Attack vs Observation Periscope
 

Whats the difference between the two?
They both seem exactly the same to me

The ob scope is supposed to be a wider view angle and go higher than the attack scope. So I'm told.

Also the Attack Scope should have higher magnifications. At least the German ones did, and it works that way in SH3.

Hmm. THe attack scope goes higher than the OB one for me.

Not sure in game, but IRL the observation scope had a larger head allowing for better low light use, a wider FOV and the head could be tilted up more to search for AC.

It real life the ob scope gives wider angle, greater elevation, greater magnification and binocular vision. Post war, and in some U-boats during the war, it was motorised. The draw back is the top end is big and therefore more easily spotted than the smaller head of the less capable attack scope.

The observation scope was sometimes called the search scope, because it was used to find targets. Once a target was located the skipper would shift to the attack scope.

Also, the Observation Scope was only available in the Control Room, and the Attack Scope was only available in the Conning Tower, on Gato subs at least.

I'm pretty sure that both scopes were located in the conning tower on the Gato class subs. There was a video tour of the USS Drum posted on here awhile back and I clearly remember both scopes up there.

When I toured the USS Pampanito 4 years ago, both scopes were up there as well. To my knowledge there isn't really a lot of difference between the Balao's and Gato's with the exception the Balao's had a thicker hull and cosmetic differences of the bridge.

Both scopes are in the conning tower of the Lionfish. In British subs both scopes were in the control room. In U-boats they were split between tower and control room.

I read somewhere that the attack periscope was "less observable" to the enemy. Smaller profile and all that.

The observation periscope head is larger but has a larger field of view, at least in theory.

In game, the attack scope has higher magnification (6x instead of 4x, I believe). The observation scope can be tilted to look almost straight up, while the attack scope can't be tilted past about 30 degrees elevation. I think the attack scope is harder to spot, but that's hard to confirm.

It would be nice if SH4 simulated that the Observation scope had a way better light gathering capability than the Attack Scope.

Should actually be fairly easy to implement. I don't believe it is now because switching back and forth between the two using O and F4 reveals no difference.

And light gathering matters: Try using a cheap rifle scope at dawn or dusk and then look thru a quality Leupold or Swarovski for example - it's like night and day. Hell you can tell the difference just comparing a $50 pair of Bushnell Binocs vs a $150 - $200 pair of Nikon Binocs.

to answer your question.

You can see more with observation scope but it is easier to be detected due to larger head.

Use the observation scope to look out for ships and planes before you surface. Use the attack scope during a torpedo attack.

Makes sense