Yet another 'periscope' thread...

[TG626]

I've read quite a bit here about attack scope vs observation scope.

The general trend seems to be that they do nearly the same thing in game, and as a result many never use the observation scope.

Now the following was in a Porpoise class sub, so maybe it doesn't apply to other classes (?)

However, I noticed today that there is one BIG difference: HEIGHT.

The Attack scope is considerably taller then the Observation scope.

Today, I was sitting in the harbor south of Tokyo. I ordered periscope depth. When I raised the observation scope it was thisclose to the surface. So close it was being washed over and I couldn't see.

I shallowed my depth 5 feet and got a clear sight and the destroyers didn't see me. Now if I had raised the attack scope at that same periscope depth it would have been towering out of the water...

I haven't checked if periscope depth is always the same, but I wonder if this is part of the "Destroyers always see me instantly" that I have read about in some threads?

( for the record I sank a destroyer and a "large European liner" before making a clean get away. )

[Sniper297]

Unrelated. In real life the observation scope was often called the "night scope" because it had better light gathering capabilities. The attack scope was about 3 inches in diameter at the top, the observation scope about 6 inches, so twice the size and could be seen by the enemy more easily in the daytime.

In the game the enemy destroyers don't see the periscopes or hear you on sonar, they put a quick call into the Psychic Friends Hotline and find you with mental telepathy.

[TG626]

Nuts... And here I was hoping I made some keen observation...

[ETR3(SS)]

Funny thing about detection in game, the AI sees the nodes of your boat, not the actual 3d model if I remember right. I was testing out a snorkel that could be raised from 1000 ft and damned if i didn't get picked up by a destroyer.

[Sniper297]

"And here I was hoping I made some keen observation..."

Well, it WAS the OBSERVATION scope!

[merc4ulfate]

Snipe I do not think it is unrelated. I actually see better at night with the observation scope than I can with the attack scope.

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[TorpX]

I believe in RFB, the night scope view is supposed to be brighter than the attack scope view, but I can't remember doing a side by side test.

[merc4ulfate]

I got into the habit of always using the observation scope at night. I thought it was programed to be better at night so I took it for granted that it did that for everyone.

I do not know if the creators of the mods I run changed anything or not. I do not recall reading anything about it in the documentation.

[TG626]

While the impact on detection may be debatable, the hard facts that I've found so far is that they are the same aside from the OBS scope can look straight up.

They seem to have the same FOV, turn at the same rate (I have to move my mouse the same distance to do a full 360 degree rotation) I don't see any difference in "image contrast or quality" at night.

[aanker]

I patrol with high-scope even though it has no effect, because they did it.

Happy Hunting!

[Sniper297]

"I do not think it is unrelated. I actually see better at night with the observation scope than I can with the attack scope"

Original topic is about being seen, not seeing. Most used the night scope (observation) after first contact at long range, even in the daytime because it had better magnification. At closer range they went a few feet deeper and used the attack scope because a 3 inch diameter pole is harder to see than a 6 inch diameter pole. What the OP was theorizing was all the magical psychic detection might be from users raising the observation scope instead of the attack scope at close range, but people are reporting detection from 4000 yards away - at that range a telephone pole wouldn't be visible, ergo which scope is irrelevant.

[TG626]

Close, what I was positing was using the attack scope got you spotted because it stands 5-10 feet taller.

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by Sniper297

What the OP was theorizing was all the magical psychic detection might be from users raising the observation scope instead of the attack scope at close range, but people are reporting detection from 4000 yards away - at that range a telephone pole wouldn't be visible, ergo which scope is irrelevant.

This Psychic Friends scope detection stuff seems to be a TMO phenomenon. I've left my scope up plenty in RFB, without problems.

Generally, I will use a high scope search with the Obs scope from radar depth (more or less). This is partly for the reason aanker said, and partly because rough seas often require it anyway. I will observe ships leaving it up until they get to around 4000 yds. Then, I will start to take precautions and take it down between observations. When they are within 1000 yds. or so, I will be very cautious.

Once, I was being hunted by a couple escorts after an attack. After being deep for some time, and not hearing anything, I came up to p/s depth for a look around. It was night time. Lo and behold, there was a minesweeper very, very close by. The sneaky bugger was just sitting there, waiting for me to surface. I couldn't torpedo him, as I was facing the wrong way (and I may have been too close). I waited there creeping along pondering if I should try to turn the boat and get a shot in. It was oddly fascinating, watching the IJN crewmen walk around on the deck. I was close enough, that I could have seen them light up a cigarette, had they done so. The only thing that worried me was when their searchlight came around in my direction; then I lowered the scope quick! After awhile, they got bored and left, not being any the wiser. No psychics among that crew.