Question
 

Finally made it to February 1942 in DID.
Is there any advantage in the game to avoid aircraft radar by running with decks awash?
I am heading to AL 15.
Thanks:salute:

I'm not sure how the game handles the boat's radar profile, but it does allow for faster diving if you are spotted. But it would be unrealistic to do so, though, as in real life running decks awash was only done using electric engines for a silent approach during a surface attack, and then only in calm seas.

Even if the boat can do it by venting the diesel exhaust through the conning tower, the boat's speed would be reduced because the bow is designed for sea cruising whereas the conning tower is not.

Well, the boat's speed is reduced in-game running decks awash, I know that.

I'd like to know if running decks awash really has any affect on your detectability even through visual detection. Is it worth the bother?

Steve

I've already played a career through the end and from what i've experienced ships equipped with radar can detect you even with your decks awash. Back in WWII Allied radars could detect even a snorkel... well, that stands true for the last years of the war, i.e. '44+. As far as the visual profile is concerned, yes, cruising with your decks awash helps though i can't be more precise since it depends on the sea state and on the efficiency of the ships' crew. Generally speaking, as the war progresses you will find that approaching the enemy on surface is a rather risky course of action till it finally becomes completely useless.

I hope my two cents here will add to Sailor Steve's good answer.;)

EDIT (Irrelevant but useful). In GWX3 airplanes can and will detect the Uboat's snorkel.

In game going to 6 meters will reduce your visual detectability from aircraft. In short, an airplane has to get closer to detect you. This, I find reasonably realistic if you reduce speed so as to reduce your wake.

The wake is the first thing seen from an aircraft. Due to sea clutter, a lower profile would also reduce (slightly) your detectability. I don´t know if this works in game.

The advantage is miniscule if anything at all because airborne radar ingame is capable of detecting much smaller objucts than a conning tower (schnorkel for example).

Now weigh that up against the drop in speed and the increased fuel useage/reduced range I hardly think it's worth it.

I'm playing DID since my first career and I start every career in '39.
The allies install radar onto escorts in '41 (iirc - in game) and it's resolution is quite bad. There seem to be several steps in radar quality until they are able to detect the snorkel in '44 or '45.
In calm seas it's a good idea after reading incoming/passive radar signals to run decks awash while closing into a convoy to get into weapons distance - or better - visual range. If you stay surfaced an escort will soon head your way to check the radar echo. With decks awash this happens significantly later.
I guess the game radar "detects" you in dependance of the reflecting surface you show above the waterline. This corelates with the better radar resolution of later models. In '43 more escorts are equiped with better apparatus and in '44 and '45 they pick you up anyway while surfaced.

But in '42 it's still a good idea to close in decks awash.