My conclusions are that;
a) regardless of skills and weather conditions you won't get a visual contact further out than 8km. The ship just won't be drawn in game. Big disadvantage to visually acquiring targets in good weather as historically they could see things even 20-30km away in good conditions.
b) conversely in poor weather and or bad light the computer watchers will visually ID targets at ranges well beyond your ability to visually see anything. I've had visual contacts reported by the WO at night in 15m seas at 3km , when I won't be able to see the ship till it is under 300m. Similarly the green/yellow/red triangles will light up a target via the scopes often well outside actual visual acquisition range.
c) hydrophone range seems to be 20km regardless of weather conditions and model. Thermocline , water density , depth etc. all don't seem to impact that to any great deal. I can't see a difference between target acquisition at 20m , 40m or 80m. I use 40m since someone said that is historically what the Uboats used, but I can hear the targets just as well at the other depths.
d) hydrophone operators seem inconsistent. I've had them call out contacts I can barely hear manually and then lose contact at a range where my wife playing on the next PC can hear the contact. They can also track targets while surfaced for a period of time but they will eventually lose a target it you surface for extended periods (15-20m ? ). Once they lose the target if surfaced you won't be able to hear it again till you dive.
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