work, other than reading a few manuals, obvious hundreds of functions relate to compressed air.

I understand it can only be loaded on the surface, but doe's it work if you have silent running on? I assume in reality the compressor runs many systems using stored air while submerged. I just wonder if you cut silent running off it would be easier to maintain depth, make sense? I still don't know what, if any system silent running shuts down. It would be interesting to know what factors, loss rates, ect., you lose in air changing depth causes.

The other strange thing, often in a out of control dive, manually setting depth will not bring you up, but hitting the periscope depth, P key, brings you right up? Wonder if game wise is that is causing some equipment to function that manually setting it doesn't.


I don't think silent running really affects the usage of compressed air, but I could be wrong.

I know in RL all systems that were not a necessity were shut down such as the air conditioning, etc etc I do remember O Kane mentioning in Clear the Bridge about using a smaller quieter pump while on silent running but when the forward torpedo room began to take on water, they were forced to use a much louder pump which allowed the DD to keep track of them.

Gam DOES silumate compressed air usage in normal sub ops so wouldnt be suprised if somehow it simulates noises made by different equipment on silent running.

As far as setting depth, well I believe if you are deep and hit the P key, the planesmen set the planes on full rise and ballast is prob shifted so a quick ascent.Makes sense?

[Armistead]

Possible, but don't know why that would make a difference, shouldn't, but that would make sense in game. Strange, you could manually set it to say 50 and not come up, hit the P key and often up you come. However, once you reach periscope depth, youhead back down, but will often keep you from having to blow tanks, more speed and other typical things to stop an out of control dive.

You're probably right, just as crash dive sets planes deep, the plane setting may be linked to the scope setting. Once thing I miss, seems TMO 1.7 had a seperate set planes to deep dive icon that you could use without hitting crash dive. Be nice to have some plane options.