View Full Version : how to attack in heavy fog?
plastik
12-01-06, 11:06 PM
Hi all!
I am a noob who is in command of a class VII (Kiel) in June 1940. These are the "happy days", I am starting to get convoys :D :D (as opposed to lone merchants) though you can tell things are slightly tougher than before. I must say that I am playing at the easy level!! (I think it is 29% realism). I think one of the ways in which the game tries to make thing a bit harder (or rather not so boring) is in the sea conditions: you have rough seas and you cannot use the deck gun, which reduces your kills.
I am now in a patrol with awful sea conditions: rain, fog and 200m visibility. My question is how you can sink ships in these conditions: you can detects ships easy with the hydrophones but you then surface and see nothing until you actually bump into the merchant! So then... what can you do??
Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
Hi all!
I am a noob who is in command of a class VII (Kiel) in June 1940. These are the "happy days", I am starting to get convoys :D :D (as opposed to lone merchants) though you can tell things are slightly tougher than before. I must say that I am playing at the easy level!! (I think it is 29% realism). I think one of the ways in which the game tries to make thing a bit harder (or rather not so boring) is in the sea conditions: you have rough seas and you cannot use the deck gun, which reduces your kills.
I am now in a patrol with awful sea conditions: rain, fog and 200m visibility. My question is how you can sink ships in these conditions: you can detects ships easy with the hydrophones but you then surface and see nothing until you actually bump into the merchant! So then... what can you do??
Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
There are two ways to do it. One is to use Manual TDC and fire based on the Hydrophone bearing. To get the speed right you'll need to get your sonarman to follow the nearest merchant and time how long it take sot go a set number of degrees which should give you an idea of the range also if you listen for long enough. BTW there is a cheat here also if you surface wit the sonarman tracking he will continue to track the target even though you are surfaced.
The second way is a cheat an all you have to do is repeatedly hit the L key until you get a lock on a ship. If you are fast enough you should be able to fire off a torp before it fades. IIRC it will hang on for about 3 secs. (Dunno if this is configurable somewhere).
I'm not a fan of the cheat although it was useful when I was still coming to terms with steering and diving, let alone hitting anything. Have a look at the community wiki as I recall there being an article on how target by sound only.
Gute Jagd!
plastik
12-01-06, 11:26 PM
Wow, this IS a fast reply!!! Always been amazed at the efficiency of this forum...
I agree that cheating is not the best; I mean, I am playing at the easy level, that is enough cheat but I guess I'll have to try what you say if I don't come up with any other alternative...
Thanks!
No worries, all part of the service!:lol:
Check you this thread and the info that Seth (Thanks Seth), put toegther on using thehydrophones for targetting here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=99580
VIICDriver
12-01-06, 11:32 PM
Yeah once you get a lock on him you can keep relocking on him everytime it looses contact. Like was stated it will stay locked for 3 seconds. Usually no matter how rough the wx I can still see them inside of 450m. Yes it is close but if stopped or moving at ahead slow you should still have many seconds to get things going for the attack.
Chuck
Albrecht Von Hesse
12-01-06, 11:39 PM
Hi all!
I am a noob who is in command of a class VII (Kiel) in June 1940. These are the "happy days", I am starting to get convoys :D :D (as opposed to lone merchants) though you can tell things are slightly tougher than before. I must say that I am playing at the easy level!! (I think it is 29% realism). I think one of the ways in which the game tries to make thing a bit harder (or rather not so boring) is in the sea conditions: you have rough seas and you cannot use the deck gun, which reduces your kills.
I am now in a patrol with awful sea conditions: rain, fog and 200m visibility. My question is how you can sink ships in these conditions: you can detects ships easy with the hydrophones but you then surface and see nothing until you actually bump into the merchant! So then... what can you do??
Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
I have to be honest: if the weather is that bad, I don't usually bother even attempting attacks. In the past I used to get frustrated and make approaches anyway, but I've learned that doing so usually (for me) resulted in one of two --if not both-- outcomes: 1) being rammed and/or fired upon (if the ship is armed) and/or 2) making snapshot launches that had low probabilities of successfully hitting.
Assuming they were unarmed, and hadn't damaged me by ramming, I'd wind up playing 'chase' at flank speed on the surface, racing after them . . . which, to me, didn't seem very realistic.
So now, when it's that bad, I might try and shadow the contact and hope for better weather but, if it still stays miserable I just shrug off the contact and chalk it up as a lost cause.
