Hydrophone surface range

Inajira · 12-09-05, 08:50 AM

I read it on these boards recently that the hydrophones have a very short range while the boat is surfaced. I was under the impression that they did not function at all while surfaced. I tried testing this during night attacks in the fog and rain (one cannot rely on much else), and found I could not pick up ships even under 1NM distance. So is there a range while surfaced or not?

Krupp · 12-09-05, 11:38 AM

About listening devices, The GHG (GruppenhorchgerÃ¤t) and later on the BalkongerÃ¤t were installed well below the waterline, so you could assume that it's possible to hear targets even if you are surfaced. Why shouldn't they work?At least in the game you can if you are stopped or slow speed. The KDB (KristalldrehbasisgerÃ¤t) is installed on the upper deck (bow) and can be used only when submerged. I'm not sure how far away you can hear with the GHG when surfaced. The hydrophone operator called "Grosse entfernung" so it's over 3000 meters I think. It was heavy fog so hard to tell the real range.

NastyHyena · 12-09-05, 06:15 PM

I would think the GHG could listen on the surface, but on anything other than a glass-calm day at a standstill would be useless due to surface noise.

Marhkimov · 12-09-05, 06:52 PM

(In real life) with under-keel hydrophones, it would have at least been possible to hear something.

But in SH3, hydrophones don't work if you are surfaced.

Inajira · 12-12-05, 01:54 AM

Well I checked this out again over the weekend. Seems my sonarman can pick up contacts from time to time while I'm on the surface and moving, but I can hear nothing when I go to the hydrophones room. I'm using the earliest type (the GHG I think?). Thanks for the help.

Slightly off topic, when he calls out Long, Medium or Short range, what are the actual range brackets in metres?

Marhkimov · 12-12-05, 01:58 AM

excerpted from contacts.cfg:

Short=1000m
Medium=3000m
Long=20000m

Krupp · 12-12-05, 02:25 AM

I stand corrected. The hydrophones are useless in the game when the boat is surfaced. But It worked once, really

Marhkimov · 12-12-05, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krupp

The hydrophones are useless in the game when the boat is surfaced. But It worked once, really

I believe you... Sometimes when it is really stormy weather and the u-boat is being tossed around in the waves, it is possible to become "submerged" for a few seconds.

So during those few seconds, your hydrophone operator might pick something up...

And then you resurface from the waves and were misled to believe that hydrophones work on the surface.

Don't worry. It happened to me... I was confused too.

Inajira · 12-12-05, 05:22 AM

Ah that was probably the case. Been getting a lot of stormy foggy generally crappy weather lately. Gives me a chance to work on attacks during fog. Even at periscope depth my sub tends to jump up and down, I suppose the swells play a part that deep as well.

The Avon Lady · 12-12-05, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marhkimov

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krupp

The hydrophones are useless in the game when the boat is surfaced. But It worked once, really

I believe you... Sometimes when it is really stormy weather and the u-boat is being tossed around in the waves, it is possible to become "submerged" for a few seconds.

So during those few seconds, your hydrophone operator might pick something up...

And then you resurface from the waves and were misled to believe that hydrophones work on the surface.

Don't worry. It happened to me... I was confused too.

Yes, and your diesel engines will cut off and go back on again, too, in such storm conditions.

Inajira · 12-12-05, 07:38 AM

Yeah and I keep losing my periscope "lock" on surface ships in stormy conditions

The Avon Lady · 12-12-05, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inajira

Yeah and I keep losing my periscope "lock" on surface ships in stormy conditions

Of course! Your scope is bobbing below the waterline and you're losing visual contact with the target.

In principle, that's no different than locking on a target, diving to 150m and surfacing again. There's no differentiation in-game.

Inajira · 12-12-05, 07:56 AM

Well the way I see it the "lock" is not really a lock per se, but one of my crewmen keeping the scope centred on the target while I ask the WE for his target solution, go make coffee, and wait for the torpedoes to hit

So the way I see it, it shouldn't lose the lock (despite the waves washing over) because there is supposed to be an "intelligent" officer dedicated to the task. Anyway will just have to live with it!

finchOU · 12-14-05, 08:24 PM

ah, I think the lock is a cheat personally....anyway...I have a question which I cant seem to find the anwser to...

does depth have any bearing on hydrophone range or clarity (which should increase listening range). I was wondering because when I listen for contacts it is normally at Parascope depth.....I would think some surface noise should be problematic at 12 meters...verse say...25 meters....anyone have the short (and/or long anwser to this one?

