Hello from a noob

[scalelokt]

Hi everyone. I got Silent Hunter 3 a while ago but am just now really getting into it. Wow, what an incredible game! So much fun. Anyway I'm no expert with sub simulations, but I'm learning. So far I've been pretty successful though I'm not using all of the realism settings. At the moment I'm keeping on the unlimited fuel (so I can get used to going all over the map and finding spots I like). I also have faster torpedo reloads on (so I can practice without such a long wait) and I'm using auto torpedo solutions as I'm not quite ready to do the manual targeting stuff. Aside from that though I'm trying to keep it pretty realistic and pretty soon I'll go for 100% realism.

Anyway I came across this webpage and really liked it, so just wanted to say hi. And if you all dont mind I thought I would ask a couple questions that maybe you can help me out with. I've read most of the guides on the internet I can find, however there are a few points I'm having trouble with that I dont quite understand yet.

The first would be about the torpedoes. I'm still early in the war (3rd patrol) and at the moment there are only 2 torpedoes available to choose from. One is steam/gas powered and refered to as the "prewar" torpedo. The other is electric. I get the impression from the game descriptions that the electric torpedo is supposed to be better because it says it was used the most throughout the war, and also it doesnt leave a visible trail on the surface in its path like the other one does. The question I have though, is just how is this electric torpedo better? From what I can tell, the "prewar" torpedo is faster and has a better range. And I'm yet to see a ship detect the torpedo's surface trail and avoid getting hit. When I use the electric model it seems much harder to get a hit for some reason. Maybe this has something to do with the automatic firing and if I were doing it manually I would see a difference. Thoughts anyone?

My other question is about escaping from destroyers after being detected. Especially when I attack a convoy and then the escorts come after me. What I'm doing right now to get away is I dive about as deep as I can and then set the engines to slow and silent running. Then I do turns from time to time (especially when DC's are blasting) to try to slip away. However it seems like most of the time my batteries are on the verge of dying before I finally lose them, if I lose them at all. I'm not complaining really, that actually seems like a pretty realistic account of what it would have been like. However I'm wondering if I'm missing something, maybe theres something I could do differently to lose them faster, or keep from being discovered at all?

Thanks so much everyone. Looking forward to posting on the boards, I've been reading everyone's post pretty much all day and I'm seeing tons of cool stuff! Oh one last question. I am running the GWX mod (the huge expansion mod) and love it, are there any other mods I should also download? Or does that one pretty much cover it all? Thanks!!

[FIREWALL]

Hello and Welcome Aboard. I'm going to let my betters answer this as I'm a lousy typer and to slow. They'll be here in afew seconds.:)

[Corrupt_File]

Ok, hope this helps:

You are correct in realizing that the T1 is superior in range and speed, but the trail of bubbles is why it wasn't used much. A warship would spot these and evade quickly. Not only did it evade, but it gave a direction on where you were. The T2's are slower, has a shorter range, but the lack of bubbles made it more difficult to detect. There should be a difference in connecting with a shot, esp on auto targetting. Make sure your within 1500 m and don't use a magnetic pistol in rough waters, they pre-detonate often.

And about being detected, if you are running GWX, then you want to set silent running and go to silent speed right away. Don't knuckle your rudder (go hard to port/starboard) unless the destroyer is right on you. I usually use 5-10 degrees to evade a destroyer. When you run at higher than 1/3, you bat's will drain quickly, esp in early war subs.

Here's what I do when I'm detected:
Rig for silent running.
Set speed 2kts.
DIVE. (Deeper the better)
Set rudder 5-10 degrees in the direction of the destroyer.
Listen to the hydrophones, when you hear the destroyer over top of you, or your hear depth charges, go ahead flank and run your rudders hard to the opposite direction you were before. Keep ahead flank until the depth charges subside, then back to silent speed.

This is quite effective I find, esp in early war. later on, you best pray you have an inexperienced destroyer on you or the luftwaffe comes, or else you history.

[bigboywooly]

Hi and welcome to Subsim

I hope you have the Dec 23rd patch installed for GWX ?

Avoidance of DD's
Well you are right to run deep and silent
Keeps speeds down to 2kts only
No need to do unnecessary turns unless DD's have a bead on you
If keeping to around 2 kts your batteries should last you for hours
Later in the war make sure you pick up Bold countermeasures when available
They are a life saver in giving you extra time to slip away

The electric torpedos leave no wake so are less visible during daylight attacks
Having said that the steam fish are great for night attacks and for close shots when on fast speed - the target has less time to evade

There are other mods available to use
You will find them in the mods section but for the most part you will need nothing more
Glad you are enjoying your time ingame and with GWX

Enjoy your stay and any more questions just ask away

[stabiz]

If you are in real trouble, go deeper than the depth charges can go, ie over 200 metres. The bad thing about this is that those depths will slowly destroy your sub, so you cant be down there forever. If your boat is allready damaged, you could easily be crushed at say 150 metres. Its partly a guessing game, and equally a experince thingy.

