Two DETECTION questions ...

[onequicksix]

Hi:

I've been playing DW (and SC, and 688I) for some time now, but a couple of things are still baffling me regarding detection. So while I've been playing for a long time, I'm still afraid these might be noobish questions, but here goes ...

1) Other than ESM (and of course Link Data if you're using it), is there another way to detect and track air contacts? Even when using the ESM and doing a mark at regular intervals I find it extremely difficult to determine if a helo is close (or closing in).

I ask because in various sub novels I've read (including the seemingly hyper-accurate RSR) the Sonar operator can hear approaching aircraft, but I don't see a way to do this in DW, and it seems a major disadvantage.

2) What is the best way to detect PASSIVE torpedos? They seem to sneak up on me all too often and end an otherwise terrific mission. Or is the only real defense to drop a noisemaker and alter course as soon as you get the "Torpedo in the water" message?

Thanks a ton!

-Tim

[Pisces]

1) Ehm, radar perhaps!?! It isn't passive, but it is detection and tracking. Another option would be a periscope search. I don't think you can make a solution based on bearings alone against a plane or helo. Your speed is simply too low compared to theirs to make it a meaningfull solution. Iirc LWAMI did alter sonar sensors and noise emmissions (height/depth limits) to make airborne targets detectable. So you still might detect them if they are really near.

2) As soon as a TIW report comes I would start searching for anything in my vicinity that is loud. If that noise drifts quickly then you can be relatively sure it is not pointed at you. But if the direction doesn't drift then you should expect to be acquired and run and mask yourself.

[onequicksix]

Yeah, I meant passively ... like in the movies, up on the big screen. ;-) Seriously, as I said seemingly hyper-accurate novels I've read have sonar chiefs detecting helos and planes by listening. I guess this is either:

a) Not realistic, just done for drama's sake, and/or
b) Not modeled in the game.

HOWEVER, interestingly enough ... In the meantime I was playing a homemade mission, had tagged a Ka-Helix for 10 minutes with the ESM, and submerged to relatively deep waters, moved around, came to a relatively shallow depth some time later, and WITHOUT raising the ESM mast the helo position, speed, bearing etc was updated after a few minutes! I checked the TRUTH and sure enough it was almost dead on. Go figure!

I'm not sure why this worked ... perhaps it has something to do with shallow depth. Maybe the game does allow the sonar auto-crew to coordinate with the previous ESM findings if the bird is close enough? BTW, this is without using LWAMI. Perhaps I should for more consistent results in this area? Didn't see anything about it in the readme though.

Wish there was some definitive info on this area.

[Molon Labe]

Improving/fixing the aTMA function is beyond the scope of LWAMI.