Passive Sonar contacts while surfaced?

runyan99 · 06-16-08, 04:55 PM

I notice that I am getting passive sonar contacts far beyond visual range even when running on the surface. Is this realistic? If not, which mods address this issue?

Suicide Charlie · 06-16-08, 05:06 PM

US boats have an advantage over German U-boats in this aspect.

US boats mounted their sonar on the "chin" of the hull. Is you use your external camera and look at the forward underside of the hull you'll see two tennis ball like structures protruding out. Those are your passive sonar senors. U-boats usually mounted theirs on the deck of the boat making surfaced listening impossible because they weren't submerged.

Pisces · 06-16-08, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suicide Charlie

US boats have an advantage over German U-boats in this aspect.

US boats mounted their sonar on the "chin" of the hull. Is you use your external camera and look at the forward underside of the hull you'll see two tennis ball like structures protruding out. Those are your passive sonar senors. U-boats usually mounted theirs on the deck of the boat making surfaced listening impossible because they weren't submerged.

That depends if you run aground. Say bye bye to your 'tennis balls'.

Ducimus · 06-16-08, 06:55 PM

US boats have a WCA sonar set. I'ts a combined active and passive sonar set. The "chin" mount you see is the WCA set. Stock, it has a ridiculously long range. It's prewar technology and its max range wasn't really that good, more like 10,000 yards.

Later on you get JP sonar, which has a max range of 15,000 yards or so. Its the deck mounted horizontal bar.

Later still JT sonar (i think its JT ), which has a max range farther still.

IN stock, none of this exists, its just one universal hydrophone (or so it seams). In realty, the game is acutally using both the WCA and JT . Yes both. In TM, and in RFB, the WCA sonar's range is reduced. So you'll get contacts at say 9,000 yards or so while surfaced. Great for those foggy days. While submerged the game is intelligent enough to know to use the JT sonar (if equiped) over the WCA, so your max range is that of the JT.

One interesting note is that fleetboats acutally had TWO sonar operators while at battle stations. Not just one operator. One sonarman would focus on/track the current target, the other would be sweeping around for situational awareness. (unfortunatly the game doesn't mimic this particular aspect)

ANother interesting note is nifty sonar the game is lacking called FM sonar. Its an active sonar that behaves sort of like an underwater radar. It was used primarly to navigate minefields. The model exists in game, but has no functionality.

rico1 · 06-16-08, 08:00 PM

I've been scratching my head as to why TM 1.5 didn't pick up sonar surface contacts (wich I thought it was correct from my U-boat days) and TM 1.5b did.
I thought it was a bug and was about to revert to 1.5, wich would be a pity because I got great graphics and fps with 1.5b.
Thankyou very much for this great mod and this invaluable information.
Always learning something new with this Sim

gAiNiAc · 06-16-08, 08:25 PM

Just an FYI regarding this..............

In my campaigns the early war boats with the subsonic hydrophone mounted topside will NOT pick up contacts while surfaced. These are the Porpoise and Tambor/Gar class.

The other boats with the fully integrated WCA set will pick up contacts on the surface. (Salmon, Sargo...)

Not sure about the S boat.......

06-16-08, 04:55 PM	#1
runyan99 Mate Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 51 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Passive Sonar contacts while surfaced? I notice that I am getting passive sonar contacts far beyond visual range even when running on the surface. Is this realistic? If not, which mods address this issue?

06-16-08, 05:06 PM	#2
Suicide Charlie Wild Night in Bangkok Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 179 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	US boats have an advantage over German U-boats in this aspect. US boats mounted their sonar on the "chin" of the hull. Is you use your external camera and look at the forward underside of the hull you'll see two tennis ball like structures protruding out. Those are your passive sonar senors. U-boats usually mounted theirs on the deck of the boat making surfaced listening impossible because they weren't submerged. __________________

06-16-08, 08:00 PM	#5
rico1 Swabbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 6 Downloads: 427 Uploads: 0	I'll be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been scratching my head as to why TM 1.5 didn't pick up sonar surface contacts (wich I thought it was correct from my U-boat days) and TM 1.5b did. I thought it was a bug and was about to revert to 1.5, wich would be a pity because I got great graphics and fps with 1.5b. Thankyou very much for this great mod and this invaluable information. Always learning something new with this Sim

06-16-08, 08:25 PM	#6
gAiNiAc Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 369 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Just an FYI regarding this.............. In my campaigns the early war boats with the subsonic hydrophone mounted topside will NOT pick up contacts while surfaced. These are the Porpoise and Tambor/Gar class. The other boats with the fully integrated WCA set will pick up contacts on the surface. (Salmon, Sargo...) Not sure about the S boat....... __________________

06-16-08, 06:55 PM	#4
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	US boats have a WCA sonar set. I'ts a combined active and passive sonar set. The "chin" mount you see is the WCA set. Stock, it has a ridiculously long range. It's prewar technology and its max range wasn't really that good, more like 10,000 yards. Later on you get JP sonar, which has a max range of 15,000 yards or so. Its the deck mounted horizontal bar. Later still JT sonar (i think its JT ), which has a max range farther still. IN stock, none of this exists, its just one universal hydrophone (or so it seams). In realty, the game is acutally using both the WCA and JT . Yes both. In TM, and in RFB, the WCA sonar's range is reduced. So you'll get contacts at say 9,000 yards or so while surfaced. Great for those foggy days. While submerged the game is intelligent enough to know to use the JT sonar (if equiped) over the WCA, so your max range is that of the JT. One interesting note is that fleetboats acutally had TWO sonar operators while at battle stations. Not just one operator. One sonarman would focus on/track the current target, the other would be sweeping around for situational awareness. (unfortunatly the game doesn't mimic this particular aspect) ANother interesting note is nifty sonar the game is lacking called FM sonar. Its an active sonar that behaves sort of like an underwater radar. It was used primarly to navigate minefields. The model exists in game, but has no functionality.