SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - Map Contacts and Realism

I can make a very strong argument that having map contacts on is realistic.

That said, I went on my first patrol last night with the option turned off. Let me describe my experience:

When approaching Japanese waters, time compression shot down to 1. This was immediately followed by the announced "radar contact." Shooting down to 1 over 8 informed me that an aircraft was responsible for reflecting my radio waves. Instinctually, I searched the map for said aircraft. Oh yes, I thought, I turned map contacts off. Now I could not determine the aircraft's trajectory. I thus had two options, dive immediately, or man the flak guns, with my mouse ready to click "dive" in a moments notice.

This was Interesting. For the first time in the game, I had to make a decision without having all available information. I decided to man the flak guns.

Previously, I would draw an 8 nm circle around my position, and watch the map until the aircraft crossed the danger zone. Then I would dive and remain fixed on the map screen, waiting for the threat to exit my 8 nm perimeter. At this point, I would surface the boat, and remain at ahead 2/3 until my batteries were charged in order to save fuel, before accelerating back to high time compression. Notice how I would never leave the map screen.

Having contacts off, and deciding to remain surfaced, I found myself on the conning tower, scanning the horizon for those depth-charging warbirds. With wind at 15 m/s, I struggled to keep my view over the horizon, and was occasionally blinded by the few waves that washed over the tower. This is awesome. I felt a sense of danger. I thought how cool the sub looked, as it rolled over the passing swells.

Aircraft spotted! Enough danger, I'm diving. Of course this spotting was mutual, and the seaplane changed course directly towards my position. So I went to the map screen....wait, no contacts! Back to the control room. Set depth to 550 ft, and turned 60 degrees into the approaching aircraft (they always seem to overshoot the sub slightly). The sound of the depthcharges detonating as I was passing 400 ft was awesome. With no way of knowing the aircraft's position, I remained under for 15 minutes before going to periscope depth and scanning the horizon prior to surfacing.

Now I had to close the game and go to bed, but I can imagine that future vessel contacts will be very interesting. Without knowing precise trajectories and speeds, I can no longer set up and approach my attack entirely from the map screen. With no way of perfectly setting up my attack 15nm away from the enemy, escorts will now pose a serious threat. I play with TMO, and have yet to be sunk, or even damaged over a couple of % in my "serious" career game (currently in Feb 1944). This is because I always planned my position such that I never needed to use my engines when in sonar detection range, and always positioned myself such that I presented the minimum cross sectional angle to the escorts active sonar wedge.

Here of some of the things that I am very excited for, as required by having map contacts off:

1. Actually piloting the sub using the rudder when initiating an attack (always used the map to plot my route relative to my targets trajectory)

2. Those cool but unnecessary sonar and radar stations will now be indispensable.

3. Experiencing the sub moving through the water during all stages of my approach, without feeling glued to the impersonal map screen.

4. The real danger posed by escorts: no more perfect positioning. Will have to weigh the costs of exposing myself to update my knowledge of the enemies position (radar depth, active sonar....)

5. Uncertainty. Exciting as it adds an element of danger previously lacking in my experience.

6. Increased cognitive value and reward to sunk tonnage. The impetus being risk and uncertainty.

7. When I am really "tweaking" on the game, I can use sonar and radar to attempt to update the map myself. I love technical and geometric exercises such as these.