Realistically, what did rigging for silent running do?

[Erich dem Roten]

I mean realistically as in what did U-Boats do differently that meant they were rigged for silent running. I know they would stop any sort of work that made excess noise, like projects going on in a workshop for instance. But short of that, was there really anything else to it?

I ask because when I go silent in SH3 nothing seems to change other than the fact that pumps/repairs (i.e. banging hammers and wrenches), and torpedo loading are all put on hold.

[Drakken]

Basically, it ordered the mechanics to decrease the electric motors to less than 100 RPM, to hinder escorts hearing the sound of the motors, and get every man to maintain absolute silence. That is why every noisy activity is stopped.

If your speed is higher, you'll see that the speed automatically decrease to Ahead Slow when on silent running.

[Uncle Goose]

Rig for silent running not only meant that all loud noise had to stop but also that anything that could make noise is secured. Things like buckets, cutlery, tools and other things had to put away securely so they couldn't fall down or rattle and thus giving the position away. It also meant one could not use the heads.

[Jimbuna]

Anything that made a noise during it's normal use was shut down....often the electric motors would be shut down altogether.

[Drakken]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Anything that made a noise during it's normal use was shut down....often the electric motors would be shut down altogether.

But then, how could the boat equilibrate to maintain depth? Didn't uboats need some power to stop themselves from sinking?

[nirwana]

Think so thats why i have prob to maintenance the ordered depth in heavy sea with running silence.

[sunvalleyslim]

Originally Posted by Drakken

But then, how could the boat equilibrate to maintain depth? Didn't uboats need some power to stop themselves from sinking?

I don't think jimbuna meant the electric propulsion motors. He was referring to small electrical components that are non-essential, like Kapt Balz' electric blender that he makes those awful Hoochie Woochie Margaritas with.....................

[Brag]

Fans, pumps, were stopped plus the knowledge that the sub was on silent running wa passed to the crew so they would not make unnesessary noise. Thus in the game, repairs and loading of torpedoes is interrupted.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by sunvalleyslim

I don't think jimbuna meant the electric propulsion motors. He was referring to small electrical components that are non-essential, like Kapt Balz' electric blender that he makes those awful Hoochie Woochie Margaritas with.....................

Rgr that, small internal propulsion systems.

On occasion though, the electric motors were stopped and the boat would drift for short periods of absolute silence.

Keeping a boat trimmed under those circumstances must have been a nightmare.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Drakken

[But then, how could the boat equilibrate to maintain depth? Didn't uboats need some power to stop themselves from sinking?

As above, the actual propulsion continued, but at absolutely the lowest possible speed. One of the fun things in Aces Of The Deep was if you maintained silent running for any length of time your boat would start to sink, and you'd get the message "Cannot maintain depth without running the pumps!"

One of the things I like about SH3 is that in all older games if you suddenly went to flank speed to avoid depth charges, silent running would be secured and you'd have to order it all over again. In SH3 the crew remains silent even during the bursts of speed. Of course if you surface but forget to secure they assume you mean it and stay that way...

[nirwana]

doh then the sound mod i use has to be modified......in spite silent running one is filling up his coffeemug another one is lighten up a smoke some others arguing about rescuing survivors or not.