Automatic Map Updates

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

As Randomizer said, if you leave the scope up they will warn you automatically, it Map Contact Updates is turned on. With the Assisted Plotting Mod you may not see them, but you'll still get the warning and have time to dive.

Are you certain this is the case?

Have found that even with map contacts on you receive no warning whatsoever when aircraft become visible with the periscope up nor does TC drop to x1. When an aircraft icon appears, you need to manually reduce TC and take evasive action. This is the reason for the high map screen zoom and low TC when snorting.

I expect this is because the game cannot place crew member at the periscope to actually sound an alert but could well be wrong.

Since I don't use the Assisted Plotting Mod, perhaps someone who does can set up some test runs, snorkeling with the scope up, to confirm Sailor Steve's observation.

[Sailor Steve]

You could be right. I've never played far enough in to have a schnorkel. I though others had said that with the scope up the crew will spot planes.

Sorry if I'm wrong on that.

[PappyCain]

I recall the first time (and only time ) I got nailed by the schnorkel up, and aircraft radar locked on and they nailed me. (sunk)

I did not know the crew could spot aircraft with the scope up and map it. Do they yell anything? (Dastchtinzoombomberthingyacomin!!)

At least my immersion will be helped with knoweldge that the pericscope will identify aircraft and it will show plotted on the map - correct?

At least my immersion will be helped with knoweldge that the pericscope will identify aircraft and it will show plotted on the map - correct?

With map contacts on, aircraft will appear as triangle icons on the map screen at a range of about 5000m give or take. No audible or text warning is provided, the icon appears and you see it and react or miss it and probably die.

Not all aircraft detected visually will spot you, occasionally they will fly past without detecting you.

In the map screen, the periscope view is 360*, I visually check sea and sky when reaching snorkel depth (part of the Captain's job description) and then go to the map screen, zoomed to the 2500m scale, raise the snorkel and when the charge battery icon lights up, go to Ahead 1/3 and put the batteries on charge. This gives a speed of about 5-knots in typical sea states.

Aircraft are not identified by type unless you first select it and then ask the WO for target identification. This is a guess, I never bother; the merest detection of an aircraft is enough for me to lower all masts, crank on the amps and dive, generally doing a turn 90* towards the bearing to the aircraft. Have found that turning towards the contact is generally better than turning away because it seems that they will tend to drop ordnance behind you, usually far enough for you to avoid damage.

I do not make a radical course change when a mast-mounted sensor detects a radar signature although the ESM line provides a bearing to the emitter. No German RWR provided bearing information to my knowledge so without this info, executing an evasive course seems wrong.

[Mittelwaechter]

I don't know what happens with map contacts on, I never use it. But with a raised scope any contact (ship or aircraft) drops me out of TC whenever the contact comes in visual range.
This is my signal to dive while snorkeling.
If I get a hydrophone contact - fine.
If not - I wait for the bombs to fall behind me.
If nothing happens the bee didn't see me.

Originally Posted by Mittelwaechter

I don't know what happens with map contacts on, I never use it. But with a raised scope any contact (ship or aircraft) drops me out of TC whenever the contact comes in visual range.
This is my signal to dive while snorkeling.
If I get a hydrophone contact - fine.
If not - I wait for the bombs to fall behind me.
If nothing happens the bee didn't see me.

Interesting; this seems contrary to what I have experienced except when the mast-mounted radar detector picks up a signal but if that's how it works for you - Excellent and Good Hunting!

[teapot156]

Originally Posted by Randomizer

Interesting; this seems contrary to what I have experienced except when the mast-mounted radar detector picks up a signal but if that's how it works for you - Excellent and Good Hunting!

you might want to consider messing with your time compression settings in SH3 cmdr. It's really useful to set all the "spotting" time changes to 1x so that you have time to react. Hopefully you havent tried this yet and it helps!

[u crank]

Originally Posted by Randomizer

I do not make a radical course change when a mast-mounted sensor detects a radar signature although the ESM line provides a bearing to the emitter. No German RWR provided bearing information to my knowledge so without this info, executing an evasive course seems wrong.

I always wondered about that.That's good to know for realism sake. I assume that the RWR could not distinguish between a ship and an aircraft. Is that correct?

[PappyCain]

If I used the schnorkle (and do not like it) but I was able to get get a map mark of any aircraft, I would dive and hard right rudder and run 90 degrees from my original track ... as a flight sim nutter, I know a plane in a dive is committed and cannot deviate well enough to comp for my change in course. Anyway, radar technology aboard the aircraft was too much for the schnorkle usage IMHO, at night one was better off running on the surface IMHO to recharge (assuming relatively calm seas and a watch and flak gunners). Again, just my thoughts which others may dismiss. LOL