Did WWII Subs Use Peri Under Water?

CptGlub · 08-24-15, 08:13 PM

Are there any accounts of subs and/or U-boats trying to use their periscopes underwater to either navigate or see surface ships that were making a run on them?

Just curious and wondering if I'm "cheating" by using my Ob Scope while submerged.

TorpX · 08-24-15, 09:19 PM

If they did, I've never heard of it.

I don't think this would work nearly as well in RL, as it does in SH games. The oceans aren't really all that transparent.

Rambler241 · 03-24-16, 11:34 AM

I recall a TV documentary some years ago, on "The Submarine Command Course" (informally known as "The Perisher") run by the Royal Navy. At one point, the exercise was a stealthy approach to a surface vessel - to prove success, the commander photographed the underwater hull of the ship through the periscope.

Sailor Steve · 03-24-16, 12:53 PM

One problem is that the seals weren't designed to withstand a lot of pressure. It might work at just below periscope depth, but if you're just below periscope depth when an escort drops depth charges you're pretty much screwed. At 300 feet you might see the shadow of the surface ship against some filtered light, but raising the periscope at 300 feet will pretty much guarantee flooding the periscope well and the scope itself, and possibly the boat.

Knowing which way to dodge is best done by sound. If you can hear the ship on its approach you have a pretty good idea which way to turn.

08-24-15, 08:13 PM	#1
CptGlub Mate Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 59 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	Did WWII Subs Use Peri Under Water? Are there any accounts of subs and/or U-boats trying to use their periscopes underwater to either navigate or see surface ships that were making a run on them? Just curious and wondering if I'm "cheating" by using my Ob Scope while submerged.

08-24-15, 09:19 PM	#2
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	If they did, I've never heard of it. I don't think this would work nearly as well in RL, as it does in SH games. The oceans aren't really all that transparent.

03-24-16, 11:34 AM	#3
Rambler241 A-ganger Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: High Wycombe, UK Posts: 76 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	I recall a TV documentary some years ago, on "The Submarine Command Course" (informally known as "The Perisher") run by the Royal Navy. At one point, the exercise was a stealthy approach to a surface vessel - to prove success, the commander photographed the underwater hull of the ship through the periscope. __________________ There are only two kinds of vessels; submarines and targets.

03-24-16, 12:53 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	One problem is that the seals weren't designed to withstand a lot of pressure. It might work at just below periscope depth, but if you're just below periscope depth when an escort drops depth charges you're pretty much screwed. At 300 feet you might see the shadow of the surface ship against some filtered light, but raising the periscope at 300 feet will pretty much guarantee flooding the periscope well and the scope itself, and possibly the boat. Knowing which way to dodge is best done by sound. If you can hear the ship on its approach you have a pretty good idea which way to turn. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo