ASDIC clarification

[GoldenRivet]

WW2 era ASDIC pings

audible to the naked ear by crew aboard?

it is my understanding that the pings are in the ultrasonic range and thus would have been inaudible to the men aboard the u-boat meaning that every submarine movie and game has been wrong to make the pings audible for dramatic effect

however...

i am of the impression that the echo itself was audible and what the crew in the movies and games would actually be hearing is the sound of the ASDIC ping striking the hull so in this sense the movies and games were right to include these sounds.

does anyone have clarification or links to information... ive worn google out and not found much using my search terms

thanks

[Sailor Steve]

We've had this question before, but it's been awhile. U-boatmen have said that you could hear it, but it sounded more like gravel being thrown against the hull. Others said it sounded like the hull was being hit with a hammer.

Here are a couple of threads from awhile ago. The first one has an answer from you. The second one has some good links.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ic+sonar+pings
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ic+sonar+pings

[GoldenRivet]

thanks steve... was having a discussion with someone and this came up, their indication was that nothing could be heard, period. i couldnt remember but i was sure there was something that could be heard and that surely i hadnt been wrong all this time

I think perhaps the red october scene where it sounds like the hull is being struck is probably most accurate.

[RustySubmarine]

As a ex submariner aboard an "O" Class Sub during the late sixties, you can definitely hear a sort of muffled sound, ( Similar to gravel or pebbles hitting the boat as Steve has mentioned). This depending if the attacking ship is within a certain range. You don't get a ping like the sonar operator hears. One thing I can definitely confirm, is that you do hear Mortar Bombs (these were fired from tubes on Anti Submarine Frigates) with a range of 600 yards. These live bombs fired in a spread pattern, (toned down versions were used on exercises), but were not powerful enough to cause any serious damage, but they did rattle things inside the boat and shake it about a bit, if they detonated close too. Quite an experience, but I'm glad I wasn't in one of the Uboats, where proper Depth Charges & Hedgehogs were used, these were certainly more lethal than the practice equivalents used in peace time.


Seems Iv'e reached the dizzy heights of an Engineer now,with 200 posts. That is what I was when I was in the RN. Petty Officer Engineering Mechanic.
Got a lot of catching up to Sailor Steve, with almost 44,000 posts. Is he The Admiral Of The Fleet?

[flag4]

Thanks for sharing that RustySubmarine.
It's great to hear about a first hand experience.

[Marcello]

Going by accounts of WW2 patrols of german and italians subs active sonar was audible by the crew as follow:
1) Ticking, as of a clock. Most common description I have encountered in my admittedly limited sample.
2) As if gravel was thrown on the hull.
3) Banging hammer (I have this replacing the stock ping in my game install).
Circular saw noises were frequently reported as well, but nobody was really sure if that was ASDIC or anti homing torpedo decoys.
Ping style sound is never described by those on the receiving end.

[ninja turtle]

Originally Posted by flag4

Thanks for sharing that RustySubmarine.
It's great to hear about a first hand experience.