What periscope is the most discreet?

[Pepe le Moko]

I always try to keep the periscope up for the shortest time to avoid being detected and usually used the observation periscope until the last moment when i switched to the attack scope, but now i am not sure anymore whether that's a good idea or not.

Which one is the less likely to get detected?
Also which one is in the conning tower and which one is in the control room?

[Torplexed]

The observation scope's head is slightly larger, but from a distance the difference would be negligible. A lookout would most likely sight either periscope's spray or 'feather' before seeing the periscope itself.

The attack scope was located at the commander's battle post in the conning tower.

[A Very Super Market]

Go watch Das Boot!

Yeah, the difference is negligible, because they don't try and spot the periscope itself, just its wake. RADAR probably won't differentiate in-game either.

The conning tower periscope is the Attack Periscope. You'll notice that it swivels around at a lower rate than the Observation one. And has a few more bars, but I don't really use them.

[Pepe le Moko]

I just watched it yesterday

So what's the point of the observation periscope if it is not more discreet? it is higher above the waves?

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Pepe le Moko

I just watched it yesterday

So what's the point of the observation periscope if it is not more discreet? it is higher above the waves?

In real life it had wider angle of view and allowed more light in the periscope. Unlike the attack periscope it's capable of viewing above the sub and searching the sky for aircraft. It can perform this function in the game too.

[Otto Heinzmeir]

I used to use the observation scope to watch the escorts overhead if I was playing in clear water. I play in denser water now and just listen for the escorts engines to rev. Great fun watching the DC cans falling down. Oh and of course you only need to raise it about a foot or so and then just pivot up.

[Hitman]

In real life it had wider angle of view and allowed more light in the periscope. Unlike the attack periscope it's capable of viewing above the sub and searching the sky for aircraft. It can perform this function in the game too.

Sorry to play smartass here, but both attack and observation periscope had the same field of view and zoom levels. The chief difference was the size of the head, for reduced chances of being spotted in the attack scope versus the observation scope, and hence the light transmission level. The attack scope offered a darker view because of that lower light admission when compared to the observation one, but no other differences existed. (Well, the observation scope admitted a binocular view thanks to an auxiliary prism whereas the attack scope didn't, but that depended on models)

The ability to use the observation scope for scanning the sky upwards -which the attack one couldn't do- is correct

In real life the commanders used the observation scope for submerged attacks:

1) At night

2) At day when they were still far from the target (Say from 4-5000 metres onwards). This allowed better observation of the details of the enemy, plus keeping a better watch for aircrafts. Once they were getting closer than 4000 metres, they switched to the attack scope and used it sparingly.

This is also the reason why the graded reticles in the scopes were different, the attack scope one having less divisions because of the shorter distances it was meant to be used.

[Sailor Steve]

The other main point of the Observation Periscope is that it is in the control room, so the captain can use it anytime. To get the feel for this, never use the F3 and O buttons. To use the Obs Scope, just click on it from the control room. To use the Attack Scope, click on the Conning Tower hatch, click on the A-scope, then click on the prism.

See the difference now?

[PappyCain]

I think I read somewhere that the U-Boats used the observation scope at night as it gathered more light and in misty and fog situations.

[Captain Birdseye]

How do I use to obs scope?

i've always used the attack scope, I never knew a U-boat had two periscopes!

[Sailor Steve]

1) Click on the Obs Scope right there in the control room.

2) Press key 'O'.

To raise and lower the Obs Scope use the 'Del' and 'Ins' keys. You'd be amazed how many people try to use the 'Page up' and 'Page Down' and complain "I hear the scope, but it doesn't go up!"

[sharkbit]

Don't forget:
CTRL+INSERT/DELETE/PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN makes the appropriate scope motor full up or down without having to keep holding the key.

Hitting INSERT/DELETE/PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN allows you to make small adjustments to how high the scope is.
I use that when I get close to the target and start dipping my scope to minimize scope exposure.

[danurve]

Originally Posted by Pepe le Moko

Which one is the less likely to get detected?
Also which one is in the conning tower and which one is in the control room?

Either as long as it's barely out of the water, and just when you need it.

Attack - conning
Obs. - control room

[Oneshot/Onekill]

In R/L the observation periscope was the preferred scope in low light or low visibility obsevation of the target, it allowed more light into the prism and it could elevate at a much higher angle. Many Kaluens used it for night submerged attacks.

The attack periscope had a smaller prism, but at a higher magnefication, and could give much more detailed information about the target to input into the Vorhaltrechner.

[Sailor Steve]

All true except this:

Originally Posted by Oneshot/Onekill

...but at a higher magnefication...

All periscopes had the same magnification - 1.5x and 6x.