Hydrophone Question

[Segwin]

While on patrol yesterday we picked up a slow moving contact. I went to the hydrophone to listen but there was no sound. The freighter was doing about three knots. This has happened a few times as of late.

Can the hydrophone pickup a slow moving contact or is something gone sour with the install?

TMO & RSRD V.1.5

[LeeVanSpliff]

Were you submerged when listening? Also, do you have realistic sensor thingie enabled?

[Segwin]

Originally Posted by LeeVanSpliff

Were you submerged when listening? Also, do you have realistic sensor thingie enabled?

Yes and yes.

[LeeVanSpliff]

Hmm. Maybe the range at which you can make out a slow moving contact also diminishes with realistic sensors? Been thinking about it myself, and from what I've gathered (and I might very well be wrong) slow ships make nearly the same noise as they do when going at higher speed, just less frequent. At least I can't tell the difference from a freighter going steadily at 8 knots to going about 10 in vain hopes of escape after I blow up his buddy on how loud the propeller sound is.

[wetwarev7]

Three knots is pretty slow. I would think that it is realistic for the faster a ship goes, the further away you could hear it. Part of 'running silent' is slowing the sub down so the props don't cavitate and whatnot, so I would think the same applies to surface ships. Going at a slow speed would also lessen the noise of the waves hitting the ships prow as well.

Now the question is, is it realistic for a merchant vessel to be traveling that slowly in sub infested waters? :hmm:

[Schroeder]

I have this bug quite frequently. I dive to periscopedepth and don't hear a thing even though the freighter is close to my (the AI sonarguy can be tricked into following it though, just tell him to do a normal sweep and then order him to report contacts)

I'm using 1.4 with RFB.

[banjo]

I've always thought and still do that the sound guy is a putz. Sometimes he gives me no contact with a DD churning around 500 yds away. Or he'll give me a no contact on such and such a bearing when there are ships close by. HOwever, if I manually rotate the sound head and focus on a target and hit that target select thingy--then the dumb s--- will give me a contact. So proud of himself.

[Segwin]

Originally Posted by banjo

I've always thought and still do that the sound guy is a putz. Sometimes he gives me no contact with a DD churning around 500 yds away. Or he'll give me a no contact on such and such a bearing when there are ships close by. HOwever, if I manually rotate the sound head and focus on a target and hit that target select thingy--then the dumb s--- will give me a contact. So proud of himself.

That's why I always give a listen myself.

Just weird not picking up any noise when the freighter is out there.

[Arclight]

Well, I sometimes get a contact reported and when I listen myself I hear nothing, but the light on top of the set lights up indicating a contact. Maybe result of "super" sonarguy? (AI picking up contact before you can actually hear it). Only happens at long ranges though.

Also happens sometimes happens in heavy storms with even the closest of contacts. Probably due to sea state. (or so I reason)

[aanker]

Originally Posted by Segwin

While on patrol yesterday we picked up a slow moving contact. I went to the hydrophone to listen but there was no sound. The freighter was doing about three knots. This has happened a few times as of late.

Can the hydrophone pickup a slow moving contact or is something gone sour with the install?

TMO & RSRD V.1.5

Originally Posted by Segwin

Yes and yes.

I think less than 5 kts they are harder to pick up. I followed a US Maru at Midway while at periscope depth within 2,000 yds and couldn't hear him moving at 5 kts and intially thought there was a problem with my sonar until I heard others moving faster with no problem.

I guess that's good news for us while evading the ASW.

Happy Hunting!

Art