What's the best way to find targets?

Decoman · 03-05-10, 09:42 AM

I am curious as to how a uboat commander would look for targets. One could sail in a zig zag pattern on the surface, but it would be limited to the visual range. I wonder what is the visual range approximately. I guess it is the same all over the planet, with the far distant targets eventually disappearing beyond the horizon.

Else I understand that the hydrophone in-game would allow for listening out to ca 30km range. But then moving around submerged all the time would be a slow process. I wonder what might be the optimal depth for listening with the hydrophones, searching for ships traveling on the surface. I tend to simply dive to 40-50m depth for using the hydrophones.

jhelix70 · 03-05-10, 09:59 AM

Not sure what was done historically, but even when traveling on the surface I submerge occasionally to listen with the hydrophone...make sure you dive to a reasonable depth then order all stop to minimize the noise the sub is making.

bert8for3 · 03-05-10, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decoman

... I wonder what might be the optimal depth for listening with the hydrophones, searching for ships traveling on the surface. I tend to simply dive to 40-50m depth for using the hydrophones.

Good question. IIRC in sh3 it didn't matter, in sh5 I certainly pick up prop noise at peri depth, but is that optimal or does it not make a difference?

And not to go OT, has anyone noticed thermal layers yet?

wetwarev7 · 03-05-10, 12:01 PM

I suggest a submerging for a hydrophone check every two hours while patrolling. Submerge to 50 or so and come to a full stop. And man the hydrophones yourself, unlike the AI, you don't have to be upgraded to hear everything in the vicinity

I've picked up so many more contacts on the hydrophones than any other method.

piri_reis · 03-05-10, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetwarev7

I've picked up so many more contacts on the hydrophones than any other method.

Generally at what distances do you hear them? What was your max?
Trying to figure out if there is a cutoff range for the sounds like back in SH3.

wetwarev7 · 03-05-10, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piri_reis

Generally at what distances do you hear them? What was your max?
Trying to figure out if there is a cutoff range for the sounds like back in SH3.

I'm not sure, certainly much further then could be seen. There have been many times where I spent all day chasing, submerging, chasing, etc before visually spotting the target.

I would like to point out this is based on SH3-SH4. I have yet to leave shallow waters in SH5 yet.

03-05-10, 12:01 PM	#4
wetwarev7 Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Deep Waters Posts: 871 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	I suggest a submerging for a hydrophone check every two hours while patrolling. Submerge to 50 or so and come to a full stop. And man the hydrophones yourself, unlike the AI, you don't have to be upgraded to hear everything in the vicinity I've picked up so many more contacts on the hydrophones than any other method. __________________ Guess I should change my sig since SH5 has an offline mode now

03-05-10, 09:42 AM	#1
Decoman Frogman Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 306 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	I am curious as to how a uboat commander would look for targets. One could sail in a zig zag pattern on the surface, but it would be limited to the visual range. I wonder what is the visual range approximately. I guess it is the same all over the planet, with the far distant targets eventually disappearing beyond the horizon. Else I understand that the hydrophone in-game would allow for listening out to ca 30km range. But then moving around submerged all the time would be a slow process. I wonder what might be the optimal depth for listening with the hydrophones, searching for ships traveling on the surface. I tend to simply dive to 40-50m depth for using the hydrophones.

03-05-10, 09:59 AM	#2
jhelix70 Sparky Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 152 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Not sure what was done historically, but even when traveling on the surface I submerge occasionally to listen with the hydrophone...make sure you dive to a reasonable depth then order all stop to minimize the noise the sub is making.