How realistic is ....

[Fearless]

The dive times for the subs in SH4.

They seem to take forever to get beneath the waves. :-?

[CCIP]

They're plausible. The only problem with them is a lack of variation and ommission of certain factors - a sub that was on full alert for diving would be able to dive faster; a sub running with the tanks partially pre-flooded would be able to dive faster; a sub with an experienced and highly-drilled crew would be able to dive faster; generally, a sub might dive faster one time, but for that or other reason dive slower another time (and there's many things that could influence crew readiness and technical readiness).

Otherwise they're fine. I think they reflect a sub on moderate alert with a moderate crew quite well.

[NefariousKoel]

Median dive times as mentioned.

Crash dive is your friend in emergencies. That's when I abandon my grill and cooler on deck. :(

[Crosseye76]

Lol, always take a couple spares along with you N.K. :up:

[tater]

In Silent Running he said they drilled OTW to the panama canal aiming for a crash dive in under 35 seconds. The first time they tried (fresh crew) they did it in ~70 seconds.

So from that, crews aimed at 30 seconds, and a green crew could do its first crash dive in ~70. I bet the average combat crew could at least split that difference. 50-something seconds.

[AVGWarhawk]

Yes, 50-60 seconds seems to be the bookmark in RL. It is a long time and a darn nail bitter when a plane is in the area:o I find myself saying 'common baby, DIVE':yep:

[CaptainHaplo]

Silent Running does discuss the goal of 35 seconds - and while the USS Jack definitely could be counted as one of the "elite" boats, certain practices were adopted by pretty much all boats. Things like running with the top vents closed, but bottom vents already open to the sea, etc were made into SOP. Since I haven't gotten an experienced crew, does SH4 model their growing expertise? Anyone want to answer that one? I certainly hope so - because its taking in the 70 second range for me right now to get me boat under. Also - a word of advice - if you hit crash dive - also order flank speed. Since a "crash dive" at 6/7 knots isnt nearly as effective as at 16-20...... and the crash dive order doesnt increase your forward speed.

PS - Silent Running by Vice Admiral Calvert USN (Ret.) is an enjoyable read for anyone looking to get a less "HOLLYWOOD" version of a few patrols in the Pacific. The struggles with torpedo issues - and not just the magnetic exploder, are especially pleasing to review after you take a shot at a fat maru and you miss!

Good Hunting
Captain Haplo

[NEON DEON]

Silent Running does discuss the goal of 35 seconds - and while the USS Jack definitely could be counted as one of the "elite" boats, certain practices were adopted by pretty much all boats. Things like running with the top vents closed, but bottom vents already open to the sea, etc were made into SOP. Since I haven't gotten an experienced crew, does SH4 model their growing expertise? Anyone want to answer that one? I certainly hope so - because its taking in the 70 second range for me right now to get me boat under. Also - a word of advice - if you hit crash dive - also order flank speed. Since a "crash dive" at 6/7 knots isnt nearly as effective as at 16-20...... and the crash dive order doesnt increase your forward speed.

PS - Silent Running by Vice Admiral Calvert USN (Ret.) is an enjoyable read for anyone looking to get a less "HOLLYWOOD" version of a few patrols in the Pacific. The struggles with torpedo issues - and not just the magnetic exploder, are especially pleasing to review after you take a shot at a fat maru and you miss!

Good Hunting
Captain Haplo

Captiain Haplo,

You can get your boat to dive in about 30 seconds if you keep your negative tank flooded. In hot zones Fluckey used to employ this method for quicker dive times.

In order to simulate this in SH IV, you can dive just inside the 2 hour mark and get her to go under in 30 seconds. Just make sure you have enough depth below your keel to crash dive.