Depth Management

[Rykaird]

Couple of basic questions on controlling depth -

First, I believe that when I have the Navigator ping the ocean floor for depth, this makes me detectable. But if I don't do this, I don't know how deep I can dive (I bounced my poor boat off the bottom). Are you all using more realistic charts to find at least a rough depth?

Secondly, is there any way to control the rate of dive, other than by varying engine speed? If I want to go deep quickly but quietly, I don't want to go to flank, but my crew seems to think it's on a pleasure cruise and we get deep very, very slowly otherwise.

And lastly, (with GWX), I am having problems with my conning tower breaking the surface when I'm not moving. How are you all preventing this? By not using the "Periscope Depth" command, setting the boat to around 16m while still running, then as she slows, she rises to about 12 or 13m?

As always, thanks for the help from you "Old Men." I am on the last mission in the Academy - I must have ran that torpedo mission 40 times as I try to learn all the various systems - and it won't be long before my first patrol.

Rykaird out.

[_Seth_]

Hi mate! I think i can answer the first one: the depths in SHIII isnt related to real-life depths, IIRC. Using real-life charts wouldnt give you an excact depth..

[Brag]

On faster dives, you may try to put as many men up front as possible. But speeds is the only way I know how in this game.

at low speeds, your boat will float 2 meters above the depth you order. So if I want periscope depth at 2 kts., I'll order 14 meters.

In rough seas, at night, I'll order 10 meters, my conning tower will broach but will be difficult to spot. But I can see over the waves.

The SHIII & GWX charts show you approximate depths. I check depth about an hour before a convoy attack. If I'm not near some shallows the sea floor will not change more than 10 meters at the location of the intercept.

Good luck with the academy, see you at sea. Look at my article on depths on my webbie. :D

[Iron Budokan]

If a DD or plane sees you it's not problem to ping the bottom once as you start your dive. They know you're there anyway so it's not like you're giving away your position.

The depth marker given wtih GWX to compare to the blue on your map is fairly accurate, too. And make sure you ping the bottom when you're in a colored area of the map while you're still some distance from the convoy to give you some idea what the depth beneath your keel is like....

[TarJak]

One ping will alert them to your presence (maybe), but won't give away your position unless they are right on top, in which case you won't be on the surface anyway.

Diving more quickly can only be done by adding speed. The angle of attack is the only thing that adding bods to the forward compartment impacts and there is no way of increasing the flooding rates of the ballast tanks.

When I run at 2kt i set depth for 15m which equates to about 13m which is perfect for just jutting the scope out of the water. In heavier weather staying at PD without broaching is harder. It's meant to be because it was in RL.

[The Munster]

As soon as you get the 'ship spotted' alert, dive to PD then have the Navigator do a depth setting, you will have an idea what depth you have to play with long before you encounter the ship.
Always try to keep the Sub moving, even if it's only 1kt and if you're in rough weather, have PD at 13/14 metres just so you can get a glimpse of what is happening around you; at 10 metres, you run the risk of exposing the Sub between the 'swells'.