I kind of hope for manual Dive Planes
 

Not a big deal, but I'm kind of hoping for manual control of the Dive Planes rather than they be automatic. Don't you think that would be cool? :cool: They'll probably be automatic though.

I would be thrilled with just the ability to change depth "smartly" causing the diving party to use steep angles.

a very big deal !! I would be shocked if manual dive planes were omitted. Even SH I had them.

I'm worried because every screenshot I've seen with a boat on the surface has them deployed. I really hope they are retracted (either auto or manual) when running on the surface.

SH3 didn't :cry:

I'm 99% sure it won't.

From SHIII, the explanation the devs gave is that you play the captain of a sub - and a captain gives orders, he doesn't go grabbig all the manual controls.

In a way, the explanation made sense to me, though sometimes I do wish for more manual control. However, I don't think we'll be getting it. I'm fine with that myself...

World War Two subs weren't like modern ones, with a single 'pilot' controlling the ship. There were two planesmen, one for forward and one for aft planes, plus a helmsman to steer.

It might be cool, but it's nowhere close to realistic.

The 'Captain' should atleast be able to request a steeper dive, shouldn't he?

Thanks for the replies guys. Although I kind of hope for some manual control I'm fine with them being auto as well. I do wonder if there was ever good reason for a Captain to give orders to rig in or rig out diving planes. :hmm:

Cheers All

Question coming from someone who's never served on a submarine: I understand why a captain would order a steeper than normal dive (get the hell down, and quick!) but why would he order a shallower than normal dive? :hmm:

I dont really need to see manual dive planes, just the ability to order steeper dives and request trim in degrees of nose/tail up or down.

I'd like to see steep dives be limited by experience and skill of the planesmen, so requesting and forcing too steep of a dive for a green crew could lead to the sub going out off control, or having problems leveling out at the desired depth, etc.

Sounds good to me nattydread. :up:

Then worry no longer.

Feast your eyes on this:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7269/41me7.th.jpg
click me

Hehe. Nice, Schultzy, nice.

Initially this made sense however using the explanation, "you are the Captain"... the Captain wouldn't be operating the TDC as manual TDC players like to do. ;-)

In SH I (and Pacific Aces with the Projekt Messerswetzer mod) I use the "planes on dive" and "planes on the rise" commands to go deep for ASW and level the boat out. The boat dives faster than just clicking on say 550'. The "crash dive" command only goes to approx 250' (depending on which game it is) and then without the planes command; a slow descent the rest of the way...

Maybe the modder's will mod manual planes. If not I am still very happy to see the return to the Pacific !!

Art