Best depth for sonar checks?

[tmdgm]

When your cruising and you're stopping for sonar checks to see if anything is out there, is there a 'best depth' or is periscope depth sufficient? I would think you go deeper would help listening, but too deep would decrease the range you could hear surface ships. Looking for max hearing range, since you are trying to find something.

[U49]

I try to simulate the real thing... so weather is guiding my decision

calm sea: PD is ok for me
heavy sea: 20-30m
the middle of hell: 40-60m

[FIREWALL]

Hi All :)

Ive found 25m works best for me. I pick up ships even in worst weather.

I play GWX2.0 AT 100% realism. How about you guys.

I know that it sounds like I play "HARDCORE" but I don't.

I just like to ring out all I can out of the game.

When I get back from a patrol I'm physicaly tired. :D

I guess it's all about immersion level you seek. :yep:

[Blacklight]

I stay around 20 meters. I have no problems picking up contacts at that level plus there's the added bonus that I can still get my radio updates from BDU.

[KeptinCranky]

What Blacklight said... 20 meters for both quick checks and extended submerged cruising...for exactly the same reason, and remember to listen yourself from time to time, after ordering all stop you can often pick up more than your trained operator...:roll:

[Skubber]

Does anyone know what was historically a good depth?
In Das Boot they drop to 50 meters I think to listen for a convoy.

[Ivan Putski]

I use 20 meters also, works well for me.

[Gezoes]

Yep, 20-25 usually, especially when it rough upstairs.

Keeps you from being rammed in too much TC as well :smug:

[vodkavera]

20m for me.
Then I order all stop.
I then listen my self. I don´t trust Bernard with the hydrophone!

Does anyone know the max. range of the hydrophone?

/VV

[Abd_von_Mumit]

19 m here, at that depth:
- no part of boat can be visible on surface even with storm on surface,
- I can still get BdU updates,
- I hear the contacts quite well.
My green bar in sonar/radio room is full green, but it still happen that the hydrophone guy doen't report quite obvious contacts, so when i a hot area, I always check them myself. It pays.

After reading that thread I'll do some checks on bigger depths - maybe it will make things easier for the hydroguy?

[OuNiS]

About 20 meters.
Sometimes on heavy seas I go down about 30-40 meters.

[Jimbuna]

The game allows hydrophones to work at simply 'submerged'.....the only difference being in really inclement weather/storms where PD and surfaced are a hair apart.
In such weather I drop to 25 metres. :arrgh!:

[Avatar]

Does anyone know the max. range of the hydrophone?

/VV

I think I remember seeing here once that it's the range at which ships are rendered, some 30k. You can spot ships far out by using the "L" button too. But bear in mind that this has to be done very precisely. Otherwise you'll scan right past them.
I may be mistaken on this, though

[Puster Bill]

Does anyone know the max. range of the hydrophone?

/VV
I think I remember seeing here once that it's the range at which ships are rendered, some 30k. You can spot ships far out by using the "L" button too. But bear in mind that this has to be done very precisely. Otherwise you'll scan right past them.
I may be mistaken on this, though

That's true: You can use 'L' to 'lock' on to a target that isn't visible for whatever reasons (either distance or weather). I've locked on to ships that I suspected were there because I'd heard them on the hydrophones. Greatest distance I can recall having that technique work is 18K or so. It could be greater, I just can't remember doing one farther than that.

[deepboat]

20-25m level works for me. Doing a little listening on your own doesn't hurt either because sometimes the "no sound contact" message really doesn't sound believable. Sometimes I've asked for a warship contact and my sonar who I presume has been into the schnapps says "no contact" and when I raise the scope I'm staring at the bow wave of a DD 600m away!

[Pisces]

20m for me.
Then I order all stop.
I then listen my self. I don´t trust Bernard with the hydrophone!

Does anyone know the max. range of the hydrophone?

/VVIn the manual of Raduz's hydrophone mod (changes prop sounds to allow counting turns) he says hydrophone reception ends at 34km if you listen yourself (hardcappepd by the devs). But the crew can't hear them outside 20km.