Realism in Dangerous Waters.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Castout

I myself have always wondered how the real submariners determine a sound contact depth. . . .it's always 2D in DW. Perhaps the sonars pick up a a space directional signal?

Hi you asked about how a submarine determines a sonar contact's depth. Well here are a few photos from TimmyG00 and one of mine that help to explain. The BQQ-5 Spherical Array (or any spherical/cylindrical array like the MGK-400EM) can determine the direction the sound waves by which hydrophones detects the noise first. There is a indicator on the sonar panel that displays that data for the selected contact.




^A hydrophone goes in each of those holes. A computer knows which hydrophone is pointing up and which is pointing down and can determine which is hearing the target first.