The Snorkel Function in SH4

[THEBERBSTER]

Hi Guys

The American subs in SH4 have a T piece snorkel that you can raise and lower.

It is described as a snorkel but it is not in the real sense as in SH5.

What does it do?

Does it make any difference in game play whether it is up or down?

Peter

[razark]

The American subs in SH4 have a T piece snorkel that you can raise and lower.

It is described as a snorkel but it is not in the real sense as in SH5.
They do? American subs didn't get snorkels until after the war.

Do you have a screenshot of the piece of equipment in question?

[Rockin Robbins]

Yes, American subs didn't need snorkels in WWII. To fit them would have crippled their effectiveness by encouraging captains to "play it safe" while in reality the snorkel would have cut their number of targets by three quarters while not increasing safety in the slightest.

Unlike German subs, the American subs never transitioned from Hunter to Hunted. Hunting is conducted on the surface with radar.:D:D

Could you be talking about the air search radar, which could be raised for use at periscope depth?

[THEBERBSTER]

Thank you Rockin Robbins you have explained how it works.

I thought it was the radar as I made a requsition in port with my renown points.

I did not realize that it was used when submerged.

I was using it when surfaced but noticed that it did not rotate.

That is why I asked whether it served any purpose.

I was retracting it when submerged as I thought it was taller than the attack scope and would be spotted.

Peter

[Aktungbby]

I did not realize that it was used when submerged.
INDEED! I never Knew that either! From my overlenghthy post in the Captains Quiz re: USS Batfish's third attack on 2/13/1945 (the first two had been on the surface)-from the official log: Attack # 3: " Time: 0448(H), Date: 13 February, 1945 Lat. 19°10'N, Long. 121°25'E
Target Data - Damage Inflicted
Description: The target, a Japanese submarine of I class was proceeding on a southeasterly course between CALAYAN and DALUPIRI Islands at six knots. Ship(s) Sunk: One Japanese Submarine (EC). I Class. Ship(s) Damaged or probably Sunk: None. Damage determined by: Saw one torpedo hit which blew target apart and caused him to sink in less than 10 seconds. Searched wreckage and recovered several books, papers, and equipment. Heavy oil slick which spread over large area. Nearly two hours after attack oil was still bubbling to surface in spot where target sank. Target Draft: 16 feet, Course 140° T., Speed 6 knots, Range: 1700 yards (at firing) OWN SHIP DATA
Speed: 3 knots, Course 220° T., Depth 44 feet, Angle 0° (at firing) FIRE CONTROL AND TORPEDO DATA
Night attack and at radar depth. First indications of a target were weak APR signals on 157 mgcs, 500 PRF. Swung sub to determine approximate bearing. Initial contact was made at 10,700 yards. Commenced approach. Twenty six minutes later with range to target 7150 yards on BATFISH's starboard side, target dove - reason unknown. Target had tracked on base course 120° True so headed for a spot ahead of and on it's track so as to be in position for an attack before dawn in the event that he surfaces again. One hour and ten minutes after target dove contact was regained at a range of 9,600 yards. Started new approach. With range to target 6,800 yards dove on his track and continued approach from radar depth. Since we have only two torpedoes forward swung for a stern shot and fired three Mark 18-2 torpedoes from stern tubes on a 80° starboard track, zero gyros. Torpedo run was 1,500 yards. Used a 1 knot speed spread and set torpedo depth at six feet. All torpedoes ran hot, straight, and normal, but after the first hit there was no target for the other two and they both exploded at end of run. One ran for 8 minutes and 53 seconds, and the other for 9 minutes and 11 seconds. The hit was accompanied by a brilliant orange explosion and a wide diffusion of pips on the radar screen that indicated he literally blew apart." I'll have to load SHIV myself now, just to try submerged radar attacks-sounds like fun:up:

[THEBERBSTER]

Its little gems like that, that make the forum what it is.

Little snippets of information, brilliant.

In SH4 at the outbreak of WWII in the Pacific only have air search radar available.

[TorpX]

Yes, the SD RADAR (air search) had a mast that could be raised/lowered.

It didn't rotate and would give the range to contact, but not the bearing. It was used submerged and surfaced, though some were leery about possibly being detected from the emissions.

[Rockin Robbins]

It's amazing how leery some American skippers were about using their radar. That's especially true in view of what happens when you add up the score.

American sub runs radar, both air and surface 100% of the time. He knows the range and kinda sorta bearing of every plane and knows the range, course and speed of every surface ship within range. Pretty good situational awareness, no?

Let's assume the Japanese detect the signal, not a given. They know there's an American sub out there.......somewhere.

I say advantage Submarine, not by a little, but by miles and miles! Captain Joe Enright of the Archerfish turned on the radar and left it on against the advice of everyone on board. He knew Shinano's exact course and speed and that it looked the size of an island.

The Shinano's captain detected the radar signal, noticed it just didn't go away and concluded that there must be a lot of submarines out there for one to just keep blasting the radar. From a course and speed that made him untouchable, the Shinano changed course and speed right into a perfect setup for Archerfish to send her to the bottom.

Sometimes a little information is all you need to give up to goad the enemy into a mistake...:up: