Better than 20/20 vision?
 

My watch crew spotted a small modern composite freighter at over 13km, daylight, calm seas. I couldn't find it either with the uzo or binoculars. Is that realistic or do they have superhuman vision? :o

GFO+RSRD

http://www.tarasresources.net/wac_banner2.gif

Somebody recently posted a sub report about guys watching a ship/convoy at 35000 yards, which is over 17nm. There were probably a lot of times in the Pacific when visibilty was limited only by the height of the viewing platform

Edit: Post #11 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=221457

well the watch crews are inept at best, they see things that they shouldn't be able to see, sometimes through heavy rain, fog, or moonless black of night (not sure if the game AI combines sound with visual detections) but there are times they don't spot things that are in plain sight as well.

its frustrating, but the watch crew detections are bugged and not very realistic at all

I've noticed that in the stock game as well, my Watch Crew will call out a contact when all I can see is a few pixels of masthead on the horizon.

Then again, all my Watch Crewmen have 90+ skill level, maybe that could be it?

13 klicks is a bit over 7 nautical miles, even in mediocre visibility you SHOULD be able to see a ship at that range. Possibly you had the bearing wrong?

Hey, that's my configuration right now too. I'm enjoying the heck out of it.