Best way to get up off the bottom?

[Erich dem Roten]

Hi all

I was engaged in an epic battle with a destroyer, finally losing him but sinking to the bottom, about 120m down, due to severe flooding. By some miracle I managed to stop it with seconds left before the compartments were completely gone.

After repairs were completed I went to move back to periscope depth. As I was moving forward when I hit the bottom, I used Back Slow to start my ascent, assuming I was probably in the mud bow-first. BANG, I smashed my stern. Ahead Slow...BANG, smashed my forward tubes and sank (my hull integrity was less than 10% after the destroyer and ensuing fall to the bottom).

So...what's the best way to get out from the bottom once you've hit?

[onelifecrisis]

No need for any speed. All Stop would have worked fine. You can surface using just the tank/ballast type stuff.

[meduza]

Didn't you watch Das Boot? Blow balast! :D

You were lucky you survived at 120m with only 10% hull. I was once crushed by pressure at 50m.

[Chisum]

Of course, you will need compressed air in the tank and sometime not enough...

[Erich dem Roten]

Thanks for the responses. Yeah, I tried to blow ballast but I guess I was too heavy with all the water I was carrying at the time.

[ECAaxel]

is the DD still there because if it is you might have to bite the bullet and try back emergency or ahead flank for a little more lift on the hydroplanes.
Just try ahead 1/3 first.

[meduza]

Thanks for the responses. Yeah, I tried to blow ballast but I guess I was too heavy with all the water I was carrying at the time.
You should wait untill the escorts are gone, then pump out the water and make other repairs.

[TarJak]

If the escorts have departed jut hit 'S' and you'll gradually lift off the bottom as your trim tanks are adjusted to positive buoyancy. You can then set a new depth and speed if you don't want to actually surface once you are clear of the bottom.

[Bronzewing]

if you were carrying too much water for blow balast to work, next time wait for flood recovery to complete before trying to lift. Again, as in das boot, you have to get the water out first.