Interesting Questions about sub tactics and operations in SH3 GWX 2.1

[Der_Boogeyman]

Grußkameraden,

Even though I have lurked on the SUBSIM forums off and on for a while now, this is my first post. I was about to purchase SH4 but after reading the awful reviews and after reviewing all the new mods for SH3, I just had to pull SH3 back off my shelf and I must say the new immersion level is phenomenal! I am playing SH3 GWX on a 42" LCD setup including a small cot and a pot of coffee in my office. I have Das Boot constantly playing in my portable DVD (8"screen) on the desk and between long patrols, I have a copy of "Iron Coffins" by Herbert A. Werner for a good read. My wife hasn't seen me for going on 3 weekends now. (I know, I need to work on that!

I have some questions that maybe some of you can answer, I would not post these if I could come up with an better info as these are generally directed toward SH3 GWX tactics specifically.

My questions are as follows:
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-Up to how many meters away can your pinging be heard? If I ping for depth, say in Scapa Flow, and a destroyer is in the vicinity, how far does he have to be to hear me pinging for depth calcs?

-Anyone know how currents and slack water work in SH3 GWX 2.1?

-Is night proper possible with any moonlight at all? What times are best time for night proper in N. Atlantic?

-Does anyone know of any good articles on how the different torpedoes in SH3 GWX 2.1 work and possibly different scenarios to use them? 90 AoB shots are easy, but how do I set up 0 or 180 AoB shots? Salvo or single shot? Magnetic pistol? Depth level? All my torps bounce off the hull? (One torp hit stern and bounced back hit the stern again, bounced back, hit the stern again an veered off!! Also trying to find info on Flachenabsuchender torped = area searching torpedos.

-Can unescorted convoys radio in your position after you have attacked and/or made your presence known? If so, will you see enemy aircraft of ASW vessels show up because of this?

-What is the critical depth for Type VIIC in GWX 2.1? I can't seem to get past 210m. Anyone else getting better depths in the VIIC

-Do water temperatures matter when it comes to critical depth levels? i.e. can you go deeper in warmer waters, etc.?

-Do merchants and/or armed merchants have Hydrophones or ASDIC? Can I flank submerged unworried around unescorted merchants without being detected?

-I've heard that if I manually move all seaman in the bow in SH3 crew management screen that I can get better crash dive times, is this true?
-Whats the "Crash Dive record"?

-Can escorts hear my torps? At what depth meter and what type of torps are commanders using for destroyers?
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Thank any of you guys for any and all answers to these questions as I put the puzzle together. I am sure it could help other novices. If I could leave anything in return it would be maybe a good read for those who haven't come across the first hand accounts of the fate of U-801:

"After alarm diving, during the following hours the waterbombing persecution [depth charge attack] began -- two days and nights of it. We couldn’t surface to charge our batteries. In these two days and nights we were attacked with about 200 waterbombs.

From the bomb explosions the flange of the diesel motor's incoming air vent broke, and water flooded into the diesel chamber. The men tried to pump out the water with the mobile lenz-pumps. But due to the waterbomb explosions the lenz-, ancillary- and trim-pumps were falling out. The men had to scoop the water by hand into another chamber – the bilge of the central area.

With that much water the boat was sinking deeper. I couldn't believe what I saw. The boat was already 400 meters deep [1,300 feet] under the water. I swear it was 400!"

http://www.uss-corry-dd463.com/d-day_u-boat_photos/u-boat_photos.htm

Farwell und gutes Glück, Kameraden!,

Wolfgang

[Vader 1]

All great questions but may I respectfully suggest using the "search" feature in the forum...all will be answered

Welcome aboard

Vader

[Brag]

Welcome aboard, Der Boogey!

You will find a lot of answers on my Kielman website.

[Sailor Steve]

WELCOME ABOARD!

Originally Posted by Der_Boogeyman

Even though I have lurked on the SUBSIM forums off and on for a while now, this is my first post.

Please don't let it be your last. We like new people to become old hands.

[Penelope_Grey]

Hi there, welcome aboard, a lovely first post too. Ok GWX 2.1... lets see.

-Up to how many meters away can your pinging be heard? If I ping for depth, say in Scapa Flow, and a destroyer is in the vicinity, how far does he have to be to hear me pinging for depth calcs?

Its active sonar that ping which you send to the bottom. The main thing is what condition the enemy ship is in. Is it in Alert condition (actively searching for you) or is it in Standard condition (i.e. going about its normal business.)

If the destroyer is searching for you its listening and or pinging, which means if you send a ping of your own they will hear the origin of said ping. The nearer they are to you, the more dangerous a move this is. Generally speaking when a destroyer is within 2km of your current position then under no circumstances should you ping.

if however you are in the baffles of the destroyer its a different story. Generally speaking, it varies. Also what point in the war are you at? GWX 2.1 simulates advancement in equipment and technology... the later it is in the war the better asdic and hydrophones they have to find you.

That doesn't give a definate answer to your question but its probably the best one can be given. there are a number of factors
Alert status
weather conditions
distance destroyer is to you
whether or not they are listening in your direction
are you behind them

so many variables with this.

