Quote:
Originally Posted by DrZaius
Even with the extended range of the hydrophones, it seems like I would have a better shot on the surface. Submerged, I can cruise at let's say 4 knots. On the surface I could do 12. That covers a lot more total area. The question becomes if it's better to cover more area, or a smaller area more effectively.
Edit: I presume my effective visual range is shorter at night. Also, cruising on the surface during the day leads to its own troubles, ie airplanes. It's an interesting problem.
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Well, you don't have to stay submerged the whole time. Just dive long enough for your ears to adjust to the quietness and scan your surroundings. After that you can move and dive at a different location.
The question is in which direction to move, at what speed, and in which interval do you dive-check again. If you move in the same direction of expected enemy trafic, and with similar speed, then the other units still out of range will barely get a chance to enter your sensor area. If you go against the expected traffic direction, then the relative speed between you might be so great that you miss him leaving your sensor area before your next dive. If you move across the expected traffic direction then his speed determines the interval, and gives you more chance of catching a contact in a wider traffic lane. But it still primarily a game of chance and patience.
I did some general calculations some years ago about which interval would be prudent, considering the relative speeds, and how visual compares to hydrophone.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...27#post1021427
p.s. High timecompression is detrimental. It makes the contacts outside of your area jump with bigger leaps through the world. If really high the jumps are large enough to either skip your region entirely, or make them materialize at point blank range. Not good if they have DD friends with them. Airplanes are much faster, so it is more apparent with them at lower timecompression levels. Either they don't seem to be there, or they are already circling your burial-at-sea.