A few questions

[Buck_O]

What advantage would there be in using passive vs. active search mode by your torpedo?
It seems to me that active just broadcasts the presence of your torp more obviously by its pinging. However I find that no matter what mode I go with, the target is aware of my torp, & dumping countermeasures.
Perhaps I need to try using passive & limit torpedo speed to a crawl. That way it could truly sneak up on my target. Ill give that a go.

On the opposite side, if you find a torp in the water, what countermeasure to use? I just put a passive & an active between me and threat and run. I don't understand the science behind passive & active countermeasures. Do you use passive cm if you think that the enemy does not know your position, & active if your certain they do?
Is there a good book that somene might reccomend that explains all this?

finally in game how do you know when your torpedo has aquired, so you can cut the wire?

[ASWnut101]

Currently, there's not much reason to use passive instead of active. Just makes it that much easier for the target to escape, especially submarines. Of course, passive wouldn't give the target an active intercept alert, but the only ones who would get it anyway are submarines, and they'll normally hear the torp long before it activates.

Slowing the torpedo down to a crawl...I was fooling around in an Akula the other day, had a Typhoon nearby. I set the UGST for 15 knots (don't remember why), active, and let it rip. Well, the Typhoon captain wasn't exactly phased, and continued on his assigned barrier patrol at 15 knots. After a hilariously slow pursuit, the torp finally caught up to him in a turn. Moral of the story (at least for LWAMI): Set your torps at a reasonable speed!

As for what CMs to use, if you're fighting AI, just drop active. They don't use passive seeking torpedoes, and even if they did, all you'd really have to do is drop a noisemaker and go all stop.

You can tell the torp has acquired when it stops running its search pattern and starts moving in a straight line. Not always the best idea to cut the wire though, unless you're damn sure the torp is homing on the correct target.

[Molon Labe]

AI surface ships do have an active intercept sensor. It's just the player-controlled Perry that gets shafted on that.

Shameless plug warning: The next edition of LWAMI will feature some changes that make passive torpedoes worthwhile. Torpedoes will be quieter (especially modern electric torpedoes) and will have a steeper sound-speed relationship, and passive seeker ranges have been extended. Passive mode will probably be the preferred mode for ASUW with these changes, while active will remain optimal for ASW. Passive torps are acquiring submarines if they are loud enough, but generally won't acquire a playable sub at tactical speeds or less unless the torp runs it over.

As for CMs, active decoys have a high active source level, which means active torpedoes will tend to detect them before other targets. Passive decoys are the same, but with a high passive source level to attract passive torpedoes.

[ASWnut101]

Originally Posted by Molon Labe

AI surface ships do have an active intercept sensor. It's just the player-controlled Perry that gets shafted on that.

So that's why...holy crap I did not realize that. Would explain a few times I've eaten a torpedo.

[Takeda Shingen]

Yeah, the lack of AI is the reason that I don't play the Perry. That is a major ommision, especially for an ASW platform.

[Buck_O]

What is the advantage (in game) of the Seawolf over other subs? Ive read that the Seawolf class is ( in real life) the most advanced hunter-killer submarine in the world. It was intended to restore the technological edge the US had over Russia up until the mid 80's. Is this "edge" refering to the boats exceptional quietness? If so is this moddled in game? One book I have says the boat is credited with being able to cruise at 20 kts and still be impossible to locate. Its described as being 10 times as quiet as a 688i and 70 times as quiet as the original 688. A Seawolf class boat making turns for 25 kts is more quiet than a 688 tied to the pier.

In game how fast can one go in a Seawolf and still be quiet enough to not give away the farm, so to speak? or what is a good tactical speed for this boat? If your trying to go completely undetected what speed would one go?

Also how does it do against other advanced subs in game? the Akula, or an ultra quiet diesel boat. ( Assuming you had very experienced skippers in charge)

[Castout]

Hi Buck I believe Seawolf is already among the quietest sub in game in stock. And it's most probably even quieter with mods such as LWAMI or RA.

[Buck_O]

Thats good news Castout, thanks, but do you know about its best tactical speed?

[Molon Labe]

The Seawolf is the quietest SSN with the least steep sound-speed relationship in stock DW as well as the LWAMI mod. There are too many possible variables to determine--or even estimate--a speed at which you risk counterdetection, though.

Tactical speed is 15 knots--the washout speed of the TB-29.
At this speed, in stock DW, it is quieter than a Flight I 688 at rest, and is about equal to an Akula II at 10 knots.
If you use LWAMI, then it is about equal to a 688 at rest and an Akula II at 8 knots.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Molon Labe

AI surface ships do have an active intercept sensor. It's just the player-controlled Perry that gets shafted on that.

Yes, but at least in the RA mod the playable Udaloy finally has an active intercept station. The Perry though, they left it untouched.