What periscope is the most discreet?

[Pepe le Moko]

I always try to keep the periscope up for the shortest time to avoid being detected and usually used the observation periscope until the last moment when i switched to the attack scope, but now i am not sure anymore whether that's a good idea or not.

Which one is the less likely to get detected?
Also which one is in the conning tower and which one is in the control room?

[Torplexed]

The observation scope's head is slightly larger, but from a distance the difference would be negligible. A lookout would most likely sight either periscope's spray or 'feather' before seeing the periscope itself.

The attack scope was located at the commander's battle post in the conning tower.

[A Very Super Market]

Go watch Das Boot!

Yeah, the difference is negligible, because they don't try and spot the periscope itself, just its wake. RADAR probably won't differentiate in-game either.

The conning tower periscope is the Attack Periscope. You'll notice that it swivels around at a lower rate than the Observation one. And has a few more bars, but I don't really use them.

[Pepe le Moko]

I just watched it yesterday:arrgh!:

So what's the point of the observation periscope if it is not more discreet? it is higher above the waves?

[Torplexed]

I just watched it yesterday:arrgh!:

So what's the point of the observation periscope if it is not more discreet? it is higher above the waves?

In real life it had wider angle of view and allowed more light in the periscope. Unlike the attack periscope it's capable of viewing above the sub and searching the sky for aircraft. It can perform this function in the game too.

[Otto Heinzmeir]

I used to use the observation scope to watch the escorts overhead if I was playing in clear water. I play in denser water now and just listen for the escorts engines to rev. Great fun watching the DC cans falling down. :o Oh and of course you only need to raise it about a foot or so and then just pivot up.

[Hitman]

In real life it had wider angle of view and allowed more light in the periscope. Unlike the attack periscope it's capable of viewing above the sub and searching the sky for aircraft. It can perform this function in the game too.

Sorry to play smartass here, but both attack and observation periscope had the same field of view and zoom levels. The chief difference was the size of the head, for reduced chances of being spotted in the attack scope versus the observation scope, and hence the light transmission level. The attack scope offered a darker view because of that lower light admission when compared to the observation one, but no other differences existed. (Well, the observation scope admitted a binocular view thanks to an auxiliary prism whereas the attack scope didn't, but that depended on models)

The ability to use the observation scope for scanning the sky upwards -which the attack one couldn't do- is correct :up:

In real life the commanders used the observation scope for submerged attacks:

1) At night

2) At day when they were still far from the target (Say from 4-5000 metres onwards). This allowed better observation of the details of the enemy, plus keeping a better watch for aircrafts. Once they were getting closer than 4000 metres, they switched to the attack scope and used it sparingly.

This is also the reason why the graded reticles in the scopes were different, the attack scope one having less divisions because of the shorter distances it was meant to be used.

:salute:

[Sailor Steve]

The other main point of the Observation Periscope is that it is in the control room, so the captain can use it anytime. To get the feel for this, never use the F3 and O buttons. To use the Obs Scope, just click on it from the control room. To use the Attack Scope, click on the Conning Tower hatch, click on the A-scope, then click on the prism.

See the difference now?

[PappyCain]

I think I read somewhere that the U-Boats used the observation scope at night as it gathered more light and in misty and fog situations.


:salute:

[Captain Birdseye]

How do I use to obs scope?

i've always used the attack scope, I never knew a U-boat had two periscopes!

[Sailor Steve]

1) Click on the Obs Scope right there in the control room.

2) Press key 'O'.

To raise and lower the Obs Scope use the 'Del' and 'Ins' keys. You'd be amazed how many people try to use the 'Page up' and 'Page Down' and complain "I hear the scope, but it doesn't go up!"

[sharkbit]

Don't forget:
CTRL+INSERT/DELETE/PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN makes the appropriate scope motor full up or down without having to keep holding the key.

Hitting INSERT/DELETE/PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN allows you to make small adjustments to how high the scope is.
I use that when I get close to the target and start dipping my scope to minimize scope exposure.
:)

[danurve]

Which one is the less likely to get detected?
Also which one is in the conning tower and which one is in the control room?

Either as long as it's barely out of the water, and just when you need it.

Attack - conning
Obs. - control room

[Oneshot/Onekill]

In R/L the observation periscope was the preferred scope in low light or low visibility obsevation of the target, it allowed more light into the prism and it could elevate at a much higher angle. Many Kaluens used it for night submerged attacks.

The attack periscope had a smaller prism, but at a higher magnefication, and could give much more detailed information about the target to input into the Vorhaltrechner.:yep:

[Sailor Steve]

All true except this:
...but at a higher magnefication...
All periscopes had the same magnification - 1.5x and 6x.

[Oneshot/Onekill]

TY for correcting me SS. i just went and double checked my research on U-boatnet, good catch.:up:

I've been plaing this game way too much, i'm used to the 10x LOL.

[Sailor Steve]

Oh yeah, the 10x. I got rid of it from mine, and then put it back. To be really realistic the scope view should fill up the whole screen.

Also the Fleet Boat manual gives the specs for all three scopes in US subs.
http://www.maritime.org/fleetsub/pscope/index.htm

[Oneshot/Onekill]

Good informative stuff! I am a manual reading fool!:yep:

I drive my wife crazy, because i'm one of those guy's that after bying a game or electronics, i'll sit and read the manual all the way through before i play it!:haha: God i'm such a geek.:oops:

I can't get rid of it. I have too hard of a time making out ensign's at 6x. :)

[Threesixtyci]

Don't recommend doing that with RPG's.... manuals tend to spoil the story.

[Oneshot/Onekill]

Don't recommend doing that with RPG's.... manuals tend to spoil the story.

Too late, i disected the manual for Oblivian before ever downloading it.:haha:

[Otto Heinzmeir]

I just watched it yesterday:arrgh!:

So what's the point of the observation periscope if it is not more discreet? it is higher above the waves?

Sorry I got bored, so made a list, some of which have been mentioned. Some of these uses only apply if the water is clear enough.

1: Scanning for planes.
2: Looking up for location of escort.
3: Watching for DC cans.
4: If your very close to bottom - use to see if the sea in front of you gets shallower.
5: Checking for mines
6:Watching the bubbles rise from your sub after you submerge.
7: Watching for sinking ships so you can avoid them when they komikossie to the bottom. (Iv'e had this happen and it just missed me)
8: Seeing if your deep enough yet to go under a merchant to get to other side and fire stearn tube.
9: Looking for nets
10: You lost your attack scope from getting rammed earlier or seal on attack periscope is bad.
11: Checking to make sure there are no iceburgs ahead if near Greenland (Ok, so I am getting desperate now)
12: Looking for dolphins
13: Looking for the torpedo that tracks noise that you fired 3 minutes ago and hasn't exploded yet.
14. Don't forget to do a 360 scan looking for warships before you surface, sometimes they cut there engines and wait.
15. If your not at periscope depth but at 50m or so, you can look up at dawn or dusk to see if its dark enough to surface when your in
an area of high enemy plane concentration. I like to run submerged at places like Scapa Flow and Gilbralter until nightfall.
16: Double checking to make sure you didn't leave some of your watch crew up top when you emergency dove. :yawn:



:hmmm::yeah::salute:

Feel free to add more. :yep:

[sharkbit]

Looking for any of Balz's lost tea cozies. :D