Depth Charges: Strategies to escape

DigitalAura · 09-03-09, 12:26 PM

In one of my other threads, STEAMWAKE had referenced the hedgehog weapon in a discussion about depth charges and ASW.

the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog_(weapon)

I noticed this :

Quote:

"When a depth charge explodes it can take 15 minutes before the disturbance can settle down enough that sonar becomes effective"

Does this play out the same in SH4? I wasn't aware that charges rendered PASSIVE SONAR useless for a spell. Do you guys hit the gas when you hear charges? What are your strategies in escaping from them? Should you stay silent? Does it depend on how close they are to your whereabouts? [beg pardon, I know there are probably umpteen topics related, but I didn't get far tyring to answer this question specifically about slipping away during depth charging]

Sailor Steve · 09-03-09, 12:52 PM

Active sonar was also disrupted by clouds of bubbles formed from underwater explosions. Both were also inefective at speeds greater than about twelve knots (this was increased to around 18 later in the war). This is not reflected in the game.

I don't know about the "15 minutes" part though - I was under the impression that it was 1-2 minutes at best. Don't know for sure, though.

ETR3(SS) · 09-03-09, 01:33 PM

I'd say the 1-2 minutes sounds more accurate than 15mins. It's all about what noise is in the water!

DigitalAura · 09-03-09, 02:34 PM

so... I guess what I'm asking is... what is the best way to slink away.

When the enemy is pinging... they already have your location right? So do you just give it all the gas?

When they are stopped, they are 'listening'...so you need to be silent. That's easy, but I can never figure out what to do when they're using ASDIC.

Horatio Nelson · 09-03-09, 02:41 PM

deploy decoys as a trap !!

kind regards , Horatio

Raven08 · 09-03-09, 03:20 PM

"Pray"

Diopos · 09-03-09, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalAura

so... I guess what I'm asking is... what is the best way to slink away.

When the enemy is pinging... they already have your location right? So do you just give it all the gas?

When they are stopped, they are 'listening'...so you need to be silent. That's easy, but I can never figure out what to do when they're using ASDIC.

Minimize your "profile" towards the "pinging" ship, ie try to keep it at 0 or 180 relative bearing (point your bow or stern towards it).

Armistead · 09-03-09, 09:07 PM

Go deep below the thermal layer...Overall, and mod's differ you can easily go another 100 below default.

After I shoot, I go flank and deep and turn away to get out as fast as I can. They are headed for your shooting point. If you can escape the circle of death before they arrive...much better. Once they get close to your shooting point go silent and keep a narrow profile to the nearest ship.

Yes, go flank and turn about 20 degree's when a ship passes over, they should fall behind. I found 20 degree's get's you out of the way of the Y guns and the back ones. If you turn too hard, you may get hit with the Y guns. Main thing is to break the circle of death.

If you're playing stock....you have decoys. Use them, but again a mild turn is in order.

You just have to find a balance of speed, depth, ect. If you're playing TMO the escorts are much harder.

V.C. Sniper · 09-03-09, 09:17 PM

Go deeper...

DigitalAura · 09-04-09, 08:10 AM

Thanks Armistead (again). I'd love to watch over your shoulders some time... this seems like good advice. I was wondering how the methods in real life (like turning to 0 / 180) translated into the game.
I don't have any decoys (perhaps there arent any in TMO?) so i have to get the hell outta Dodge before the circle of death closes me in.

So...

1/ reverse course (get away from shooting location)
2/ FLANK SPEED and DIVE DEEP (to get under thermal layer) until they arrive at shooting location.
3/ silent running, keeping 0/180 degrees to the closest ASW unit.

(When you say 20 degrees, does it matter whether it's 20 or 340?)

Sailor Steve · 09-04-09, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalAura

When the enemy is pinging... they already have your location right? So do you just give it all the gas?

No, it just means they are looking. Stay slow until you actually hear the DD's engines overhead. At that point, due to the fact that sonar has a limit to the angle it can aim downward, they can't hear you anymore. They are effectively dropping 'blind'. That's when you go to flank speed, turn hard one direction or the other, and drop 20 metres or more. Then go silent again.

SteamWake · 09-04-09, 01:42 PM

Its been an sop for a long time, due to knowing the DD is basically deaf during its 'run' and for a bit of time there after.

The sop is if your in the way of his DC run... first say a prayer then ring up to flank and throw the rudder hard to port or starbord. Continue the run at flank and build up some momentum untill the cans are finishing making a racket then straighten out the rudder and drop back to a couple of knots.

Its pretty easy to tell when they start their run, they cruise around a bit then straighten out and hit flank. You can follow this on sonar easy.

Of course if he isnt even really close just maintain your present course and speed.

Ive escaped a few times alive doing this. In deeper water of course :rotfl:

Armistead · 09-04-09, 02:07 PM

I don't throw hard either way. The ships of RSRD often have 6 Y guns that fire way off to the side, turning hard often puts you right in the bullseye. This also slows you down, why a smaller turn will not.
That's why I just turn about 20%, enough to miss the sterns, but not so much that you turn into the sidethrowers. Plus I want to stay on a course out of their search zone and not keep turning into it.

Either way doesn't matter as far as turning. I play with cams off, so I just listen to sonar and when they pass, crank it out of there.

With TMO, you get decoys late war as was historically correct. When I do have them I will drop them before I pass the thermal layer.

