Sonar confusion

[captcrane]

Ahoy mates! I was wondering if someone could guide me to the path of enlightenment into using the sonar. I am running silent hunter 4 gold edition. I started the game with auto targeting then graduated to manual targeting. Which really took awhile to get used to. But with videos and info found here I have become at least halfway competent at hitting my targets. Next would be sonar. Problem my sonar operator reports a contact. cool I tell him to report on it he does say bearing 87. the video shows you bumping a handle to set direction of ping. if I try to move handle the only thing that happens is the direction of where I am looking changes. At best I am stupefied. Cant figure out how to aim my pings. Playing more or less a vanilla game. Here is my Mod List if that helps.

Generic Mod Enabler - v2.6.0.157
[C:\Ubisoft\MODS]

Less Plankton 1.2
SofuGan
Pacific Sound Mod
Submarine Hull Numbers
Webster's Underwater Visability Mod for v1.4 & v1.5
Magnified Hud Dials for v1.5_Medium
STOCK_different_smoke
merchant skinpack release
Bigger Better Protractors
SKIN_NSS_Balao_HR_SH4_NoRivits_V1.0
GreenLamp
#1 ISE New clouds+Waves
#2 ISE Realistic Colors
If anyone can make it through this long winded post I would appreciate any input . Just keep the foul language to a minimum. Ehhh on second thoughts let em rip!

[adrians69]

In stock, you need to use the Home and End keys to move the hydrophone around mate.

[Sniper297]

Other way to do it is use the mouse to click on the sonar dial itself, the guy says 087 then left click on the 090 on the outer dial. Move the mouse pointer over to the left and click on 270, the sonar dial will rotate over to that position. It can be confusing, click in a "dead spot" where there's no control to click on and the mouse pointer disappears putting the mouse into head swiveling mode, click again and get the pointer arrow thingy back again. Get the view centered on the sonar dial then click to get the pointer arrow, you can use the mouse to rotate the sonar indicator arrow all around until you click outside the dial again.

[CapnScurvy]

You shouldn't rely on your Sonarman to give you anything but an estimate of Range or Bearing. To get it right....do it yourself.

I took a quick look at your mods. I don't think any of them modify your Stock game regarding the Sonar/Hydrophone station. So, stock game it is.

The stock game has the S-Class, Porpoise, Salmon, Sargo all capable of mouse clicking the Bearing Dial (on the right of the station view). Like Sniper said, just left click the outer edge of the Bearing Dial to have the pointer circle to the bearing you chose. The problem comes with the Tambor, Gar, Gato, Balao.....the mouse click does nothing to move the pointer. As adrians69 said, using the Home/End keys will move the pointer regardless which sub you're in. Most larger mods fix this issue, some do not.

Which ever way you do it, move the pointer to the desired bearing. Next mouse click the left hand toggle....the "Estimate Range to Target" toggle will send the initial "Ping" from the sub. Watch the left hand Range Dial pointer circle the dial. If you don't hear a return ping, reset the right hand Bearing Dial pointer a couple of degrees up or down and try again. The bearing needs to be fairly accurate to hit your target.

If you get a return ping, mouse click the right hand toggle...."Send Range to TDC" and you're done. Going to the Position Keeper either at the Periscope or TBT station, you'll find your Range to target already displayed on the PK.

Keep in mind this Range is accurate, to the yard. Also, don't use the Active Sonar when there's warships around. You won't like the welcome they will put out for you!!

[Sniper297]

Hmmm, after trying them all when I first got the game I fell in love with the Sargo (two less fish than Gar/Gato/Balao but more maneuverable and smaller so better for harbor raiding in shallow water) so I haven't played with a Gato for quite a while. IIRC it also has some messed up gauges someplace.

As for active sonar, in real life it was rarely used for the reasons you stated, along with the fathometer - anyone with a hydrophone in range can hear the ping and get a bearing on it. In the stock game, however, I can ping at destroyers all day long without attracting their attention, dunno if any of the mega mods fix that.

[captcrane]

Thanks for all your help! I am 3 days (game days) from the end of the war( my first career). So my next career I will include the optical fix mod because I had so much trouble using the stadimeter the first time. My ranges were never reliable. I have read here that mod corrects what I thought was just me being unable to correctly line up the enemy ships.

[Crannogman]

Thanks for all your help! I am 3 days (game days) from the end of the war( my first career). So my next career I will include the optical fix mod because I had so much trouble using the stadimeter the first time. My ranges were never reliable. I have read here that mod corrects what I thought was just me being unable to correctly line up the enemy ships.

I think you will find that OTC makes a world of difference. Also, you don't have to start a new career to add it, you just have to be in port