Can we talk about Periscopes??

[fastfed]

I always see pictures of real u-boats on the surface and they usually always have 1 or both of their periscopes UP, extended either all the way or half way..

What was the point of this? I can only think they were getting a better view because of the vantage point, but is this true?

Finally..I seem to NEVER use my OB. Periscope during the game. I always using my attack scope.. Is there a reason to look at the other one? I mean I understand it can tilt up to see the sky, but would that be the only reason for it?

THANKS!

[Pisces]

The observation periscope had a larger entry opening. (I'm talking real-life optics here) That makes more light pass through and helps you better see contrast. The attack periscope was much smaller to prevent detection (physical size, or wake generation). But that also makes it less to not usefull in dark situations, or where you need magnification. Because when a small piece of sky is stretched out due to magnification, also the light intensity level per square arcminute get's diminished before it enters your eye.

Indeed, if the view opening is higher, your viewable horizon also extends further. Allowing earlier detection. But these reasons have their tradeoff.

[fastfed]

I would assume the trade off's would be obvious..

Most pictures I see of U-boats are either leaving port or entering.. And they ALL mostly have their scopes/scope UP

??

[HW3]

There is always this reason

[sergei]

Originally Posted by fastfed

Finally..I seem to NEVER use my OB. Periscope during the game. I always using my attack scope

Many of the GUI mods change this.
I know both ACM reloaded and MacGui do.
The attack scope is smaller and lets in less light.
The Obscope has a larger view, and lets in more light, may even have a filter on it.
Good for low light conditions.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by fastfed

I would assume the trade off's would be obvious..

Most pictures I see of U-boats are either leaving port or entering.. And they ALL mostly have their scopes/scope UP

??

The are entering or leaving port, and having their pictures taken. The reason they put everything up then is because it looks cool for the picture! No other reason.

Here is what The Uboat Commander's Handbook has to say about raised periscopes.:

"23.) The periscope should not be used in daylight, on the surface, except special circumstances (for example, in remote sea areas; also as under No. 24). It is the raised periscope on the surface that makes the typical submarine silhouette. Similarly, on submerging in daylight, the periscope should not be raised until the submarine is well below the surface. In the same way, the submarine should not surface during the day, before the periscope has been lowered.

24.) If, for urgent reasons, such as overhauling, it should become imperatively necessary to raise the periscope by day when the submarine is on the surface, the additional height of the raised periscope can be used in suitable weather to send up a look-out with binoculars, provided that surprise attacks by hostile airplanes are not to be anticipated. If the weather clear and the sea calm, advantage can be taken of the raising of the periscope, for an all-round view. On account of the relatively week magnification of the periscope, however, and of the almost inevitable vibrations and movement of the vessel, this seldom serves a useful purpose. The danger of betraying oneself by the raised periscope is greater."

The Type IID can easily give the false impression of a raised periscope, as the housing is quite high as compared to other types.

[papa_smurf]

There is always this reason

"Bernard get down from there right now!"

[Pisces]

But then the question raises, does he look on the frontside, or on the rear?

[Jankowski]

Talk of periscopes is prohibited in these forums.

[K-61]

A while back I participated in a discussion about scopes over at Ubi. I looked up that old thread; here it is for those who are interested:

http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/t...3/m/3841097728

I did see an article somewhere, online or in a book, which discussed the merits and disadvantages of raising the scope while surfaced. I can't find it at the moment, but I do recall some of the main points. In the Pacific, the Americans used this method, as their war got easier over time. The Japanese simply did not invest much into ASW vessels and technology. The Allies in the Atlantic theater did make it harder for the Germans, investing vast resources into escorts, patrol planes and technology. The technique of using raised scopes for further viewing by U-boats actually made the U-boat easier to detect. It raised their silhouette against the horizon; observers on an escort were higher above the water than a U-boat and could see further. As well, once radar went to sea, raised scopes increased the signature of a surfaced U-boat.

The real solution to detecting Allied shipping was very simple: allocate more long range patrol planes to reconnaisance. As they travelled higher and faster than a U-boat, they could detect convoys and report them to BdU. Because of Goering's jealous hoarding of "anything that flew" the U-bootwaffe was deprived of essential reconaissance. It actually worked out that the U-boats detected more convoys for the Luftwaffe to attack then the other way round!