Quote:
Originally Posted by USNSRCaseySmith
I really like the 16km mod since 16km is about where the horizon is in RL on the seas (I believe)
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In real life, the horizon would be about 12 km from someone in the conning tower of a VIIB. Of course, you can see tall parts of ships "over the horizon," such as smoke and stacks, even though you can't see the ship itself.
The phenomenon of refraction can also "bend" light so that you can see objects that are not in a direct line of sight.
However, if you are standing at sea level, and are 6 feet tall, you will only see about 5 kilometers out.
The math for calculating this stuff is pretty complicated, but there is a website that does it for you:
http://www.boatsafe.com/tools/horizon.htm
Living as I do on the ocean, seeing tankers, merchants and ferries every day (and the occasional warship), I think the 16km mod is on the outer edge of reality. That said, if conditions are right, you really can detect ships that are miles and miles away.