So I get to my assigned sea zone and...

[Kanzler_Bismarck]

Have my helmsman plot a search course and run periscope by night and surface by day. Unless stormy, then I spend a quarter battery under water listening then recharge to dive again. Is this a good approach.

Also, early war, are French ships a go?

[GoldenRivet]

depends on how early in the war. French ships are pretty much a go after the first week of may 1940... if you see a country who's ports are shown in red on the navigational map, the ships of that country are pretty much a go.

as for your running surfaced by day and submerged through the night... that works and as the war progresses you will find you tend to do the opposite as aircraft become more medelsome

i have been known to run surfaced by day, performing soundchecks at 40 meters around 1000 1300, 1600, 1900 and then running submerged after dark

running submerged with the scope up all night offers few benifits

1. the differece between visual range vs hydrophone range is substantual... you would hear the enemy long before youd see them

2. it can be a deadly habit to stick to if you want to live through the scourge that is allied radar after 1942ish

3. the periscope and its wake could be spotted by an aircraft, and when it is within viewing range of your scope it may be too late to dive deep enough to avoid the dropped bombs and depth charges

i would recommend your nights be spend arount 30-40 meters just listening, but with experience you will figure out what works best for your techniques.

what mods are you using? (nevermind, saw the other thread)

[HW3]

Later on you will find that you spend almost all your time under water while in allied air patrol range. When that happens, I've taken to running at barely 3kts for 5 hours submerged, surface and charge, which takes almost 1 hour, and repeat. If you spend more than 1 hour on the surface at a time, the aircraft seem to always find you.

[Kanzler_Bismarck]

So how low so you guys let your batteries run? Also it sounds line I should be running deeper for my sonar searches?

[HW3]

I try very hard to not let them get below 50%. You just never know when you might have to stay down a long time. I can run 5 hours at 3kts and my batteries are at about 75%. When I surface, they will fully recharge in around 55 minutes. I usually run at 50M submerged. That is usually deep enough to keep from being spotted from the air. If you run too shallow, your sub can be seen from the air through the water.

BTW: The 3kts is barely 3kts. When I select it, the printing readout and voice will say 2kts but, under the speed dial it will read 3kts.

[vanjast]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

1. the differece between visual range vs hydrophone range is substantual... you would hear the enemy long before youd see them

It's taken years, but I'm glad some people have realised this

I usually cruise a square route, submerged at about 1 knot.. I can cruise for a few hours (6), sinking slowly then pop to scope depth for a scan, before recharging.
Every game hour, I quickly scan the hydrophone.

Tedious.. Time, H-Scan.. Time, H-Scan... Scope, recharge... again.

[Kanzler_Bismarck]

Is there a way fore to hop on the phones myself?!?

[Marcello]

Is there a way fore to hop on the phones myself?!?

H key.

[HW3]

Or right click on the operator. You are then in his position where you can then operate the wheel, or click on the dial and it will turn to where you click.

[Kanzler_Bismarck]

Amazing I have even hit a boat lol.