Thank you for explaining this to me. So, whenever I get the message we're being pinged, I am already discovered...in that case, I might as well go ahead flank and do a hard rudder turn for a few seconds. At least that would give me some speed before the DC's start coming down.
I didn't know running at PD would help me here, and frankly I am somewhat skeptical since I often operate at PD with the periscope down. I'll try this and see if it really makes a difference. Maybe infiltrating a convoy head-on with periscope down but at PD will still work?
How does one know when the thermal layer is reached? I also never dare to dive below 160m because of the nervous message "We're close to critical depth, sir!" my crew bleats out. I have a Type VIIC.
As for torpedoes, well, sooner or later I do have to unleash those! My torpedo load is becoming more and more dependent on magnetic pistols. I now have FaT and TIII as my main weapons, though a few TI's are stocked for use in rough weather.
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You regularly get pinged? Wow, it seldom happens for me. Of course I keep my boats speed to 3kts or less and rig for silent running if in danger. Faster speeds if avoiding DC's for a brief period. Hearing the sound means they picked up something funny on their hydrophones and their checking it out on active. Do they have you? Not usually but it depends on what year you're in. From my understanding, the faster the pings the better the certainty is of your doom.
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I'm now in early 1943 and from the end of 1942 onwards I found that the enemy has finally gotten the hang of it. They do not always pursue to kill, but their actions are often enough to ruin any chances of catching the convoy again. Doing an end-around is difficult since the enemy ships and air units are equipped with HF/DF and superior radar. For the first years my tactic was usually to infiltrate a convoy from up front, then turn 90 degrees and end up perpendicular to the columns of the convoy. Now however, the front escort is often capable of detecting me at depths ranging from PD to 50-60 meters. I only rarely get by him now. Infiltrating from the sides is also difficult because of the speed difference.
I usually travel 3 knots or less when submerged but I have even been found while running silently at 2-3 knots at depths of around 140-160m!
In the early years, all counteractions I needed to take were simple: go deeper, run silent and make a slight course alteration - you'll get away eventually. Now, in 1943, this is no longer enough! Whenever I'm aware of DD's in attack runs I have to go to ahead flank and do a rigorous turn as well as change my depth somewhat. After one minute I slow down again as the disturbances in the water caused by the explosions from the DC's are wearing off.
Kind regards,
Eichenlaub