Binoculars

[Hitman]

Yes they were Zeiss 7x50 but many commanders had 10x ones, like Otto Kretschmer.

For normal search and horizon scanning 7x50s are more efficient in the moving deck of a ship, but once you know where the object you are looking for is, the 10x binoculars are of course superior for a better view. Since the captain came to the bridge only when he was called, he found of more practical use the larger zoom ones.

BTW not coincidentally, the US crews also used 7x50s.

In my optics mod for GWX and NYGM, the scopes have their historic zoom levesl of 1,5x/6x and the UZO the correct 7x one (As itw as mainly a targeting device) but I also increased the magnification of the binoculars to 10x. If Kretschmer had them, I also will when commanding my U-Boat

EDIT: Here's some interesting information from a store specialized in optics:

GENERAL NOTES:

- A marine binocular is a binocular that is used onboard a ship or boat and as such, it will have some fairly specific features. The vast majority of marine binoculars will be the classic 7x50, although other sizes can be used if they have the necessary features.
MAGNIFICATION - (the first number in a binocular)

- Because the deck of a ship or boat is not a stable observing platform, magnification must be kept low for the sake of steadiness. 7x is by far the most popular magnification in a marine binocular and for good reason. A 7x binocular is easy to hold but also powerful enough to be a serious observation tool. Higher magnifications can be used, but unless they are combined with IS (image stabilization) systems, any gain in image detail may be lost to image unsteadiness. In fact, under marginal conditions, you may see more detail with a steady 7x than a shaky 10x.
OBJECTIVE SIZE - (the second number in a binocular)

- The classic 7x50 marine binocular will have a 50mm lens. This is not just a matter of image brightness, though for night use, the 50mm objective will transmit more light than smaller objective. A 50mm objective, when combined with 7x magnification also produces a large exit pupil - the beam of light that leaves the eyepieces. This large exit pupil is much more forgiving than a smaller exit pupil when the eyes are not lined up precisely on the eyepieces, as might happen when you try to observe form the deck of a moving boat.
PRISM TYPE

- The classic 7x50 marine binocular is a porro prism, though, optically there is no reason a roof prism could not be used. The porro prism body, however, has more room to accommodate extras like a rangefinder and compass that are often found on a marine binocular. The robust body of a porro prism may also provide a firmer grip during inclement weather. The best porro prisms will be made of Bak-4 glass.

Originally Posted by Hitman

Yes they were Zeiss 7x50 but many commanders had 10x ones, like Otto Kretschmer.

Hey Hitman, how did you increase the magnification to 10 for the binoculars?

[irish1958]

Use the mini tweaker, and set the value to 10.