Depth Charging without pinging

TwoGamers · 05-24-13, 09:40 PM

I have just started a new career with GWX and I decided to scout out the port of Plymouth pre-war, and upon finding that there were two targets of value in port I decided to wait until hostilities against great Britain commenced to shoot at them. I waited for a few days just outside Plymouth, out of site of any vessels. When war was declared I began to sail towards Plymouth.

Just five minutes later my Watch crew spotted a warship. I dived to avoid being spotted and went to silent running. A few about 10 minutes later the Patrol Vessel had been joined by a speedboat and was circling around. I was at periscope depth and going at 3 knots on silent running. I lost contact with the British ships, then the Patrol Craft, without pinging me, dropped several depth charges almost directly on top of me without warning. Luckily they missed me, but it almost brought an abrupt end to the career.

So my Question is, does this happen often in GWX? I was heading a bit faster (3 knots instead of the 2 knots that silent running puts you at) and I had sent a status report to BdU about ten minutes before war was declared. Could they have detected my position from that? They only depth charged me once before going away. Just wondering because the depth charges were as I mentioned almost spot on and they didn't ping me once. Thanks

GoldenRivet · 05-24-13, 10:27 PM

If you were running at 3 knots you weren't "silent" they didn't have to ping you, they just had to drop depth charges on the only spot in the ocean making propeller noises.

Silent running just means stop all unnecessary noise (fans, pumps, giggling about playing grabass etc)

Silent speed on the other hand is anything under 50 revolutions... ie about 1 knot. At 3 knots in a VIIC you're cranking out 125 revolutions. More than enough swoosh swoosh sound to be picked up be passive sonar

You can run ahead flank at silent running... Or even ahead standard, but in doing so you're essentially just telling the crew to be quiet while you make as much noise as possible

TwoGamers · 05-24-13, 10:45 PM

Thankyou, I feel like an idiot

GoldenRivet · 05-24-13, 10:57 PM

no need... i only know by making the same error

you're enlightened now however

HW3 · 05-24-13, 11:03 PM

Yes they picked you up by hydrophone, pinging indicates ASDIC use, a different way of finding you under water.

Not all warships carry ASDIC.

Luno · 05-24-13, 11:22 PM

The RPM gauges are also visible within the command room, just in case you want to double-check.

Early-war, you might get away with 100rpm.

And of course, if you suspect a destroyer is on an attack run to your location, firewall it and get out of the way, and go silent as the bombs go off, hopefully safely behind you.

LittleOwl60 · 05-26-13, 11:22 AM

Can i just say i had the same thing happen to me. So that answer was a great help. Thanks a lot.

05-24-13, 09:40 PM	#1
TwoGamers Officer Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 240 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Depth Charging without pinging I have just started a new career with GWX and I decided to scout out the port of Plymouth pre-war, and upon finding that there were two targets of value in port I decided to wait until hostilities against great Britain commenced to shoot at them. I waited for a few days just outside Plymouth, out of site of any vessels. When war was declared I began to sail towards Plymouth. Just five minutes later my Watch crew spotted a warship. I dived to avoid being spotted and went to silent running. A few about 10 minutes later the Patrol Vessel had been joined by a speedboat and was circling around. I was at periscope depth and going at 3 knots on silent running. I lost contact with the British ships, then the Patrol Craft, without pinging me, dropped several depth charges almost directly on top of me without warning. Luckily they missed me, but it almost brought an abrupt end to the career. So my Question is, does this happen often in GWX? I was heading a bit faster (3 knots instead of the 2 knots that silent running puts you at) and I had sent a status report to BdU about ten minutes before war was declared. Could they have detected my position from that? They only depth charged me once before going away. Just wondering because the depth charges were as I mentioned almost spot on and they didn't ping me once. Thanks

05-24-13, 10:27 PM	#2
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	If you were running at 3 knots you weren't "silent" they didn't have to ping you, they just had to drop depth charges on the only spot in the ocean making propeller noises. Silent running just means stop all unnecessary noise (fans, pumps, giggling about playing grabass etc) Silent speed on the other hand is anything under 50 revolutions... ie about 1 knot. At 3 knots in a VIIC you're cranking out 125 revolutions. More than enough swoosh swoosh sound to be picked up be passive sonar You can run ahead flank at silent running... Or even ahead standard, but in doing so you're essentially just telling the crew to be quiet while you make as much noise as possible __________________

05-24-13, 10:57 PM	#4
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	no need... i only know by making the same error you're enlightened now however __________________

05-24-13, 11:03 PM	#5
HW3 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gresham Oregon Posts: 6,574 Downloads: 458 Uploads: 0	Yes they picked you up by hydrophone, pinging indicates ASDIC use, a different way of finding you under water. Not all warships carry ASDIC. __________________ "Some ships are designed to sink...others require our assistance." Nathan Zelk

05-24-13, 11:22 PM	#6
Luno Ensign Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 234 Downloads: 123 Uploads: 0	The RPM gauges are also visible within the command room, just in case you want to double-check. Early-war, you might get away with 100rpm. And of course, if you suspect a destroyer is on an attack run to your location, firewall it and get out of the way, and go silent as the bombs go off, hopefully safely behind you. __________________ Career: Feb. 13, 1942 "Cpt. Johny Goodwood" Porpoise class: USS Shark, SS-174 Patrols: 2 Victories: 1 Merchants (4519 GRT), 0 Warships (0 GRT), 0 Aircraft Sunk with all hands lost.

05-24-13, 10:45 PM	#3
TwoGamers Officer Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 240 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Thankyou, I feel like an idiot

05-26-13, 11:22 AM	#7
LittleOwl60 Bilge Rat Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 1 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	Can i just say i had the same thing happen to me. So that answer was a great help. Thanks a lot.