Silent Running
 

This might sound like a dumb question but here goes.

When the crew isn't reloading torps or conducting repairs and the engines are off... does "Silent Running" actually make the u-boat any less detectable to the enemy?

Granted, giving the order for silent running would (or should) stop all noisy activity aboard, but if there isn't any to start with... does it really matter?

Yes, for example under silent running various pumps will not be operated.

So this concept is modeled in-game? In the early years I seem able to get quite close to destroyers without being detected... with or without Silent Running.

PLUS torpedo reloading operations stop for the duration of silent running.

Inderstand the need for issuing Silent Running orders on a real sub, but I just wondered if anyone has noticed the difference between running a silent sub (no repairs, no reloads etc...) and running a silent sub with "Silent Running"

Bottomline: the silent running is modeled in the game. Ordering silent running (aside from ceasing all reloading and repairing operations), various pumps are shutdown or not operated as Drebbel mentioned, thus conferring your sub a small sound
"signature" and decreasing the chanches of being detected.

Thank you... I'd rather use it knowing it helps.

If some pumps are turned off during silent running can you only run silent for a certain period of time before taking on too much water and have to turn pumps back on, as in AOTD? Ive not played enough to determine this.

Nope, that's not simulatet in SH3.

Well, this sux! :down:

A fellow sub captain I know forgot to turn off silent running and didn't notice for ages... he then tried to take out an attacking destroyer. With only one loaded tube he fired... missing completely. He silently went to the bottom of the ocean with all 4 tubes empty.

If you run the Hollywood Damage Model you get a lot of flooding of different degrees. If you go to Silent Running, repair stops, flooding continues, you sink.

So if you are using Hollywood, this is simulated often.

thanks that helps, i wondered teh same thing last night.

if i'm in a convoy smack dab in the middle can i turn it off and not be detected? still running at Ahead Slow? will the convoy ship signatures be a screen for my own? I'm wondering because sometimes I wonder if i can reload in the middle of a convoy, if you ride under a ship they can't get to you.

Also in silent running your crew whispers instead of talking normally.