N00bie question

[franx]

New to DW (wandered over from SH3) and have a difficult time just understanding the basics. In fact, I was completely baffled the first few times I tried to start the game.

I have most of the autocrew options turned on. Sorry for the stupid question, but playing as a sub, once a sonar contact is assigned, how do I determine what and who the contact is with reasonable certainty? Is there a tutorial for n00bies out there that can guide me? I love the idea of the game and don't want to be defeated by the learning curve, acronyms, etc. TIA.

[TLAM Strike]

You need to use the Narrowband SONAR to find out who your target is. Check this thread out at the SCS forum I posted some helpful info there:

http://www.sonalystscombatsims.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=444

[TopTorp '92]

New to DW (wandered over from SH3) and have a difficult time just understanding the basics. In fact, I was completely baffled the first few times I tried to start the game.

I have most of the autocrew options turned on. Sorry for the stupid question, but playing as a sub, once a sonar contact is assigned, how do I determine what and who the contact is with reasonable certainty? Is there a tutorial for n00bies out there that can guide me? I love the idea of the game and don't want to be defeated by the learning curve, acronyms, etc. TIA.

Just turn on the "show dead platforms" feature and then kill him :yep:

Use your periscope if you have to and get some really good TMA. Use the narrowband feature described above and be sure to use the screw blade screen from sonar. Don't forget to count the blades and look it up in Janes.

Happy hunting!

[Smaragdadler]

If you don't have already done it, you can also take a look in my Landlubber-guide. It should contain some useful stuff for you. :yep:

[franx]

Folks, thanks for the advice. I went back to the Landlubber guide and found useful material. At least I'm starting to get the hang of it.

[HydroShok]

contacts show up in the Narrowband long before you can get a Broadband tracker on them.

Surface ships usually give a least 2 lines/frequencies in the NB, subs at long distances usually only give one, maybe two in medium distance, if you can see three lines on a sub, its either very very close to you, like shooting range, or else its going ridiculously fast.

When you see the third line, thats when you can assign a BB tracker and then you can get a demon. The demon wont show all blades until you get a little bit closer. The demon tells what speed the other sub is going, which is a big help with TMA

The one line you get from a sub is either going to be 50hz or 60hz. USA uses 60hz, almost everyone else, especially non NATO, uses 50hz. You're looking for that one line or frequency when hunting subs. Faint looking, not bright looking

Lots of subs and ships share the same first few frequencies that you can pick up. If you click right or left arrow in the NB filter, it will show you all the possible ships that use those frequencies. This combined with number of blades on the prop from demon, classifies the target.

You have to get way too close and use both sphere and Towed array to get all the frequencies needed to classify 100% without looking up blades from demon. After a while though, you can just look at it in NB and know what it is, sub or surface, US or other.

[MaHuJa]

...if you can see three lines on a sub, its either very very close to you, like shooting range, or else its going ridiculously fast.


That, or you're playing a quick mission. Subs there always cavitate. Or at least, it's been a while since one did not, for me.

[Dr.Sid]

That, or you're playing a quick mission. Subs there always cavitate. Or at least, it's been a while since one did not, for me.

It may be because of currents. They are not implemented a bit correctly. In current the current speed is added to OS speed and they together affect mast breaking speeds, maybe cavitation too. Try to turn them off.

Edit: tested .. current speed affects cavitation. So for example if cavitation speed is 15 kts with no current, you will cavitate at 10 if you will go in same direction as 5 kts current and at 20 if you go in opposite direction. With extreme current speeds you can cavitate with engines off. Really .. use currents off. Winds too if you play OHP, it has too strong effects on it.