12-14-05, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marhkimov

(In real life) with under-keel hydrophones, it would have at least been possible to hear something.

But in SH3, hydrophones don't work if you are surfaced.

No, it wouldn't. The noise of the water against the hull blocks out sounds. Think about it: a destroyer has it's sound gear mounted under the keel, but they can't hear other destroyers, or battleships, or surfaced submarines.

12-09-05, 08:50 AM	#1
Inajira Loader Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 90 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hydrophone surface range I read it on these boards recently that the hydrophones have a very short range while the boat is surfaced. I was under the impression that they did not function at all while surfaced. I tried testing this during night attacks in the fog and rain (one cannot rely on much else), and found I could not pick up ships even under 1NM distance. So is there a range while surfaced or not?

12-09-05, 11:38 AM	#2
Krupp Weps Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 351 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	About listening devices, The GHG (GruppenhorchgerÃ¤t) and later on the BalkongerÃ¤t were installed well below the waterline, so you could assume that it's possible to hear targets even if you are surfaced. Why shouldn't they work?At least in the game you can if you are stopped or slow speed. The KDB (KristalldrehbasisgerÃ¤t) is installed on the upper deck (bow) and can be used only when submerged. I'm not sure how far away you can hear with the GHG when surfaced. The hydrophone operator called "Grosse entfernung" so it's over 3000 meters I think. It was heavy fog so hard to tell the real range. __________________ "Gentlemen, we have no choice. Total engagement. Die with dignity."

12-09-05, 06:52 PM	#4
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	(In real life) with under-keel hydrophones, it would have at least been possible to hear something. But in SH3, hydrophones don't work if you are surfaced. __________________ It takes two to tango

12-12-05, 01:58 AM	#6
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	excerpted from contacts.cfg: Short=1000m Medium=3000m Long=20000m __________________ It takes two to tango

12-12-05, 02:25 AM	#7
Krupp Weps Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 351 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I stand corrected. The hydrophones are useless in the game when the boat is surfaced. But It worked once, really __________________ "Gentlemen, we have no choice. Total engagement. Die with dignity."

12-09-05, 06:15 PM	#3
NastyHyena Watch Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 22 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I would think the GHG could listen on the surface, but on anything other than a glass-calm day at a standstill would be useless due to surface noise.

12-12-05, 01:54 AM	#5
Inajira Loader Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 90 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Well I checked this out again over the weekend. Seems my sonarman can pick up contacts from time to time while I'm on the surface and moving, but I can hear nothing when I go to the hydrophones room. I'm using the earliest type (the GHG I think?). Thanks for the help. Slightly off topic, when he calls out Long, Medium or Short range, what are the actual range brackets in metres?

12-12-05, 05:22 AM	#9
Inajira Loader Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 90 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ah that was probably the case. Been getting a lot of stormy foggy generally crappy weather lately. Gives me a chance to work on attacks during fog. Even at periscope depth my sub tends to jump up and down, I suppose the swells play a part that deep as well.

12-12-05, 07:38 AM	#11
Inajira Loader Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 90 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yeah and I keep losing my periscope "lock" on surface ships in stormy conditions

12-12-05, 07:56 AM	#13
Inajira Loader Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 90 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Well the way I see it the "lock" is not really a lock per se, but one of my crewmen keeping the scope centred on the target while I ask the WE for his target solution, go make coffee, and wait for the torpedoes to hit So the way I see it, it shouldn't lose the lock (despite the waves washing over) because there is supposed to be an "intelligent" officer dedicated to the task. Anyway will just have to live with it! __________________ ---- Lt(sr) Wolfgang Schmidt U-108 Der Lechtturm 94% Realism, DiD Career: 13 Patrols Fate: Sunk Dec 1941 in the North Atlantic, W of Gibraltar by depth charges from a British destroyer. All hands lost. "Torpedo treffer!"

12-14-05, 08:24 PM	#14
finchOU Samurai Navy Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 571 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	ah, I think the lock is a cheat personally....anyway...I have a question which I cant seem to find the anwser to... does depth have any bearing on hydrophone range or clarity (which should increase listening range). I was wondering because when I listen for contacts it is normally at Parascope depth.....I would think some surface noise should be problematic at 12 meters...verse say...25 meters....anyone have the short (and/or long anwser to this one?