SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post

Azordian · 08-24-06, 11:37 AM

Hello!

In my simple understanding of the u-boat controls that I undertake (mind you, I'm still in the early war), I believe it's impossible to get a distance without the use of sonar ping. Calculating the speed of the wave in water by the time of the outgoing and return ping. But that won't be available until 1942, I believe.

EDIT: I see what you mean now! Ok, there is a way to do this, pre-sonar in the early war.

Once the boat has been spotted by your sonar, you will see a degree of the boat. If the contact moves "away" from you, as your operator informs you, see which way the contact moves in bearing. If caught at 30 degrees, and the contact is moving 31-32-33-34, he's moving away southeast of your position. In general, this is a hard-to-catch target. But you could set yourself to position him at around 320 degrees to yourself and see if you can intercept him. Once you set yourself to this course, see whether the contact moves degrees - if he moves 321-322 or 319-318 - this will inform you whether you are keeping a direct intercept course or if you're 'losing/gaining' on the target.

In an hour or so (since the range of the contact would be between 10-15km), you will begin to get a visual ID on the target. If in heavy fog, that could become incredibly difficult. I once came up on a ship at 400m because of heavy fog, and almost had a collission.

This visual ID will be your basis for attack, to 'see' how much more you need to gain on him, get the manual ID of the ship, distance by 'trig', the angle-to-bow, and the speed of the target. Plot these points, get a general sense of the target's course, and once you reach it make a turn for the attack. Await for him to come at 80-100 angle-to-bow (depends on the side) into your '0' zone and launch your pre-set torpedos. Of course you can launch torpedos at any angle, so long as they're magnetic - but the sure thing is an impact torpedo straight into the fuel tank.

Azordian

08-24-06, 11:37 AM	#2
Azordian Swabbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hello! In my simple understanding of the u-boat controls that I undertake (mind you, I'm still in the early war), I believe it's impossible to get a distance without the use of sonar ping. Calculating the speed of the wave in water by the time of the outgoing and return ping. But that won't be available until 1942, I believe. EDIT: I see what you mean now! Ok, there is a way to do this, pre-sonar in the early war. Once the boat has been spotted by your sonar, you will see a degree of the boat. If the contact moves "away" from you, as your operator informs you, see which way the contact moves in bearing. If caught at 30 degrees, and the contact is moving 31-32-33-34, he's moving away southeast of your position. In general, this is a hard-to-catch target. But you could set yourself to position him at around 320 degrees to yourself and see if you can intercept him. Once you set yourself to this course, see whether the contact moves degrees - if he moves 321-322 or 319-318 - this will inform you whether you are keeping a direct intercept course or if you're 'losing/gaining' on the target. In an hour or so (since the range of the contact would be between 10-15km), you will begin to get a visual ID on the target. If in heavy fog, that could become incredibly difficult. I once came up on a ship at 400m because of heavy fog, and almost had a collission. This visual ID will be your basis for attack, to 'see' how much more you need to gain on him, get the manual ID of the ship, distance by 'trig', the angle-to-bow, and the speed of the target. Plot these points, get a general sense of the target's course, and once you reach it make a turn for the attack. Await for him to come at 80-100 angle-to-bow (depends on the side) into your '0' zone and launch your pre-set torpedos. Of course you can launch torpedos at any angle, so long as they're magnetic - but the sure thing is an impact torpedo straight into the fuel tank. Azordian Last edited by Azordian; 08-24-06 at 11:49 AM.