Armistead · 09-04-09, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalAura

Thanks Armistead (again). I'd love to watch over your shoulders some time... this seems like good advice. I was wondering how the methods in real life (like turning to 0 / 180) translated into the game.
I don't have any decoys (perhaps there arent any in TMO?) so i have to get the hell outta Dodge before the circle of death closes me in.

So...

1/ reverse course (get away from shooting location)
2/ FLANK SPEED and DIVE DEEP (to get under thermal layer) until they arrive at shooting location.
3/ silent running, keeping 0/180 degrees to the closest ASW unit.

(When you say 20 degrees, does it matter whether it's 20 or 340?)

Works most the time, but obvious sometimes you shoot closer in. I always take time on my approach and pick the weakest point to attack. The best way to escape dd's is learn tactics to where you never have to deal with them.

Highbury · 09-04-09, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

After I shoot, I go flank and deep and turn away to get out as fast as I can.

I am no expert but to me this just sounds bad. As soon as you release you are going to flank and telling the escorts you are there. Convoy starts zig-zagging while torps are en-route, DDs coming at you pinging.. yeah... just all bad. Why would you want to be so loud at such a time?

Why not go slowly at least until your torps impact. Then by the time they know you are out there you are no longer at the firing point. I like to be two thermal layers down before they have any idea I am there.

I fire, dive and turn away while still silent running at slow speed. Most times I can slip away and they will never know where I was. (TMO)

09-03-09, 12:52 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Active sonar was also disrupted by clouds of bubbles formed from underwater explosions. Both were also inefective at speeds greater than about twelve knots (this was increased to around 18 later in the war). This is not reflected in the game. I don't know about the "15 minutes" part though - I was under the impression that it was 1-2 minutes at best. Don't know for sure, though. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

09-03-09, 01:33 PM	#3
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	I'd say the 1-2 minutes sounds more accurate than 15mins. It's all about what noise is in the water! __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.

09-03-09, 02:34 PM	#4
DigitalAura Straight and True Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: CANADA Posts: 276 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	so... I guess what I'm asking is... what is the best way to slink away. When the enemy is pinging... they already have your location right? So do you just give it all the gas? When they are stopped, they are 'listening'...so you need to be silent. That's easy, but I can never figure out what to do when they're using ASDIC. __________________ ... ALL YOUR BEACH ARE BELONG TO US! ...

09-03-09, 02:41 PM	#5
Horatio Nelson Seaman Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arnhem Posts: 32 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Deploy Decoys as a trap deploy decoys as a trap !! kind regards , Horatio

09-03-09, 03:20 PM	#6
Raven08 Seaman Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 37 Downloads: 80 Uploads: 0	"Pray" __________________

09-03-09, 09:07 PM	#8
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Go deep below the thermal layer...Overall, and mod's differ you can easily go another 100 below default. After I shoot, I go flank and deep and turn away to get out as fast as I can. They are headed for your shooting point. If you can escape the circle of death before they arrive...much better. Once they get close to your shooting point go silent and keep a narrow profile to the nearest ship. Yes, go flank and turn about 20 degree's when a ship passes over, they should fall behind. I found 20 degree's get's you out of the way of the Y guns and the back ones. If you turn too hard, you may get hit with the Y guns. Main thing is to break the circle of death. If you're playing stock....you have decoys. Use them, but again a mild turn is in order. You just have to find a balance of speed, depth, ect. If you're playing TMO the escorts are much harder.

09-03-09, 09:17 PM	#9
V.C. Sniper Watch Officer Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 339 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Go deeper... __________________ I only need one torpedo.

09-04-09, 08:10 AM	#10
DigitalAura Straight and True Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: CANADA Posts: 276 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Thanks Armistead (again). I'd love to watch over your shoulders some time... this seems like good advice. I was wondering how the methods in real life (like turning to 0 / 180) translated into the game. I don't have any decoys (perhaps there arent any in TMO?) so i have to get the hell outta Dodge before the circle of death closes me in. So... 1/ reverse course (get away from shooting location) 2/ FLANK SPEED and DIVE DEEP (to get under thermal layer) until they arrive at shooting location. 3/ silent running, keeping 0/180 degrees to the closest ASW unit. (When you say 20 degrees, does it matter whether it's 20 or 340?) __________________ ... ALL YOUR BEACH ARE BELONG TO US! ...

09-04-09, 01:42 PM	#12
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Its been an sop for a long time, due to knowing the DD is basically deaf during its 'run' and for a bit of time there after. The sop is if your in the way of his DC run... first say a prayer then ring up to flank and throw the rudder hard to port or starbord. Continue the run at flank and build up some momentum untill the cans are finishing making a racket then straighten out the rudder and drop back to a couple of knots. Its pretty easy to tell when they start their run, they cruise around a bit then straighten out and hit flank. You can follow this on sonar easy. Of course if he isnt even really close just maintain your present course and speed. Ive escaped a few times alive doing this. In deeper water of course :rotfl: __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

09-04-09, 02:07 PM	#13
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	I don't throw hard either way. The ships of RSRD often have 6 Y guns that fire way off to the side, turning hard often puts you right in the bullseye. This also slows you down, why a smaller turn will not. That's why I just turn about 20%, enough to miss the sterns, but not so much that you turn into the sidethrowers. Plus I want to stay on a course out of their search zone and not keep turning into it. Either way doesn't matter as far as turning. I play with cams off, so I just listen to sonar and when they pass, crank it out of there. With TMO, you get decoys late war as was historically correct. When I do have them I will drop them before I pass the thermal layer.