Running out of compressed air..

[Armistead]

Got myself in a mess after attacking a large invasion force. Escaped, but still fighting a bow dive. Had to blow tanks once. Me and Bubblehead discussed this once, but hard to remember. I didn't take any damage other than forward torp bulkhead, totally flooded. Had to blow tanks once, but slowly I noticed my compressed air going down each hour until the icon displayed. Never blew tanks again, but finally out of compressed air after about 10 hours after blowing tanks..

Course once I got the boat to where it wouldn't sink to the bottom, i'm sure you've all seen the yo yo effect, where you bounce around 30 ft or so.

It appears the game uses compressed air to help control the boat in some way, other than blowing tanks and it's during the yo yo effect. So what is exactly going on here with the compressed air, what's it being used on to run out slowly over time without blowing tanks and no damage to compressor?

[WernherVonTrapp]

Isn't compressed air used to adjust/maintain the ballast? Maybe the tanks are damaged.

[Armistead]

Doe's a lot of things in reality, not sure in game if it's that programmed. I swear I don't recall this happening, just over time, about a day kept going down until I ran out. You can hear compressed air in the ship blowing at times, but can't believe someone actually put it in.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I TYPE TOO SLOW REPLY:
If I remember correctly, and many times I don't, the ballast tanks were located in sections Fore, Midship and Aft. The air was pumped into the tanks, forcing the water (ballast) out to maintain the boat's buoyancy and/or depth. If you received damage to the hull or superstructure, it might be possible that your ballast tanks became damaged. What about your dive planes, they intact?

Bubblehead, I've noticed that too on rare occasion, when the OD calls out the compressed air status. I've noticed that it usually happens only when surfaced. Can the air be replaced effectively when submerged?

[Armistead]

No...air can't be replaced submerged.

[Diopos]

My "impression" on compressed air consumption:
1. Blowing ballast (obviously)
2. Changing depth while at at zero (or very low) speed.

Now from what Armistead said he was submerged (probably avoiding surface vessel) so the loss of his compressed air seems to be a combination of case 2 (above) and damage/hull integrity ...


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[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Armistead

Got myself in a mess after attacking a large invasion force. Escaped, but still fighting a bow dive. Had to blow tanks once. Me and Bubblehead discussed this once, but hard to remember. I didn't take any damage other than forward torp bulkhead, totally flooded. Had to blow tanks once, but slowly I noticed my compressed air going down each hour until the icon displayed. Never blew tanks again, but finally out of compressed air after about 10 hours after blowing tanks..

Course once I got the boat to where it wouldn't sink to the bottom, i'm sure you've all seen the yo yo effect, where you bounce around 30 ft or so.

It appears the game uses compressed air to help control the boat in some way, other than blowing tanks and it's during the yo yo effect. So what is exactly going on here with the compressed air, what's it being used on to run out slowly over time without blowing tanks and no damage to compressor?

We did talk about this, I believe through various patrols of trial and error, the game does simulate using compressed air when surfacing and all, thing is according to the game a small amount is used and it doesnt show on the compressed air monitor usually.I have stayed under for many hours and though it doesnt show up on the meter/monitor thing, the OOD will report "compressed air reserve at 100 sir" after surfacing and getting under way.When you take damage say flooding in boy and order blow tanks or depth change from say 200 feet to 100 feet, well a lot more compressed air is used than normal to try and level off the boat or get an up angle so it sucks them dry in trying to get the boat under control sometimes, depends.

So in a nutshell, the sub always uses compressed air, just the routine use is usually small enough is doesnt show up on the little compressed air monitor where as when damaged and trying to get boat under control, much more than routine amount is used thus it shows up.

I'm 100% sure I am correct, seen it several times now.