New tactic discovered

[U777]

I was near Scapaflow when a I got caught by a destroyer, while charging towards U-494 we lobbed an electric eel and immediately dived to 65 meters after a quick sonar check of the depth. Torpedo detonated prematurely so we had to play the cat and mouse game. After dodging a few attacks I was about 4 meters above the bottom and then an idea hit me; if I know where the destroyer is dropping her charges I can keep the engines off therefore providing ultimate stealth since sonar cant really distinguish between me and the bottom and their hydrophone will be useless. I raised the OBS scope a few meters and every time I hear the screws I tracked where she was going and saw most of the the attacks to be off be a few hundred meters thus avoiding the need for flank speed. About an hour later she departed and we went home.

Anyone tried using the OBS scope to see how the enemy's aim is? (this is done with my newly created realistic career, old one deleted.)

[timmy41]

in real life it would be impossible due to pressure to raise it at that depth

[K-61]

Have you modded your water to be transparent? In real life the Atlantic is too dark for this to work. The game also does not simulate the clutter of the seabed. If an escort in the game gets a lock on you, you will not be able to outfox it by laying low or on the seafloor. The only way to survive is keep moving; go to silent speed and drag your telegraph needle until it reads 50 RPM's.

[U777]

I have the "adjust water clarity" box unchecked in commander so I don't think its modded. As for the seafloor all I saw were small rocks and what appears to be huge patches of seaweed.

[timmy41]

what he means is it doesnt module the seabeds effects on ASDIC. one can not rest themselves on the seabed among the clutter of rocks and valleys as one would be able to in real life.

[U777]

I thought it was working because when we hovered the seabed the destroyer only sent 2-3 pings before scanning elsewhere every so often.

[OSU]

I admit I'm guilty of that same tactic, (the scope one, not resting on the sea floor) and I have been trying to stop. I'm looking to play a more realistic career, so what would a realistic water clarity level be? Are there any mods that change this?

[timmy41]

I admit I'm guilty of that same tactic, (the scope one, not resting on the sea floor) and I have been trying to stop. I'm looking to play a more realistic career, so what would a realistic water clarity level be? Are there any mods that change this?
im using 'sh5 water' mod, it has different water for arctic, med, and atlantic. also slows the waves so you dont go 10m under water while surfaced! they also look more dramatic when the sub rides over one and crashes down into the valley between them.

[U777]

Does it come with GWX or its a standalone? Only other standalone addons I got is the 1939 XXI and lifeboat mod.

[raymond6751]

I thought it was working because when we hovered the seabed the destroyer only sent 2-3 pings before scanning elsewhere every so often.

It should be noted that actually resting on the seabed can damage your boat if not just the sonar/hydrophones. I have had damage done by just touching bottom.

[Pisces]

You don't really need the periscopes to learn where he drops his depthcharges. When listening to your hydrophone you can learn the same way. Just take note of the bearing when they are dropped. You can hear that. Then slowly steer until that direction is behind you to increase your distance. I would actually sprint a bit ahead when they drop them, because you don't want to be too close, and the destroyer will accelerate afterwards making his detection capability less. But don't keep the engines running to long. When you hear he is pinging try to steer keeping his sound behind or infront of you. That decreases the reflection area.

[CherryHarbey]

You don't really need the periscopes to learn where he drops his depthcharges. When listening to your hydrophone you can learn the same way. Just take note of the bearing when they are dropped. You can hear that. Then slowly steer until that direction is behind you to increase your distance. I would actually sprint a bit ahead when they drop them, because you don't want to be too close, and the destroyer will accelerate afterwards making his detection capability less. But don't keep the engines running to long. When you hear he is pinging try to steer keeping his sound behind or infront of you. That decreases the reflection area.

Does this mean manning the hydrophone station yourself or getting your hydrophone man to give you the bearing of nearest warship the moment you get the "depth charges in the water" message (and assuming the two are the same)?
If it's manning the station yourself I worry that I would be miss the charges going in the water completely!

[K-61]

It's also important not to panic when you hear the "DC's in the water!" report. Your man can hear them when they are not dangerously close to your sub.

[Pisces]

Does this mean manning the hydrophone station yourself or getting your hydrophone man to give you the bearing of nearest warship the moment you get the "depth charges in the water" message (and assuming the two are the same)?
If it's manning the station yourself I worry that I would be miss the charges going in the water completely!Whenever I am hunted I make sure I am in the hydrophone shack. The crewmember can only focus on one DD, but you can swing the bearing needle to whatever direction you need, like multiple DDs. You can hear when they speed up and slow down. It helps me get a better situational awareness. Actually, I think you hear the depth-charges fall anyway if you are close enough. You may not need to be in there, but the acceleration info is very telling.

[pickinthebanjo]

I use a no collision damage mod for resting on the seabed (for repairs not evasion) since I rarely ever get rammed it still seems realistic.

On another note, if your on the sea floor and a depth charge goes off on you, it can really mess you up. I've been destroyed almost instantly by this.

[Tessa]

It should be noted that actually resting on the seabed can damage your boat if not just the sonar/hydrophones. I have had damage done by just touching bottom.

Before I knew about the program settings, I used to bottom the boat in deep water hoping that the sonar model acted like real sonar. Long as you go 1 kt and are just a meter or two above the bottom, kill the engine and put the dive planes for a steep down dive you'll hit it and skid along the bottom for a bit. Might damage a few things but will be minor.

One inherent problem with bottoming was that it usually made a pretty loud sound, easily detectable by hydrophones. The worst aspect is that the computer has the worlds most accurate sonar (even in 39') and can pinpoint your location 400m down. Bottoming should provide a high degree of protection (especially if you've been in a protracted engagement already) but does the opposite, just makes you a easy target whose speed it 0.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Best bet is to avoid the bottom and sneak around at 50 RPMs, silent running. You can hug the bottom (and will probably want to), but don't sit on it unless you're crippled and have no choice.

[U777]

That's what I did for the first half but I never settled on the bottom because it automatically sends out damage reports.

[Weiss Pinguin]

That's what I did for the first half but I never settled on the bottom because it automatically sends out damage reports.
Unless you have the seabed repair mod or something similar, touching the ocean floor for an instant will sully your U-boats delicate bottom :yep:

[Jimbuna]

I can keep the engines off therefore providing ultimate stealth since sonar cant really distinguish between me and the bottom and their hydrophone will be useless. .

The sonar is 'all seeing' also......even through solid land masses unfortunately.

Stooooopid game engine (hard coded) :doh:

[U777]

Oh well back to the old way of evading DC's. Thanks for the input, very informative :DL

[Canovaro]

I use a no collision damage mod for resting on the seabed (for repairs not evasion) since I rarely ever get rammed it still seems realistic.

On another note, if your on the sea floor and a depth charge goes off on you, it can really mess you up. I've been destroyed almost instantly by this.

That makes sense since the boat cannot be pushed down into the water by the explosion, reducing damage. It takes the full blow.