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Originally Posted by Neal Stevens
Your first statement is correct, as soon as you detect the targets, you need to determine their bearing and course, as best you can, from as far away as possible. The weather and lighting conditions determine how closely you can get while on the surface. If you are in a good position to pull the plug and approach slowly at periscope depth, do so when you are 8000 yards away. If you need to drive out in front on the surface, circle around from a distance. Like you said, you need to get in front of the convoy's patch. When you are on your final approach, sound general quarters.
Are you playing with the map updates on or off? My first suggestion would be play a few missions with the map updates on, you get a feel for the sonar bearings and rate of convergence when you are submerged. When you poke the scope up, you can see the ship icons. Mark them with the pencil and ruler, pull the scope down again. Keep doing this as you close to the intercept point. Don't leave the scope up too long or the escorts will detect it--that is modeled in the game 
With the map updates on, you can see the DD's and their sonar coverage. If they are screening your approach, you may want to dive deep, find a layer, and let them pass. They cannot detect you from their stern, so claw your way back to PD, and quickly get a firing solution on the best available target. You won;t have too much time or your scope will be spotted at close range. If possible, choose overlapping targets. Fire a full salvo, and don't stick around to watch. Go deep and try to get clear. If you want to watch the results, use the external camera.
Hope that helps!
Neal |
Thanks for the tips. I do play with ~77 realism right now. Map updates on. I only use the map updates on right now so I can verify my manual intercept charting and solutions.
Again though, my issue is getting within range and enough time to get a bearing and speed on the convoy in certain situations.
If we take the following example:
When I'm on surface my watch will first spot the destroyers and when I verify I'll see they are gunning RIGHT at me at high speed. I haven't had time to asses the situation, but just noticed the destroyers on the horizon. Do you hit PD and then get bearing and range on the destroyer? Their path is sooooo random as they circle it's usually pointless.
As said leaving the PD up will give away position so I usually in this position will dive to ~40-60 feet and check sonar.The "5000?" on the map represents a range estimation based on SO saying "Warship! Long range!" ...I'll start noticing the merchant contacts soon after so then I will know I have a convoy here.
The question then is....where do I go from here as far as setting up an approach? as far as trying to get a bearing and speed on the convoy? If sonar says merchant is closing do I wait till Medium range and take a quick peak and calculations at PD?
Anyway, any more advice would be great!
Cheers,
Liszt