Thermal Layers?

[U-46 Commander]

Are Thermal Layers modeled in SH3? I know they are on SH4.

[meduza]

No, they are not.
SH3 commander reduces the efficiency of the sonar below certain depth, thus creating the effect of thermal layer.

[YukonJack_AK]

I actually asked this very question a few weeks ago... apparently, Uboats had no way of knowing where they were (they didn't have an onboard bathyhermograph unlike US boats) and didn't fully realize the benifits of 'hiding under the layer'. JIMBUNA set me this in response to my question...

Go to http://www.silenthunteriii.com/uk/videos.php and click on and download "Herr Oesten - Thermal Layers."

With the Germans being so technically advanced... I couldn't believe it. But to answer your question - yes SH3 does model thermal layers to a certain extent (SH3Comdr actually randomizes their depth every time you load) but you have know way of telling how deep they are until all of a sudden the escorts are having a hard time holding contact.

EDIT: I generally find it down around 80-130m...

[U-46 Commander]

Ok, Thanks! I usually don't go past 50 meters, But probably would if hunted. Deepest I have Gone is 130 meters.

[peterloo]

Originally Posted by U-46 Commander

Ok, Thanks! I usually don't go past 50 meters, But probably would if hunted. Deepest I have Gone is 130 meters.

Trust your boat and its potential. A typical Type VII boat can be brought down to ~200m without problem. And some (real) captains even brought their boats down to 280m, close to the crush depth, but still able to surface later. Only by diving deep and running silent can you evade the endless volleys of depth charges in the late war.

Unlike the Amercian boats which cannot dive very deep, a U-boat can get lower in the sea. And I'm afraid that you can never reach the thermocline at 50m nor at 100m. 200m is a minimum.

Talking about the deepest depth ever reached by me... I guess that should be around 260m or beyond that.

[Pisces]

Do you get some kind of waring before the big-crush occurs? Or does it happen 'out of nowhere'? I know the crew gives a warning as it crosses design depth. But between 150m (design depth Type7b) and something like 260 meters is a big column of water.

[GOZO]

Originally Posted by Pisces

Do you get some kind of waring before the big-crush occurs? Or does it happen 'out of nowhere'? I know the crew gives a warning as it crosses design depth. But between 150m (design depth Type7b) and something like 260 meters is a big column of water.

If you dont dive too fast you get a hunch when you hear light bulbs go and light starts to flicker..

=> get up 10-20 meters FAST!


This is U-2502 (XXI). Note I use "Randomize crush depth" in SHIII Cmndr3.1


Cheers

/OB

[peterloo]

Originally Posted by Pisces

Do you get some kind of waring before the big-crush occurs? Or does it happen 'out of nowhere'? I know the crew gives a warning as it crosses design depth. But between 150m (design depth Type7b) and something like 260 meters is a big column of water.

They will give warning "We are close to critical depth" but you can override it, as a captain. I've tried once, that the boat went to 260m, the crew gave warning, I override it and dive it to 280m, and the boat imploded. That shows there is at least 5 or 10m between the "warning giving depth" and the actual crush depth. You won't get crushed without not getting warned.

And everytime this happens, your time compression returns to 1x, you hear metal collapsing sound.

Of course, if you play mods, or randomizes the crush depth, there will not be a golden number which you can abide to. But for a golden rule, by my little experience

Type II / XXIII --- 160m +
Type VII --- 240m +
Type VII --- 240m +
Type XXI --- 260m +
You may obtain extra info here http://www.uboat.net/types/index.html

*They give max depth --- depth that a U-boat captain should never exceed under any conditions. But obviously captains violate this order when it comes between their death and survival

#If your boat is damaged, its crush depth decreases.