100% realism question
 

I start to play SHIII on apsolute realism which game allow, and I manage to sink C2 Cargo merchant.:up:
I was suprised when I find out that my sonarman simply "refuse" to do my orders :o. Ok, I understand that is no more "black line" on nav. map which symbolizes a direction of screw sound which is heard by hydrophone... But, he (sonarman) did not want to follow nearest sound contact, when I ask! Even more, they say "no contact" whatever I have target ship on my sight or not.
Its that normal on 100% realism????:06::06:
Do I have to man hydrophone wheel manually???:06::06:

Sry for my bad english:know:

That has happened to me before but only once in a while and only for short periods of time, I think it may be a bug or something. When that happens to me I just use them manually when I need to.

Yes this does indeed happen some times the sonar man goes deaf. If you make a sweep yourself you will hear the contact. Usually this problem goes away after a few minutes. If not then replace your sonar man for a while and try again.

Also depending on you type of hydrophone they do have "blind spots" where they do not hear a contact very well specially at high speeds. So make sure the contact you are tracking is not in your baffles and try to keep your speed 2-3 kts or stop altogether.

This has happened to me the last few patrols, even with a qualified PO. I can't remember if this used to happen before, I'm just now getting back into things after a few months off.

Earlier today I had a merchant just a few thousand meters away, but my soundman wouldn't report the target (I was trying to get the bearing since it was dark and I could barely see it), even though I could hear it loud and clear over the hydrophones.

Sounds like it happens to all of us. Both my soundmen are PO's and experienced and have problems with escorts getting lost in my baffles during convoy actions.
Times like that I man the phone, then back to the map, then back to the phones. What is cool is hearing the splash of the depth charges then the whine of the acceleration. As long as they are not too close.:yep:

Yeah, but the thing is, my operators are losing track of ships that aren't even in the U-boat's baffles. I also have the KDB (?) hydrophone set installed, which IIRC increases the arc the operator can scan.

And this is in calm weather, between 13-25 meters underwater. Or maybe the earlier sets are just not as good as I remember?

I've had my operator not hear things before, but I always chalked it up to either fatigue or low experience.

Steve

Thank you, guys, for this discussion!
I have not told you about the details... I started as U-boot commader of 7th Flotilla and this is my second patrol. Before a mission I mouted KBD type of hydrophone. The man who operated it is regular petty officer without every qualifications. Conditions on the sea were pretty rough at the time when I'm noted the C2 cargo ship. But I don't have a problem with distance measuring or target locking.
Perhaps the only fault is the wether conditions:06::06:

Check the green line above the station. If your hydrophone operator is too tired he doesn't hear a thing. :shifty:

When it happens to me I know for a fact that fatigue has nothing to do with it because I gave my SO just about every medal and promotion that I could and now his morale is maxed and he doesn't lose fatigue anymore. (Same as my Gunner/Torpedo Officer)

Also I use that KBD Hydrophone as well

Yep, I play with fatigue off, so he's either lazy or I need to get my hydrophone checked out. :hmmm:

Whenever your periscope is up the hydrophone operator refuses to report contacts you should be able to track visually. Bring your scope down and he tells you the nearest contact on demand. If you ask him to track the contact he'll continue to report even if you rise your periscope again.

God, even after 2 or 3 years playing the game, I didn't know that trick.
Thanks
Should be put in the newbies sticky.

maybe he's got bad ears:hmmm:

How can you manually listen? I tried clicking on the sonoar guy but he just gives me the usual options like nearest contact neatest warship etc.