Anyone know how currents and slack water work in SH3 GWX 2.1?

Last time I checked, currents and slack water in SH3 are not modeled. If they are and I am mistook, I apologise in advance.

-Is night proper possible with any moonlight at all? What times are best time for night proper in N. Atlantic?

If I am understanding this correctly
It depends where you are.... If you are up by the Denmark straight in summer time, daylight will be practically perpetual except for maybe a couple of hours of moderate dusk.

Other than that the best time for night is when the sun decides to set. lol

Does anyone know of any good articles on how the different torpedoes in SH3 GWX 2.1 work and possibly different scenarios to use them? 90 AoB shots are easy, but how do I set up 0 or 180 AoB shots? Salvo or single shot? Magnetic pistol? Depth level? All my torps bounce off the hull? (One torp hit stern and bounced back hit the stern again, bounced back, hit the stern again an veered off!! Also trying to find info on Flachenabsuchender torped = area searching torpedos.

The best advice I can give you is to look in the GWX Manual, there are sections on the different types of torpedo, and also a manual targetting tutorial. I can manual target (am probably rubbish at it now through lack of practice), but I prefer not to because I find it fiddly and frustrating. I miles prefer to let the computer do it.

If you are going to shoot at the ship head on you need to use magnetic detonators. As far as depth of the torpedo goes. If the ship has a draught of say 10m you need to set the torpedo to run at 11.5 or even 12m Too much and the torp won't detonate.

Too little and well... BOING!!!

-Can unescorted convoys radio in your position after you have attacked and/or made your presence known? If so, will you see enemy aircraft of ASW vessels show up because of this?

Short answer: yes.

Especially in later war this becomes a problem for you. In early war, try sailing through the English Channel. A plane sees you and wait for it, you will have Torpedo boats maybe a frigate looking for you then.

-What is the critical depth for Type VIIC in GWX 2.1? I can't seem to get past 210m. Anyone else getting better depths in the VIIC

Depends on two things, if you are using SH3 Commander 3.0 or later... and you have random crush depths selected... it could be anything... your type VIIC could only manage 180m before crushing, or it might crush at 290m there is no depends with it.

However if you are not... then it could be you have a slight bit of hull damage maybe which is stopping you diving? A VIIC should theoretically be able to cope with a touch more than 210m. Not much though, so 210m sounds about accurate.

-Do water temperatures matter when it comes to critical depth levels? i.e. can you go deeper in warmer waters, etc.?

Water temperature is not modelled as far as I know. If I am wrong I apologise in advance. But from a physics/chemistry point of view, colder water is actually slightly denser than warmer water as the particles are closer together.

-Do merchants and/or armed merchants have Hydrophones or ASDIC? Can I flank submerged unworried around unescorted merchants without being detected?

you can go as fast as you can underwater. Merchant detection capabilities are done visually, if they can't see you they don't know you are there. Just don't stick up your periscope at ahead flank, they will see the wake of it.

-I've heard that if I manually move all seaman in the bow in SH3 crew management screen that I can get better crash dive times, is this true?

Myths and wives tales... Sorry.

-Whats the "Crash Dive record"?

A type IID at 25 seconds.

-Can escorts hear my torps? At what depth meter and what type of torps are commanders using for destroyers?

Yes they can.

In terms of torpedo to use. Varies.

In early war a T1 at fast setting is your best bet, set for a reasonable depth. Destroyers have low drafts anyway, so you need to set it based on what the recognition books says.

In later war an acoustic torpedo with magnetic pistol set to run about 1.5/2m under the keel. just make sure your sub is not making too much noise or else it will come and try to torpedo you... believe me I know. lol Fire it, then submerge to a safe depth.

[Murr44]

A thermal layer mod is included with the SH 3 Commander add-on.

[Pisces]

I thought you could ping depth at your hearts content and get away with it because warships forget to listen. Somebody reported he pinged depth when a destroyer was at pointblank range. No twitch!

[Laufen zum Ziel]

Welcome aboard,

ALL Silent Hunter sims are great. It's the Modders
of both Sims (3 & 4) that make them greater.

To learn more about these sims and our modders visit my below site.

YES: I never give up the chance to promote it.....

[onelifecrisis]

Thanks for the info on pings, PG. I had read otherwise on these forums, but I'm glad to find out that you can in fact be detected! Finally, I can ping for depth (until now I didn't do so cos I thought I was "cheating").

[KeptinCranky]

Crash Dive records:

Pen's post got me wondering about something...

25 seconds in a IId is not that fast, what i did: went decks awash by ordering depth 7 meters, speed 7 knots (this is only 5 knots actual because of more drag) then ordered crashdive

18 seconds for the boat to pass 15 meters, 25 seconds to pass 20 and be relatively safe from bombs

If you ever find yourself in the Black Sea in 1944 you'll be grateful for this info

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

Thanks for the info on pings, PG. I had read otherwise on these forums, but I'm glad to find out that you can in fact be detected! Finally, I can ping for depth (until now I didn't do so cos I thought I was "cheating").

News to me :hmm: .....wasn't aware they could hear you.....and I'm a right little old pinger :p

Welcome aboard Kaleun Der_Boogeyman