Hydrophone range

[berobispo]

After I read and viewed several hydrophone tutorials, I'm wondering whether the efficency bar in the Sonar-Room makes any difference when it comes to the maximum range a sonar operator can hear targets (I know we can hear them farther away ourselves). Does it make a difference at all? I read in the GWX manual that detection range now varies in general, depending on weather conditions etc., but one tutorial in particular (forgot the name and author) uses a fixed maximum range (20.0km) to actually get real positions ( I think he used GWX). He describes flanking out, submerging and then plotting the enemy's positions exactly on 20.0km range and the first reported bearing. Make this two times and you have a perfect target plot with course, speed and position.

Stop me playing from SH3 anyway, please!
exams coming up...

[Jimbuna]

The efficiency bar has an effect on how well your operator performs ie: calling out contacts but not in actual fact the listening range of the equipment.

So whilst the object may well be in listening range of the equipment, the efficiency bar will have an effect on how often and how soon/quickly he informs you.

[Pisces]

Using the 20 km range is a bit of a cheat in my opinion. The crew it seems cannot report distant contacts further than that. In reality this would not be a hard capped range, but pretty variable based on weather conditions. Also, it's bit too close to the maximum visual range so there's not enough playground to use the hydrophone in when relying on the crew. When listening yourself the search area is so much better. (allmost 3 times more area) The crew also seems to have very sharp ears. They know exactly when the sound crosses a certain degree of bearing. Listening yourself adds some realistic uncertainty.

[berobispo]

thanks for the explanation! Always learning something new on subsim!