Easiest position for starting out

[derstosstrupp]

Sounds great, I am US central too. I’ll look you up tonight and we can connect sometime soon when you have time.

[Pisces]

I'm sure derstosstrup will explain. But as a quick explanation. There are 2 sort of old-style thermometer gauges at the diving-station. The red one shows the level of the surface in respect to the outlines of the extended (attack) periscope and bridge level. It is called the 'papenberg' meter. The marks show the depth in meters of the boat. At 14.5 m the extended attack scope will be at the surface. At around 12 meters the extended observation periscope (in the control room) will be on the surface. At around 10 meters the deck of the bridge will be underwater, and the walls of the platform will have breached. This is when you need to have the hatch closed! At around 8m you will have decks awash. When fully surfaced with ballast tanks empty you will see the red column bob around 5-6 meters depth to keel.

The blue 'thermometer' indicates your tilt/dive angle. Tilting upwards shows a degree angle below 0, and downwards is above the 0. Though this does not seem to do much in terms of diving rate in meters per minute.

[Pisces]

That observer role you mention, that sounds pretty much like what the captain is doing most of the time.