Can you successfully target ships from underwater without using your periscope?

perky416 · 02-05-11, 05:47 AM

Hi Guys

I find that very often when im using my periscope to target ships i always get spotted by warships, so I was just wondering if there is a way to successfully auto target and sink enemy ships from under water without using your periscope?

Iv been playing around with the TBC screen but i cant figure it out?

Thanks

Tom · 02-05-11, 06:22 AM

Yes, it is possible, but not very accurate or easy. It was never done in real life.

You can figure out the target course and speed beforehand, maneuver to a perfect 90 degree attack position and set the TDC parameters manually. Then you turn your scope to the heading where gyro angle reads 000. Make note of that heading. After this, ask your hydrophone operator to follow the target, and he will give you a new bearing every time it has changed. If you fire when the ship reaches the bearing your periscope is pointing at, the torpedo has a chance of hitting it.

There are also methods of figuring out an accurate target course and speed without ever seeing the target. But like I said, this is highly unrealistic and was never done in real life.

If you're spotted by warships when you try to attack, you are probably doing something wrong in the first place:

1. You shouldn't be very close (< 2000 m) to any warship when attacking.
2. You shouldn't move very fast (> 2 kn) underwater if there are warships in the vicinity and they haven't spotted you yet.
3. You shouldn't move faster than 2 kn if your periscope is above water.
4. You shouldn't keep the periscope up continuously. Raise it, make quick observations, and lower it again. Repeat when needed.

Jimbuna · 02-05-11, 07:02 AM

Welcome to SubSim perky416....an interesting first post.

Damo · 02-05-11, 08:04 AM

You could also time your attacks to take place at night, not only does this drastically reduce the chances of getting spotted, you'll also be able to fire off your initial salvo's on the surface. I've often managed to set up a long 90 degree shot from 3000m+ and as soon as the torpedoes leave the tubes turn away and run on the surface. The escorts often concentrate around where the first ship is hit and never see you, giving you time to run ahead and get in front of the convoy for another shot.

Welcome to Subsim.

02-06-11, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damo

You could also time your attacks to take place at night, not only does this drastically reduce the chances of getting spotted, you'll also be able to fire off your initial salvo's on the surface. I've often managed to set up a long 90 degree shot from 3000m+ and as soon as the torpedoes leave the tubes turn away and run on the surface. The escorts often concentrate around where the first ship is hit and never see you, giving you time to run ahead and get in front of the convoy for another shot.

Welcome to Subsim.

I see there u have a VIIB skin, whered you get that from? I want a skin like that one. Currently Im a black splotched pattern on mine.

Schwieger · 02-06-11, 12:07 AM

There have been times where visibility was zero and the sea was too rough to use the scope...being able to shoot without using the scope would have been a plus for me... wasn't the XXI able to do so?

02-05-11, 05:47 AM	#1
perky416 Seaman Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 35 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	Can you successfully target ships from underwater without using your periscope? Hi Guys I find that very often when im using my periscope to target ships i always get spotted by warships, so I was just wondering if there is a way to successfully auto target and sink enemy ships from under water without using your periscope? Iv been playing around with the TBC screen but i cant figure it out? Thanks

02-05-11, 07:02 AM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Welcome to SubSim perky416....an interesting first post. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

02-05-11, 08:04 AM	#4
Damo Captain Join Date: May 2009 Location: Forever stuck in Data folder... Posts: 482 Downloads: 259 Uploads: 0	You could also time your attacks to take place at night, not only does this drastically reduce the chances of getting spotted, you'll also be able to fire off your initial salvo's on the surface. I've often managed to set up a long 90 degree shot from 3000m+ and as soon as the torpedoes leave the tubes turn away and run on the surface. The escorts often concentrate around where the first ship is hit and never see you, giving you time to run ahead and get in front of the convoy for another shot. Welcome to Subsim. __________________ The owl and the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat. It only took one T1 eel to convince that boat not to float.

02-06-11, 12:07 AM	#6
Schwieger Commodore Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: U-142 Posts: 624 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	There have been times where visibility was zero and the sea was too rough to use the scope...being able to shoot without using the scope would have been a plus for me... wasn't the XXI able to do so? __________________ Support U-Boot_HAHD: Install Dropbox Click Here & Increase The Teams Dropbox space and get 2.25GB of free online Storage space for yourself.

02-05-11, 06:22 AM	#2
Tom Gunner Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 97 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Yes, it is possible, but not very accurate or easy. It was never done in real life. You can figure out the target course and speed beforehand, maneuver to a perfect 90 degree attack position and set the TDC parameters manually. Then you turn your scope to the heading where gyro angle reads 000. Make note of that heading. After this, ask your hydrophone operator to follow the target, and he will give you a new bearing every time it has changed. If you fire when the ship reaches the bearing your periscope is pointing at, the torpedo has a chance of hitting it. There are also methods of figuring out an accurate target course and speed without ever seeing the target. But like I said, this is highly unrealistic and was never done in real life. If you're spotted by warships when you try to attack, you are probably doing something wrong in the first place: 1. You shouldn't be very close (< 2000 m) to any warship when attacking. 2. You shouldn't move very fast (> 2 kn) underwater if there are warships in the vicinity and they haven't spotted you yet. 3. You shouldn't move faster than 2 kn if your periscope is above water. 4. You shouldn't keep the periscope up continuously. Raise it, make quick observations, and lower it again. Repeat when needed.