A couple of quick questions

[peteuplink]

Hiyas! I bought DW yesterday and I'm really enjoying it. but I have a couple of questions about the sonar. On Autocrew will the sonar crew actually locate and classify new targets that they find? The reason I ask is because the Autocrew finds a target but then it seems to stay as unknown and I then have to go into the narrowband sonar screen and use the identification tools to find out what the object is. But when I do find out what a target is, it only puts it as a certainty of "medium" or "low"...

The last question is I've been detecting things at around the 10 mile mark, but targets seem to get awfully close before I get a positive ID. How close to modern submarines have to get to their targets before they get a proper ID?

And once I do ID a hostile, what kinda range should I be launching torpedos at?

[LuftWolf]

The sonar autocrew will mark targets and classify them. The Autocrew for TMA will use the bearing data collected to work out a solution for the target's course and speed.

Be aware that when targets are initially detected on sonar, the information displayed on the Nav Map is BEARING ONLY. The marker on the contact's bearing is always initially set at 10nm. When the line between ownship and the contact disappears and is replaced by a speed mark on the contact, the aTMA has made a rough solution for where the crew thinks the contact MAY be.

In regards to how far away you should engage your target, it depends on a lot of factors.

I can say that generally, in Stock DW 1.03, the engagement ranges tend to be at about 75-90% of detection range (or at classification range if you need to make POSID), or 60-80% of your primary ASW weapon's max range.

I haven't played stock in a LONG time, so anyone more familar than I can please take over.

Modded versions of the game tend to play a bit differently, but up to this point, not dramatically so.

[peteuplink]

LOL. I was doing okay til you started mentioning percentages... :oops:

What I've been doing is making a test mission with ownship and a hostile sub, and I've been trying to track and sink this sub. So far I've managed to get it twice but the scenario normally runs something like this:

I'll detect the sub at 10 miles, then I'll work out it's speed and heading in the TMA. Then I'll set about ID-ing the target. Normally once I've done all this I'm about 5 miles away, so I'll engage the target and sometimes I hit the sub, sometimes I don't... Should I be waiting til I'm closer before firing?

I come mostly from playing WWII submarine sims with my favorite one beng SHIII. Sub warfare in WWII was very much "up close and personal" and I generally released my torpedos pretty close to target. Should I be employing a similar tactic in a modern sub sim, or is getting in close too risky due to the more sensitve detection systems of modern subs?

[LuftWolf]

This is actually a rather philosophical question you have asked. :)

In modern sub combat, engagement ranges are extremely short sometimes relative to detection ranges and the "on paper" ranges of the weapons.

In DW 1.03 (the version you purchased), when playing the AI, in most situations you have flexibilty as to whether you want to engage at long range or wait until you are closer and have a better solution. When playing in MP, engagements typically take place at as long a range as the acoustic conditions allow minus a couple NM.

That's the short answer.

The long answer would require an explanation of game mechanics and modding that I'm not sure you are interested in.

Cheers,
David

[peteuplink]

Cheers :)

It makes a bit more sense now. I think since I'm used to getting in close to my targets before firing I'll try that on DW since it gives me a better chance of the torpedo hitting it's target. Okay theres a bigger chance of me getting hit too, but risk is part of the game :P

[Ori_b]

Btw peteuplink,
In this 1 vs 1 mission, does the AI sometimes get you?

cheers,

[kage]

I'll detect the sub at 10 miles,

How do you know that? As LW said, all you really have is a bearing; it can be anywhere along or beyond the line shown on the navmap.

Sometime, pause the game when you detect it and switch to show truth. Measure the actual distance.
Mind that the sonar conditions can vary between missions, so this distance is not always the same.

sometimes I hit the sub, sometimes I don't...

The reasons for missing is 1) Bad Solution; 2) Target sucessfully evading.

To remove #2 from the list, use some civilian ship.

Should I be waiting til I'm closer before firing?

I come mostly from playing WWII submarine sims with my favorite one beng SHIII. Sub warfare in WWII was very much "up close and personal" and I generally released my torpedos pretty close to target. Should I be employing a similar tactic in a modern sub sim, or is getting in close too risky due to the more sensitve detection systems of modern subs?

The requirement to be close in ww2 came mostly from the non-homing nature of the weapons; the nearer you are the more degrees off the "correct" shot bearing you can be; modern torpedoes is far more allowing due to their seekers.

Particularly as it pertains to evasion, the shorter reaction time you allow your opponent the better; it's just that you're far more likely to get detected and shot at too. How close you should allow yourself to go depends on acoustic conditions, your sub, if the target is using active sonar or how good the passive sensors are, and so on.

[peteuplink]

Btw peteuplink,
In this 1 vs 1 mission, does the AI sometimes get you?

cheers,

errmm.. no I didn't set the AI to attack my sub when I setup the mission. I've altered it now.