Ever pulled a Capt. Dodge?

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Puster Bill

I've been at least 25 meters deep in the ocean, and it seems to me that during daylight hours you could look straight up and be able to see if there was a ship above you under almost all but the very poorest visibility. When there is a large contrast (light surface, dark ship) like that, you don't have to be able to see details in order to perceive that something is above you.

Provided the periscope could handle being unhoused at 25 meters, of course. Anyone remember how deep U-977 was when her observation scope was busted due to being left up during a dive?

I am not a diver, but diving friends tell me the difference between a sunny, clear day and a cloudy one is enormous even at fairly shallow depths (and not being a diver, I don't know how deep that is, but certainly not more than we are talking about).

It certainly seems plausible that you could look up with the scope at a fairly shallow depth and see the shadow of a ship, if the sun was right. Makes sense. But keeping it in sight while you align your boat and match its speed (especially if it is weaving) seems a whole 'nother problem.