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gi_dan2987 · 01-29-12, 01:56 PM

I've been reading these posts and feel the urge to toss in my two cents. Real WW2 skippers would have to know the exact position of their submarine at all times on their maps in order to make accurate use of the famous 4 bearing method. Unlike in SH4, real skippers did not have the luxury of having a little submarine icon move around on their map like it does in game. So that's why sound only attacks were rare and inefficient. Sound contacts could give you an idea, but much plotting would have to be accomplished prior to the attack in order for it to properly work.

In regards to the comment about echo-ranging; I use RFB 2.0 with SH4 1.5. I will track a convoy on my surface radar until I have a good idea what their course and speed is. I then set up, wait until they're within visual distance, and begin range/bearing readings with the periscope. I make any necessary adjustment to the TDC according to the information gathered from the plots, and prepare my torps for firing.

Now here comes the part regarding preference of attack. I find that pinging for range/bearing, adjusting AOB to match course, and firing is much more fast and accurate than rifling through an ID book with my scope up in the air. Especially at night when it's hard to ID ships and see masts and funnels. I suppose real skippers would do whatever it took to gain accurate solutions. If it's dark and foggy/rainy/etc, you aren't going to be using your scope to much effect now are you?

Now here comes some questions I have for any and all to answer:

1. Regarding active sonar, can all ships (including merchants) detect when they're being pinged and begin evasive maneuver/attack?

2. Comparing apples to oranges, what is more accurate, Using stadimeter and periscope to obtain final range/bearing or using active sonar? Which one is less conspicuous? What are the advantages/disadvantages to both?

3. Concerning radar (surface and air search), from how far can the enemy detect your signals assuming they can detect them?

The reason I ask question 3 mainly is because I just completed a mission where I seemed to attract Jap convoys and task forces like flies. I fired all 24 torpedoes and racked up 30,000 tons in a hurry, but they never stopped coming. I had to run silent at test depth for most of my return trip to brisbane in my Gato class. As soon as I would surface and kick on the radar, I started attracting flies. If anyone can help me out here that would be great. Cheers!

01-29-12, 01:56 PM	#7
gi_dan2987 Weps Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 359 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	I've been reading these posts and feel the urge to toss in my two cents. Real WW2 skippers would have to know the exact position of their submarine at all times on their maps in order to make accurate use of the famous 4 bearing method. Unlike in SH4, real skippers did not have the luxury of having a little submarine icon move around on their map like it does in game. So that's why sound only attacks were rare and inefficient. Sound contacts could give you an idea, but much plotting would have to be accomplished prior to the attack in order for it to properly work. In regards to the comment about echo-ranging; I use RFB 2.0 with SH4 1.5. I will track a convoy on my surface radar until I have a good idea what their course and speed is. I then set up, wait until they're within visual distance, and begin range/bearing readings with the periscope. I make any necessary adjustment to the TDC according to the information gathered from the plots, and prepare my torps for firing. Now here comes the part regarding preference of attack. I find that pinging for range/bearing, adjusting AOB to match course, and firing is much more fast and accurate than rifling through an ID book with my scope up in the air. Especially at night when it's hard to ID ships and see masts and funnels. I suppose real skippers would do whatever it took to gain accurate solutions. If it's dark and foggy/rainy/etc, you aren't going to be using your scope to much effect now are you? Now here comes some questions I have for any and all to answer: 1. Regarding active sonar, can all ships (including merchants) detect when they're being pinged and begin evasive maneuver/attack? 2. Comparing apples to oranges, what is more accurate, Using stadimeter and periscope to obtain final range/bearing or using active sonar? Which one is less conspicuous? What are the advantages/disadvantages to both? 3. Concerning radar (surface and air search), from how far can the enemy detect your signals assuming they can detect them? The reason I ask question 3 mainly is because I just completed a mission where I seemed to attract Jap convoys and task forces like flies. I fired all 24 torpedoes and racked up 30,000 tons in a hurry, but they never stopped coming. I had to run silent at test depth for most of my return trip to brisbane in my Gato class. As soon as I would surface and kick on the radar, I started attracting flies. If anyone can help me out here that would be great. Cheers!