Incubus
12-01-06, 11:43 PM
For single ships, I often try to chase behind them until I get a 0 degree gyroangle, more or less. Then I fire a magnetic at around 400 meters. The nice thing about being behind them is their lateral position on the scope doesn't change- they are just moving away from you. This means even if you can't see them, you know they are still directly in front of you.
I remember a great chase I had in Narvik harbour. Visibility was down to 200m, just fog no rain and a bit of wind about 10m/sec,
I surface attacked a C3 and Troopship that were parked there using the phones technique and then got chased around the harbour by two Flower corvettes that couldn't quite keep up with me in the fog. I was a very atmospheric moment with the shapes of ships fading in and out in the fog, shells whistling over the conning tower and my eventual escape through the harbour entrance into deeper waters. Great fun.:arrgh!:
There have also been times when I've scrubbed an attack because the of the number of escorts and the lack of deep water. Convoy attacks in fog can be downright dangerous!
BTW Plastik don't forget to open your tube doors before firing, especially if you are using the cheat method.
mookiemookie
12-01-06, 11:55 PM
How to attack in heavy fog? You don't. Wait for the weather to clear up. Simple as that. ;)
Real kaleuns couldn't attack reliably in those conditions, and I like to play it as realistic as I can. But that's just me.
FIREWALL
12-02-06, 12:27 AM
Hi plastik welcome Follow this great gangs advice and before you know it you'll be pointing someone else in the right direction.:up:
Melonfish
12-02-06, 03:45 AM
i have used the lock cheat once in bad weather. BUT in my defence, i'd already identified my target by closing to 300m and i had to back off to fire my eals.
it was mainly for range though as it was a stationary target (C3 in Harbour)
otherwise before now i've heard SHIFF GESICHTE! only to take a look out my binocs and see a sailor wave before firing his Oeilikon at me! (ALAAAAAAAAARM!) bad weather makes for some close encounters!
pete
No worries, all part of the service!:lol:
Check you this thread and the info that Seth (Thanks Seth), put toegther on using thehydrophones for targetting here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=99580
I have found another intercept calculator that is usable if the hydrophone guy shout out the bearings to target. Its made by David Sandberg, and its Excellent! Here is a copy from the included readme:
"This freeware utility, created by David Sandberg, can calculate
optimal intercept solutions for any target for which you can
supply distance, heading, bearing and speed information. This
can be used to determine both weapon and vessel intercepts."
Here is the link to this excellent tool:
http://files.filefront.com/intercalkrar/;6284331;;/fileinfo.html
Corsair
12-02-06, 05:39 AM
Trying to attack in heavy fog is imho a waste of time and torpedoes. Besides this, you run the risk of running at high TC into some destroyers that your watch crew will spot when the first shells fall on the conning tower, which is very late to react...
My tactics in heavy fog are go submerged and surface for 2 hours every 12 hours for ventilating and recharging batteries, and wait for the fog to lift. It usually doen't last very long (am using SH3 weather)
Heavy fog is a defense system invented by the Brits like cold and snow in Russia.;)
andy_311
12-02-06, 06:31 AM
I've stopped hunting convoys in heavy fog a lot of thing could go wrong,trying to sink ships at 375m,theres been a many a time I have been run over by a c3,t3,well all sorts of ships even dd's personally I would track the convoy until the weather breaks,(if it breaks).
AVGWarhawk
12-02-06, 07:11 AM
All have their own tactic but personally I depend on my hydrophone man and myself manning the hydrophone. I attempt to find the general direction of the ship. I make every attempt to get ahead of the trajectory. Submerged in it's track I let the hydrophone man call out location and if the ship is moving closer. I sit with periscope up scanning the general direction the hydrophone man is calling out until vessel comes into view.
Once I used this tactic and was probably the coolest thing I did in the game. The fog was as thick as pea soup. I sat in the targets track with periscope up scanning the area my hydrophone man was calling out. Out of the fog came chugging a massive black Liberty ship less than 1000 meters at a 90 degree angle to my bow. I could not ask for a better solution for a sinking. It was just darn cool to see that ship coming out of the fog like that:up:
I agree convoys in fog are just plain deathtraps. You can swim on the fringes though and still get some good fun hunting.
Better thought to wait for clearer weather so you can see what's coming.
In a harbour or single ship situation though it can be very eerie trying to find the target by phones and trying not to run into him.:arrgh!: Especially later in the war when the merchies get guns and get good at using them.
peterloo
12-02-06, 07:48 AM
I usually stop attacking
However, if the target is too fat (eg. T2 / T3, C3, ...) I may try. Open the torpedo tubes and approach with AOB = 0. Fire immediately when you see it. Then sharp turn (or you will hit it)
Corsair
12-02-06, 10:06 AM
I usually stop attacking
However, if the target is too fat (eg. T2 / T3, C3, ...) I may try. Open the torpedo tubes and approach with AOB = 0. Fire immediately when you see it. Then sharp turn (or you will hit it)
I you approach on AOB = 0, it means you are heading straight at his bow !!
