How to run with decks awash?
 

There was a thread around here somewhere discussing this, but I can't find it. Anyways, I've tried a couple of times to run awash and my crew doesn't stay on watch. Am I going down too far? Any input appreciated.

You first need to go in to your SHIII folder to the Data/Submarine folder. There you will find folders for each sub type, in each folder there is a .cfg file you can open with Notepad and edit the SURFACE DEPTH= (I think the VIIB is like 7.8).

Change the depth to 8 or 8.5 so it reads like this:

SURFACE DEPTH=8.5 Then hit save.

Now you can run decks awash at about 7 to 7.5 meters. The crew stays on watch and you still run on Diesels. Though in heavy seas the diesels will cut out when she dives into a big wave, and it also looks kind of funny when your watch crew is underwater and still scanning the area. Running decks awash also cuts down on your dive time a lot, I've run decks awash and from the order to dive to reaching parascope depth has been 18-20 seconds instead of the normal 37 seconds in a IXC.

Its actualy 5.8 meters for the VII and IX subs ;) 8-8.5 meters and the sail is pretty much underwater hehe. Just add 0.5-1 meters to the original surface value for the subs :)

Hmm i wonder what would happen if i set the surface depth to a few hundred meters, perhaps i could shell enemy ships from underneath them :rotfl:

Herr Quartermaster!!

I need scuba tanks for the watch and gun crews. Don't ask questions, this comes from the furher himself!!

I've found that good surface depth settings are:

Type II: 7m.
Type VII and IX: 8m.
Type XXI: 10m.

:rotfl:

I usually just add 2 to what ever...7 becomes 9, etc...Keeps it simple for me and insures that I'm awash :)

Has anyone who has done this noticed that at full surface, large waves tend to soak the bridge? I messed around with it some, adding 4 to each sub(although now it seems too much), and my bridge crew kept getting soaked. I'm wondering if just adding 2 would fix this. Also, does it actually affect how well enemy ships can see you?

It should not affect how enemy AI can see you. I think, to the AI, you're probably either surfaced and fully visible, or you're submerged and invisible, or you have a snorkel or periscopeup, in which case you're semi-visible.

Regarding the large waves, it shouldn't be a problem if you plug in Type II = 7m; Type VII and IX = 8m; Type XXI = 10m. I've tweaked and tested these thoroughly, and as far as I can see they work perfectly. They should allow you to run with the decks completely submerged yet they don't allow too much water to flood the bridge (unless you're in a heavy sea of course).

Running decks awash does make it a little harder to the enemy to see the boat. It does not make the game unrealistic or make the AI helpless. When I tested it, IIRC my VII was spotted at 2500m instead of 2800m in bright daylight.