Ideal range for sonar only attack on a lone merchant

[Rockin Robbins]

I did a really successful sonar only attack once. Hit five of six torpedoes.......on the USS Essex.

It was not my finest hour.

WernerSobe's sonar only technique in the Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks thread works masterfully, as it would have in real life. I have a sonar only Dick O'Kane technique in that thread also, which is a bit more relaxed in execution but maybe a bit more deadly.

All the sonar only techniques work better in the game than they would in real life because we know that the return sound from the target is an exact (I think it's four degrees) number of degrees wide, where in real life that would vary with conditions. That would result in a bit more bearing error than we have. It still would have worked in real life.

The problem was that early skippers learned that the dangers of exposing a periscope were vastly overrated if your were reasonably cautious. And there is no doubt that you feel more secure and target much more accurately if you use the periscope. That left them with no reason to use sonar targeting.

[razark]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

I did a really successful sonar only attack once. Hit five of six torpedoes.......on the USS Essex.

I'd prefer sitting in Lockwood's office, explaining why my patrol wasn't so great; rather than sitting in Nimitz's office, explaining why CV-6 hasn't answered the phone since entering my patrol area.

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

The problem was that early skippers learned that the dangers of exposing a periscope were vastly overrated if your were reasonably cautious. And there is no doubt that you feel more secure and target much more accurately if you use the periscope. That left them with no reason to use sonar targeting.

I recall reading that the early skippers tried sonar only attacks at the beginning of the war. It's what they practiced before the war. Having an exposed periscope spotted during a training exercise was likely to result in a bad career path for the skipper.

They quickly learned that the sonar only method wasn't working, and moved to other methods that did.

[commandosolo2009]

I did a really successful sonar only attack once. Hit five of six torpedoes.......on the USS Essex.

That really cracked me up


[QUOTE]WernerSobe's sonar only technique in the Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks thread works masterfully, as it would have in real life.

I have a sonar only Dick O'Kane technique in that thread also, which is a bit more relaxed in execution but maybe a bit more deadly.

So there is two of them? Off to thread then

All the sonar only techniques work better in the game than they would in real life because we know that the return sound from the target is an exact (I think it's four degrees) number of degrees wide, where in real life that would vary with conditions. That would result in a bit more bearing error than we have. It still would have worked in real life.

Well, RR, the game actually depicts the discrepancy, in the form of "loudest screw sound".. Of course you have to have a real good headset to hear the loudest of screws, then ping in that bearing. Yet the risk of sonar exposure is far more worse. I could use it in daylight, but at night? No, it's definitely AP.

Originally Posted by razark

I'd prefer sitting in Lockwood's office, explaining why my patrol wasn't so great; rather than sitting in Nimitz's office, explaining why CV-6 hasn't answered the phone since entering my patrol area.


I recall reading that the early skippers tried sonar only attacks at the beginning of the war. It's what they practiced before the war. Having an exposed periscope spotted during a training exercise was likely to result in a bad career path for the skipper.

They quickly learned that the sonar only method wasn't working, and moved to other methods that did.

So, should I refrain from using the sonar? I mean c'mon!!! Ze Germans are HERE!!!

[Rockin Robbins]

No guts no glory. Use the blasted thing! It sure evens the score in zero visibility when you couldn't get a shot off otherwise and their chance of finding you then ain't so great. I'm liking the odds!

[commandosolo2009]

hey R, why are the links for wernersobe and dickokane sonar tut not working. I get error and forbidden?

[Rockin Robbins]

Hmmmm. I wonder if FileFront wasn't doing some maintenance or something. Here's the direct link to WernerSobe's tutorial. For some reason I haven't been able to host the stuff here. I guess I'll ask Neal if that could be somehow possible because I feel much more secure with the stuff I've been able to host at Subsim. Give me some time to check up on the Dick O'Kane video. I'm a bit busy right now!


OK, here's the direct link to the Dick O'Kane Sonar Only tutorial.

Something is strange. There have been 12 downloads of the WernerSobe video and 7 of mine this week. That points to a site maintenance issue there. Try again! I'd still love to get these on Subsim where they belong. Maybe YouTube is the way to go.

[General Tso]

Originally Posted by razark

I recall reading that the early skippers tried sonar only attacks at the beginning of the war. It's what they practiced before the war. Having an exposed periscope spotted during a training exercise was likely to result in a bad career path for the skipper.

That agrees 100% with what I read, but it was even worse than that. The training exercises included aircraft. The submarine had to travel down a predetermined corridor and the aircraft new the exact position of that corridor. With training like that it's no wonder the captains that started the war where overly cautious.

[ETR3(SS)]

Originally Posted by General Tso

That agrees 100% with what I read, but it was even worse than that. The training exercises included aircraft. The submarine had to travel down a predetermined corridor and the aircraft new the exact position of that corridor. With training like that it's no wonder the captains that started the war where overly cautious.

You'll be glad to know that 60+ years later nothing has changed.

[Rockin Robbins]

It all has to do with who is making the rules for the war exercises: the surface guys or the sub jockeys. Unfortunately, the exercises are usually set up to make the surface fleet look good. Rank has its privileges.