dummy question about sonar tracking

[michaelws]

I have gotten and looked at a lot of the tutorials on sonar tracking...and they were all impressive.

Seems that the first two marks taken were when one's own sub was stationary and the third was when that same sub was moving...to triangulate and therefore pinpoint along the direction path just where the ship was.

Is it necessary to be stationary for those first readings?

I think the manual for the sonar section is terribly lacking in information for the beginner.

I am asking because I just did the convoy setting in the "school." and I was not sure if I could actually take 10 or 20 minutes to just sit there at my beginning location to take those readings.

I watched the video tutorials, but some of it, the use of the dials on the right side of the screen were not clear.

Is there a written tutorial that step by step's an old newb like me as to the actual uses of these dials?

Thanks for any help with this.

[Rockin Robbins]

No it is not necessary to be stationary when taking active sonar. It is necessary to ensure that each position is plotted in relation to own ship's position at the time of the observation. Also, since your boat does move between the time the ping goes out and when it returns, there will be slight, but not significant errors in range and bearing.

Stopping your boat to make the sonar soundings is unrealistic because a submarine cannot just stop while submerged. There are too many changing variables to keep the sub balanced for very long and it will lose neutral buoyancy and trim. The game does not reproduce this and you are left wondering why they didn't stop the sub to do sonar observations. They did the best they could.

I don't know of any written instructions as WernerSobe's and my sonar tutorials show exactly what to do with far more detail than any amount of words can cover. If you have specific questions, I'll be glad to fill you in here in the thread.

[michaelws]

Thanks RR...I should have posted earlier...but I looked at your videos once more and saw you re-position over the boat before taking the range on the subsequent reading.

Sure appreciate your taking the time to post.

[jerm138]

Not sure if you've seen it yet, but...

If you're looking for something written, I made a little .pdf tutorial that might help. It mostly focuses on the fundamentals of a sonar intercept and how to use the plotting tools to do it.

Check this thread. The discussion with other subsimmers after my original post may be of use too.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=160817

[michaelws]

Thanks Jerm,

I did download your tutorial. Very clear. It was my error for not looking closer to the vids that showed that the sub was moving.

I go the concept down pat thanks to all of you.

[Rockin Robbins]

:up: Sink 'em all!