Hydrophone-Sonar-Radar Question

[Wigabee]

Hi, I'm still kinda new to the game and I have some questions about the sound tools. I am running the bare-bones Silent Hunter 3 version 1.4 with no mods.

1) I like the idea of the hydrophone but I don't have a clue about how to use it! I can pan around and listen for screws but that's about it. I've heard many places and seen in the game that you're able to send a sonar ping but I can't figure out how. I see the ''Sende'' label but there is no button below it. I'd love to know how to do that and how I can get useful information like range with my pings. :DL

2) How do I use the radar? I can turn it on and off but there is only a green line in the middle of the blue screen. How am I supposed to know if it is picking up anything? My crew can do it but I would like to know how also. Even with my crew operating the machine I never see numbers where the range is supposed to be. Just curious about that because I know that it is the main purpose of radar.

Thanks for your help, it is really appreciated! Happy hunting! :ping:

[Gargamel]

More knoweldgeable people feel free to correct me, but....

1) You need to have a sonar installed before you can use it, and I believe it only shows up mid/late war. TBH, I have never once used it, but I know theres been a couple scenarios where I would have liked to (Hood and Repulse both within 5k, disable, and I couldnt see them through the scope!!!).
As for the phones, You can slowly spin the hydrophone wheel and listen to the screws. By marking the bearing at regular intervals, and some simple trig (or the hydrophone app found in the dload section), you can find a targets course and speed. There are some very good threads on here about learning to use the phones better.

2) The line IS the radar screen. Early radar only had a 10' (?) spread looking forward and didnt move. Range is indicated by how far up the line the return occurs, and returns look like large spikes on the line. Its kinda boringg ot run the early radars yourself, just let the guys plot them on the map for you. Later radars (I believe) are used like the hydrophones, spin the wheel, see the spike, note the direction and range.

[Wigabee]

Thanks for the early reply! I have looked around on single missions late in the war but no matter where I aim the dial on the radar, I receive no spikes. This is true even when the ships are well within my watch's line of sight. Also, is it true that you must be surfaced to use radar? Lastly, is there a way to switch between SJ and SD radar? Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it! :salute:

[Gargamel]

Early radars were mounted along the front of the turm. Not like modern rotating radars, these were fixed. They were able to see 5' to each side of dead ahead (dont quote me on 5', but it's damn close). So if you know a contact is 90' to starboard, you would have to turn the boat at least 85' starboard to get a radar contact. But to be honest, if your watch can see the target, theres no reason to use radar. I only used the early war radars to not run into things during crappy weather, and only used late war radars to avoid planes. Late war, they pick up your radar signals wway before you get a return, so as soon as you got a return, it was time to dive.