Offensive operations with ASW helos present?

[MarkShot]

I am playing stock SC 1.08 missions at the moment.

As best as I can tell, helos show up on active detection at 14KHz with their dipping sonar.

Does this mean that they are strictly active and will not use passive detection? Or will they also use passive detection?

Now, I know better than to launch any form of rocket weapons with helos around as that pretty much marks your location.

However, in terms of trying to safely fire torpedos is it okay to just fire them from as deep as you can dive when helos are searching for your? Or should you try to wait for when there is a break in dipping sonar and they are repositioning before launching?

Thanks.

[Molon Labe]

I don't have SC installed anymore, so I can't check it for you.

But, as they say, "...teach a man to fish..."

http://www.geocities.com/billds9/SCEdit1074.zip

Find the sensors on the helo in question and you will have your answer.

[SeaQueen]

Originally Posted by MarkShot

However, in terms of trying to safely fire torpedos is it okay to just fire them from as deep as you can dive when helos are searching for your? Or should you try to wait for when there is a break in dipping sonar and they are repositioning before launching?

Shoot 'em while you can. In all likelihood, the longer you dilly dally around with helos up, the more likely they'll get you before you shoot. In light of that, I'd take every good shot I can (missile shots included) because you might not get another one. After you shoot, run. Slugging it out with angry warships and helos is not something submarines do well. Submarines are the guerillas of the sea. They don't slug it out with anyone, they make a big bang as fast as they can and run.

Shooting missiles does not necessarily make it easy for helos to find you. It just makes it easier. Bare in mind, though, that dippers can't see that far, so by fleeing the location where you shoot, it's possible to render it unlikely that the helo will detect you by the time he's in position to dip. You just have to have a good sense for how far the dipper can see and how fast you need to go to make the AOU large enough that he probably won't find you.

The thing about missiles, though, is that one submarine's missiles by itself are typically not that effective. I'd still shoot them off first, but to really make missiles vicious, you need to organize a coordinated missile raid from max range. That makes you much more survivable, and usually destroys one or two warships, depending how one's luck turns out.