The thing about silent running and 2 knots have been covered bu corrupt_file.

Always show as little profile as possible, which means show the destroyer your rear alot, this makes it harder for him to "see" you.

Oh, and get bolds! (noisy things the uboat poops out)

Welcome to SubSim, kaleun!

[Brag]

Welcome aboard. You'll find great people here.

When you mention drained batteries: Always hoard your juice. Try not to get below 75 percent of your battery power before starting an attack. Yes, keep those batteries as close to 100 percent as the situation allows. If you cruise submerged at 2 knots you will have plenty of juice left when you surface to recharge batteries at night. At high speeds your batteries will drain rapidly.

[scalelokt]

Ahhh, I feel dumb! haha When I was judging the two kinds of torpedoes I didnt even consider that the visible surface trail would not only allow the ship time to evade but would ALSO give away my position. So obvious but I didnt even think of that. That must be why escorts are onto me immediately after I fire a volley of torpedos. Kudos for enlightening me on that my friends :D

I'll switch to mostly electric powered tonight and give it another try and see how it goes.

As far as evading destroyers, some of the posts you all left had some good advice I havent tried yet, again thank you very much :)

For now I only have one more question, just something that happened when I was playing last night, it was probably just a bug but I want to make sure i'm not missing something. So I get a radio transmission ordering me and another U-boat to "attack the convoy". So I'm thinking "what convoy??" I check the map and there are no convoys marked, there were no previous radio transmissions with coordinates or anything like that. Just a message saying "attack the convoy". Was this just a bug? Its a pretty big ocean out there, I think they could have given me a clue as to where exactly this convoy is :P Then later I got a transmission from the other sub that said they attacked the convoy, sunk two, but took heavy damage and are returning to base. Again nothing about where this was all taking place. Was I missing something? Are these transmissions just to add to the atmosphere of the game but dont really mean anything? Guess I'm just a bit confused. Other than that these small questions though everything is going great, got 36,000 tons on patrol last night, not too bad for a rookie I dont think.

[stabiz]

Yes, those messages are there for immersion only.

[scalelokt]

Cool thanks :)

Can't wait for Silent Hunter 4 to come out, looks incredible!

[johan_d]

Oh a little remark.. when a destroyer is heading your way, I personally prefer FLANK speed, all she has, dive, dive, dive.. you need the speed to dive deep as fast as possible. Use the time between the arrival at your position of the destroyer, to dive deep. 2 knots dive are way to slow, you might me at 40 meters or so when the bastard is at you, slowing down is easy, but speeding up will betray your spot.

Its easy, when you think of it. If they see you, they know your position, dive FAST. You gain that precious depth fast. Then they get very near your position, switch to silent running, 2 knots and the evade part begins.

Anyhow, thats my way, and works all the time.

[scalelokt]

Cool thanks :)

[Corrupt_File]

Yeah, if a destroyer is on to you and pinging, being quiet isn't going to do a thing... flank, knuckle, and DIVE.

And regarding torps, I always go to sea with an equal split of T1's and T2' s alternating. If a destroyer is close to you (~500 m) switch a steamer to med/fast and let her rip. They will see the steam but usually be up in flames by the time they can react.

[Jimbuna]

Welcome aboard kaleun :arrgh!:

I guess your well impressed with the level and detail of the responses :up:

[Kingcobra24]

Welcome to the home of subsims kaleun...:up:
:lurk:

[scalelokt]

Yes very impressed with the reponses! Thanks so much everyone! Went on another patrol last night, it went ok. The advice you all gave helped a lot, I was able to lose a few destroyers in pretty good time. Didnt get that many kills though, seemed like all I ran into was destroyers and I wouldnt spot them until they were pretty close and of course they would be at a bad angle to where I couldnt get a good shot. But I lived at least and sunk a few merchants before all was said and done. Again, thanks for the help everyone, very glad I found this website. :)

[fredbass]

seemed like all I ran into was destroyers and I wouldnt spot them until they were pretty close and of course they would be at a bad angle to where I couldnt get a good shot. But I lived at least and sunk a few merchants before all was said and done.

Keeping your TC to 256 or lower will get you more contacts and will usually give you greater distance to respond when getting those contacts. :up:

[Respenus]

Welcome to SubSim! You'll surerly enjoy your stay!

[AirborneCZ]

e ship time to evade but would ALSO give away my position. So obvious but I didnt even think of that. That must be why escorts are onto me immediately after I fire a volley of torpe

there was real-world saying in kriegsmarine as ive read in some book about using torpedos that was something like:

Electric (powered torp) at day, steam (powered torp) at night and go get some

[AVGWarhawk]

Welcome aboard! Enjoy the game and all the great super mods out there for it. There is a good crew in here that will help you and listen to any good patrols you might have had.