basic hydrophopne tutorial

[derrinurban]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

The problem with that approach is that 20 minutes-at-full speed later you are almost sure to be where the target is not, because you haven't gathered any intelligence before starting the run, and are pretty much hoping to be lucky.

Why not stay submerged and let the shift in angle tell you the rough direction to start with? Takes 1 to 10 minutes of game time, and at least tells you up front whether he is moving to your port or starboard. At the same time, the speed at which the target direction changes may give you a sense of proximity.

Also, if you are tracking a target that BdU informed you about, you already know the approximate speed and direction. Using that and the angle change over 10 minutes, you can in fact calculate a rough position and heading. At least enough to more than double your chances of finding him.

Armed with that first intelligence, then you make a 10-12 minute run on the surface (or less if you sense he is closer), rinse and repeat.

The good thing is that if you run your game at TC1 once you get into a tactical situation, you have a wealth of time to weigh data, think things through, fiddle around with the calculator, look up advice here on the forum. A merchant moving at 5 knots is going to the bottom, period, so there is no reason to be impatient.

This is the approach I use for contacts that I find or if I am playing with map contacts off. For any contacts that BdU gives me, I plot an intercept course based upon the information given and do not bother with the hydrophone until I am close to the intercept area.

I may have mistated or simplified a few things in my original post.

I usually run at standard (better fuel economy) to start and up it to full later if need be (chasing a target heading away from me). I choose 15-20 mins. (in good weather) because if I hear him on hydrophone but do not have visual yet, this time frame generally gets me in visual range. If not another quick check will allow an adjustment and get me there. Then I can plot a proper intercept and set up for a shot.

The reason I do not wait submerged to gather more information is that I have lost contacts this way. Obviously they must have been at the very outskirts of detection range and moving away. Even using my method I have lost some contacts that I would have to presume were the faster moving tankers.

As I stated above this is strictly for acquiring targets I find and before I get into a tactical situation. Generally once I find a contact and get close enough to shadow him and gather the information about his course, I plot my intercept or run around (just at the edge of visual). I totally agree that once you are in the tactical situation (5-15 km from firing position), have nothing but time to gather/tweak the information required for a firing solution.