Decks Awash

[DRuSuffa]

A question to all those in the know...

For real life and simulator purposes; In a VIIb sub or any sub for that matter would surface travelling having only the con tower exposed and the decks awash (say depth 7m) cause any identification confusion for the enemy?

Possibly mistaking the sub for a small boat causing the enemy to overlook the possibility of enemy sub attack?

obviously this only applying with calm seas and no fore and aft rocking

Or am I just kidding myself when doing this and just wasting precious diesel due to extra drag in the water. I have observed the sub in external view from a distance and personally think the con tower causes a wake mimicking a bow wake which in turn appears as a small boat. I order depth to 7m because its as deep as the sub can go before the watch crew goes below and shuts the hatch for submersion.

(sigh the MORE SMILIES is not currently working) I wanted to add the lurking sub right ^^^ here

[RConch]

Pretty much most of the players do this also. I think it works.

A lot depends on whether or not they have radar on the escorts.

Decks awash can be useful during a night surface attack against a convoy but I find it very inefficient and impracticle. Cruising this way makes the boat significantly slower thus reduces the chance of bumping into enemy merchants by accident, not to mention that you unnecessarily waste a lot of fuel.

[Fahnenbohn]

Originally Posted by allievo

... not to mention that you unnecessarily waste a lot of fuel.

Really ? Do you have a proof, or did you read this somewhere ?

[Aktungbby]

Well in several of the games from AoD, SH II and SH V the top speed is reduced when awash which would create more resistance; whether the AI fuel consumption is programmed to reflect this 'added drag' is unknown to me. Found this reference to 'decks awash'

... command of Captain Genichi Shibata, was much faster than Agwiworld, the Japanese faced a dilemma. The swells were heavy at the time, and Shibata knew that an attempt to overtake the fleeing American tanker with I-23‘s decks awash would affect his gun’s accuracy and could even result in the loss of some gun crewmen.

http://www.historynet.com/japanese-submarines-prowl-the-us-pacific-coastline-in-1941.htm Some useful propaganda: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref/Lookouts/ "At night, submarines often lay to with their decks awash while charging batteries. If the sea is not too rough, they may cruise with the decks awash. In this condition, a submarine can make a crash dive in a matter of seconds. A submarine awash presents a very small target, and this makes a lookout's job still more difficult. When awash, a submarine often has a long streak of foam both forward and abaft the conning tower. On very dark nights, this foam may be more visible than the conning tower itself."

[DRuSuffa]

Thanx for the feedback all. Aktungbby that is very useful info and interesting read, good to know. As for the extra fuel consumption: Just get your Nav officer to do a max travel distance report whilst surfaced and then again at decks awash at same speed of course and you will notice a reduction of around 1000k give or take (depending on which boat/current speed etc.) at decks awash.



what Ive gathered so far about DECKS AWASH

pros: smaller target, quicker submersion, ? stealth

cons: slight speed reduction, greater fuel consumption, reduced accuracy for deckguns if at all possible (I usually surface the boat for use of deckguns)

Here I guess a poll would be helpful those for and those against travelling enemy waters at decks awash as opposed to just surface cruising.... Or maybe just THOSE WHO DO and THOSE WHO DONT.

[Fahnenbohn]

Originally Posted by DRuSuffa

As for the extra fuel consumption: Just get your Nav officer to do a max travel distance report whilst surfaced and then again at decks awash at same speed of course and you will notice a reduction of around 1000k give or take (depending on which boat/current speed etc.) at decks awash.

OK, thanks. I'll try this.

[RConch]

Using decks awash is only for approaching and attacking a convoy or single, perhaps armed, ship. It is not used for just patrolling around looking for targets. The amount of fuel lost is minimal.

[UKönig]

I'm not sure how useful 'decks awash' would be for the game environment, but in the novel "das boot" the captain uses it to conceal his approach into Vigo, Spain. The idea was described as extra camouflage to disguise the U-boat profile against the dark coastline. Always remember your background, the old rule! But does the game make the distinction? Not everyone's eyesight is the same, it may be easier or harder to fool some people. Does the game consider such a factor in its program? I would think, unlikely, but if it did, then my respect for the programmers would go up considerably.

[DRuSuffa]

Originally Posted by UKönig

I'm not sure how useful 'decks awash' would be for the game environment, but in the novel "das boot" the captain uses it to conceal his approach into Vigo, Spain. The idea was described as extra camouflage to disguise the U-boat profile against the dark coastline. Always remember your background, the old rule! But does the game make the distinction? Not everyone's eyesight is the same, it may be easier or harder to fool some people. Does the game consider such a factor in its program? I would think, unlikely, but if it did, then my respect for the programmers would go up considerably.

This is exactly why I posted ^^^ .. I'm with you on this UKonig greater respect for the programmers if this form of stealth does factor into the game environment.