Is that really reasonable in heavy fog ?:D Also implies you must use magnetic impact under hull (which supposes you have identified your target before to know its draft) and be darned precise as the front profile is small...
Mauser KAR98K
12-02-06, 10:34 AM
Don't forget to set the range of the Torps. It sucks when you do all that painstacking track, you see the fish about to hit your target and then...pong...!
Don't forget to set the range of the Torps. It sucks when you do all that painstacking track, you see the fish about to hit your target and then...pong...!
Sounds familiar, oh yes.....:yep::yep:
plastik
12-02-06, 03:20 PM
Hi all
Thanks for all the replies. I wanted to post a picture of what it's like. Actually it's a lone merchant; I had given up another one before, but this one was a lot of tonnage and it was too tempting to miss. After that I got a report for a convoy: sank a T2 and got a stern hit in a C2, crippled it, but didn't sink. Have left the convoy and will get them by waiting in front of their route. Still, it's rather hard work to attack with these conditions!
What miserable weather! ;)
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/517/sh3foguk9.th.jpg (http://img50.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3foguk9.jpg)
Corsair
12-02-06, 04:15 PM
Welcome to the north Atlantic in winter...;) Can explain why some people are eagerly waiting for the Pacific theater...:D
plastik
12-02-06, 04:29 PM
Welcome to the north Atlantic in winter...;) Can explain why some people are eagerly waiting for the Pacific theater...:D
haha!!! Well, I have to double-check, but I think it is North Atlantic in JUNE. But I guess that supports your point even more!
AVGWarhawk
12-02-06, 05:21 PM
Hi all
Thanks for all the replies. I wanted to post a picture of what it's like. Actually it's a lone merchant; I had given up another one before, but this one was a lot of tonnage and it was too tempting to miss. After that I got a report for a convoy: sank a T2 and got a stern hit in a C2, crippled it, but didn't sink. Have left the convoy and will get them by waiting in front of their route. Still, it's rather hard work to attack with these conditions!
What miserable weather! ;)
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/517/sh3foguk9.th.jpg (http://img50.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3foguk9.jpg)
Oh man, after looking at your picture it reminded me of the same conditions I had once but it was night also. The ships would appear and disappear like ghosts.
Corsair
12-02-06, 05:48 PM
Remembers me also my last patrol where I got almost ran over by a freighter while reloading batteries...
http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/2347/bris01gh6.jpg
AVGWarhawk
12-02-06, 06:02 PM
Remembers me also my last patrol where I got almost ran over by a freighter while reloading batteries...
http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/2347/bris01gh6.jpg
Aw man I hate tailgaters.:nope:
This is taken from the top of my head on a saturday night.... Why is it that the player cant use the Radar in SHIII just like he uses the hydrophones....? you know, turning the wheel with the mouse.... The radar only goes in one direction, and you have to stop it on the "enable" switch besides it to get a reading of your target....:hmm:
This is taken from the top of my head on a saturday night.... Why is it that the player cant use the Radar in SHIII just like he uses the hydrophones....? you know, turning the wheel with the mouse.... The radar only goes in one direction, and you have to stop it on the "enable" switch besides it to get a reading of your target....:hmm:
Good question Seth. IIRC SHI let you mess with where ou point the radar and use it more like the phones. May be something to do with German radar? Anyone out there know? Or was it just another job not completed by the devs?
THE_MASK
12-02-06, 10:09 PM
very carefully!!!!!!!
Dietrich
12-04-06, 11:34 AM
Why is it that the player cant use the Radar in SHIII just like he uses the hydrophones....? you know, turning the wheel with the mouse.... The radar only goes in one direction, and you have to stop it on the "enable" switch besides it to get a reading of your target....:hmm:
Hmm... I don't have any problems with manually using the radar.
Click on the left side of the "steering" wheel to sweep widdershins and the right side to sweep clockwise. The on/off button works, as does the scale button. Just make sure you select "einstellen/abfragen" correctly. Simply turn the wheel left and right as you search, and when the blip appears on the trace, read of the distance on the little digits gauge to the lower left of the oscilloscope screen.
