Turning off sonar?

[simon11]

I have just started playing this game. I am on the first quick mission to destroy ships in a convoy. I am on patch 1.3. I am not able to approach the convoy under water as I am constantly found and depth charged. I think this is because my sonar is allways on. I can't find a switch to turn this off. Any help please?

[SteamWake]

Well seeing as the sonar is passive I dont think thats what is giving you away.

More likely your tactics.

The best way to attack a convoy is to lay in wait rigged for silent running with the periscope down, not trying to 'sneak up' on them. The highest speed you should need would be in the order of 3 knots.

Even then sometimes the escorts are going to pick you up anyways as they have the luxury of being able to bang away with their active sonar.

Oh and welcom to the forums !

[Von Manteuffel]

Do you actually hear "pinging" from your sonar?The only way I know to use sonar is to manually trigger a ping ( to verify range to target ) or to establish "depth below keel"

Your hydrophones, which are a passive means of detecting targets are always manned, but cannot lead to your being detected by escorts. They're just listening devices.

It could be that your approach to the convoy is too fast, so the escorts are picking up the sound of your engines/propellors, or that you're using the periscope too much - escorts can see it, especially in calm conditions.

The best rule for attacking shipping which has an escort is run silent ( = very slow ) and use the 'scope as little as possible. Once you have your firing solution, fire, dive deep and turn ( still silent and at 2, or 3 knots.)

Good hunting.

[simon11]

Thanks for your posts. The reason I thought it was the sonar. I was on the basic patch 1.0 for a day and I had no sonar marks on my navigation map until I sent a ping. When I upgraded to patch 1.3 the sonar marks are always on the map. I don't know why this is?
I now think it is possibly my engine noise. I was trying to get into the middle of the convoy at a depth well below periscope depth before I came up to periscope depth. If I run at only 3 Knots the Convoy will be past me before I get there. The large ships are in the middle and out of range otherwise.

[Von Manteuffel]

Steamwake got it dead right. If you chase targets, or try to intercept them at any kind of speed, the chances are any escorts will detect you.

Best way is always to get ahead of the convoy, manoeuvre your boat so that you end up ahead of the convoy, facing at a right angle to its course line; run silent, rise to periscope depth and wait for them to come to you. Use the traces on the map to keep an idea of the targets' course and distance; use the 'scope as little as possible - just what you need to work out your firing solution(s). Fire, then dive and turn - still running silent. If you want to see the fireworks, you can always use the external view, rather than the periscope.

Go get 'em.