Sonar only: where does the sound come from?

[Inner Sound]

When shooting using passive sonar only does thetarget's noise come from amidships or from the screws?

[Sailor Steve]

Both. The screws make the most noise, but the engines themselves put out quite a bit as well, as does the movement of the water along the hull. Even the everyday routines of people and machinery generate some noise, which is why submarines have 'Silent Running' orders.

[Inner Sound]

Thanks Sailor Steve, that helps me make a picture from what I'm hearing.

[Webster]

i would add that what questions you ask must be seperated into real life and what happens in the game since the game does some thinks unrealistic to create a realistic feel or to keep things working properly because of game limitations.

none of this changes your question or the answer you got but maybe as how it relates in the game so its an important notation to make if your talking real life or what happens in the game.

[Steiger]

I think you should ask your sonar man to report on the contact's bearing when at periscope depth. Compare the sonar's bearing to the scope bearing. I'm guessing the sound comes from the middle of the ship. Whatever you find out let us know! I'd test it myself but I'm hiding from destroyers at the moment. :)

[Armistead]

Actually it covers a range on your dial, but you can hear many things. Even when the ship sinks you can pick it up underwater, hear explosions, ect.

You can use sonar to track your torps. When I play with contacts and cams off, I'll usually listen to my torps heading to the target. I can usually tell if they on track by the bearing I shoot down.

You can also hear deckgun shells hitting a ship on sonar. I often will ping a merchant with sonar to get the range for deckgun shooting.

[vanjast]

The hydrophone/passive sonar sounds come from the stern/prop end of the ship.
On passive sonar/hydrophone, at about a 1000yrd range the angular sonar range is about 20 degrees (so it's in the middle of this).

Your aiming point, if range is 1000 yds, would be about 10-20 degrees in front of the sonar midpoint.

This obviously all depends on AOB, range.. etc.
;)

[Inner Sound]

Ah good, clearer yet, that'll help.

Mind you, whether the target is distant or close it always seems to be 20 degrees wide. In TMO anyway.

And happy new year by the way.