Works for me, and I sink things in the fog using it (although I prefer sonar, when I can get it - as you can auto-transfer the distance to the little note-pad on the periscope screen).
Why is it that the player cant use the Radar in SHIII just like he uses the hydrophones....? you know, turning the wheel with the mouse.... The radar only goes in one direction, and you have to stop it on the "enable" switch besides it to get a reading of your target....:hmm:
Hmm... I don't have any problems with manually using the radar.
Click on the left side of the "steering" wheel to sweep widdershins and the right side to sweep clockwise. The on/off button works, as does the scale button. Just make sure you select "einstellen/abfragen" correctly. Simply turn the wheel left and right as you search, and when the blip appears on the trace, read of the distance on the little digits gauge to the lower left of the oscilloscope screen.
Works for me, and I sink things in the fog using it (although I prefer sonar, when I can get it - as you can auto-transfer the distance to the little note-pad on the periscope screen).
Hmmm....has not worked before...i have to try it again tonight..:up:
Rocketsocks
12-04-06, 06:20 PM
All I can say as a fellow noob is don't rely on visual contact, especially with Bernard on watch.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/dracazziz/nighthunt.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/dracazziz/blindcrew.jpg
:shifty:
Subwolf
12-04-06, 06:38 PM
How to attack in heavy fog? Simple answer: You don't. Anything else would be highly unrealistic, you just have to ride off the weather like the real boats did. Go deep, put on some nice music and let your crew rest :yep:
plastik
12-05-06, 01:21 PM
ok, thanks. i did sink a couple of ships this way (by pressing the lock key...) but it's not so fun and besides, it is easy enough (i am playing easy level with no mods) so it was cheating really.
so that's it for me: sailed south to revive the trafalgar battle, weather was better there. then ventured in the med. lots of destroyers in the straight but still (again, easy level, no mods) i could sink a few almost in front of their eyes haha :p :p .
thanks and good hunting!!
i got the same problem now, the watchout fell asleep, a t-2 nearyl hit me. i had to break the boat with crashi-dive, full left and full backward. there were about 30m left.
visibility is very low, to low to fire a torpedo, got heavy waves and, its a convoy. i figured out the course, following the convoy 20m under my friend t-2. but the weather is not changing :damn:
how long can it take till the weather might change? i wan´t to get them! :stare:
plastik
12-09-06, 04:56 AM
i got the same problem now, the watchout fell asleep, a t-2 nearyl hit me. i had to break the boat with crashi-dive, full left and full backward. there were about 30m left.
visibility is very low, to low to fire a torpedo, got heavy waves and, its a convoy. i figured out the course, following the convoy 20m under my friend t-2. but the weather is not changing :damn:
how long can it take till the weather might change? i wan´t to get them! :stare:
the other day i had found a convoy, sank its only escort and ran out of torpedos. the waves were high so i couldn't use the deck gun. i figured out i would follow the convoy until the weather changed and the storm subsided (so i cound man the deck gun). here's what happened:
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6866/followconvoyyw5.th.png (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=followconvoyyw5.png)
in fact, i followed it all the way to liverpool! the waves?? they did not change: i could NEVER use the deck gun. :damn: :damn:
now i am wondering whether it could be the same for the fog in your case...:hmm: my impression is that even if the waves will not change, the fog could lift up, so try and follow it for some time... good luck!
Question: Has anyone departed from home base in bad weather? And have anyone encountered fog while the sea was calm....:hmm:
Corsair
12-09-06, 06:28 AM
Question: Has anyone departed from home base in bad weather? And have anyone encountered fog while the sea was calm....:hmm:
1./ Depends what is bad weather... Under the rain yes (with the watch officer bug) never in stormy conditions
2./ Yes
PS : I use SH3 weather 1.02
Question: Has anyone departed from home base in bad weather? And have anyone encountered fog while the sea was calm....:hmm:
1./ Depends what is bad weather... Under the rain yes (with the watch officer bug) never in stormy conditions
2./ Yes
PS : I use SH3 weather 1.02
Dang, i have never encountered 1 or 2.... Do you have a link to SH3 weather? Is it compatible with GW 1.1a?:up:
Corsair
12-09-06, 06:50 AM
1. No link, try UBRS. If not can mail it to you, send me a PM with a mail address.
2. No idea, I play NYGM TW. But I would suppose yes...
1. No link, try UBRS. If not can mail it to you, send me a PM with a mail address.
2. No idea, I play NYGM TW. But I would suppose yes...
Wilco, mate! :up:
edit: Found it at the ubisoft forums, after a google search. installing it now! Thanx a million, Corsair!!
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.