Tips For Finding Subs With Sonarbuoys

[Doc Savage]

What kinds of buoys spacings do people use for the Passive buoys?
I find that I can barely get any detection range on the Passives - VLAD/DIFAR - usually <1000 yards against Akulas and 688s in goodish sonar conditions. Against Kilos or Seawolves I seem to get nothing even if they pass pretty much directly under the buoy.
So far, I mainly use MAD as my primary detection method in the P3 and the Active Dipper in the helo and use the passives only for classification after I detect something or to track torpedo launches. I'm sure there must be a better way to use passives but I'm really unable to figure out how.

(I've read the P3 guide on SubGuru pretty throughly as well as several posts on the subject in this forum. It's good info and I understand the tactics but it seems to be more for the stock db detection ranges or louder subs like the AI nukes (OSCAR/Typhoon etc)

[SeaQueen]

Originally Posted by Doc Savage

What kinds of buoys spacings do people use for the Passive buoys?
I find that I can barely get any detection range on the Passives - VLAD/DIFAR - usually <1000 yards against Akulas and 688s in goodish sonar conditions.

It depends. I basically use the mission editor as a mission planner, and make use of what the sim says. I make notes of it and stick it in a PowerPoint slide that's intended to go with the scenario.

Against Kilos or Seawolves I seem to get nothing even if they pass pretty much directly under the buoy.

That sounds about right.

So far, I mainly use MAD as my primary detection method in the P3 and the Active Dipper in the helo and use the passives only for classification after I detect something or to track torpedo launches. I'm sure there must be a better way to use passives but I'm really unable to figure out how.

Nothing wrong with that, sometimes a non-acoustic search might be the way to go, particularly against quiet diesels in shallow water. It's not necessarily very efficient over large areas, though. It also means you can't maintain very long barriers. Part of playing the game is making the decision about what the best sensor for a given search is. Another thing that might be worthwhile sometimes is searching with DICASS.

I also almost always use the dipper active.

(I've read the P3 guide on SubGuru pretty throughly as well as several posts on the subject in this forum. It's good info and I understand the tactics but it seems to be more for the stock db detection ranges or louder subs like the AI nukes (OSCAR/Typhoon etc)

Not necessarily. You need to understand the acoustic environment and the threat well enough to understand that every sensor is not necessarily suitable for chasing after every type of target all the time. From that, you can choose a tactic you think will be appropriate. Sometimes, the best bet might just be to turn the radar on and watch for him to surface, or else set up a barrier with the MAD. Sonobuoys should not ALWAYS be the answer. They're one tool in your toolbox.

[Beer]

Buoy Spacing is a function of the detection ranges of the Target of interest.
I would recommend using show truth and do some testing on various targets to determine the ranges of what you intend to hunt, noting layer location and various buoys type. Generally most P-3C activity is passive only.

Be sure to practice ROE, that would include Classifying the target before you go weapons free, that means a visual, Acoustic Data, or ESM confirming an unknown sub is in fact the target of interest. This is tough with a those pesky targets with the short ranges, but it is also the real life challenges faced by the crews who do this day to day.

Beer

[Deadeye313]

In a P-3, actually, you can confirm, without a doubt, whether a contact is a sub. If the MAD sensor also gives a SAD spike, it can only be a sub. And unless you're playing with show allies off, you can be pretty sure it's the enemy sub.

[Fitz62STG]

Look for threat frequencies on the buoy and then go directional. That's real world experience talking.