Best timing for snorkel?

[zygoma]

I use the schnorkel a lot, but I learned early on to have the observation periscope raised and scanning the skies frequently. While that does take the attention of one of the bridge crew almost to exclusion of any other activity, it *does* let me know if I've got a flight of B-24s or Sunderlands figuring on using my poor little lifeline for bombing & strafing practice. And while I can't quantify how much better/safer I do, it seems that even without actually looking through the scope, just having it deployed seems to keep the bastage flyboys away from me.
I run at standard speed submerged with the schnorkel raised, figuring that higher RPMs on the shaft going to the alternator (or generators?) to charge the battery produce more current at higher speeds, so he batteries charge more quickly.
Maybe it's just dumb luck on my part. In fact, with my young career in SH3, it can safely be attributed to the majority of good things that happen during my patrols.
Dunno if it'll work for everybody --- ymmv, of course.
Cheers,
-- Zygoma --
__________________________________________________ ______
May the number of your submarine's surface operations exceed your dives by exactly one at the conclusion of your career.

[Shkval]

Will WO report airplanes even if map update is turned off?

[Frenchy849]

Originally Posted by Shkval

Will WO report airplanes even if map update is turned off?

Well,of course,it only stops contacts to be on the map.

[Shkval]

I mean trough periscope, not on surface?

[Hinrich Schwab]

Just to throw this out there, SHIII does not model a very important reality regarding snorkeling; high speeds break the snorkel mast. To best emulate the realism regarding snorkeling, never exceed Ahead 1/3. Speeds approaching ~10 knots would break the snorkel. Rough weather (Sea State > 5) would make snorkeling impractical due to snorkel flooding.

That being said...

My routine is battery only during the day. After dusk, snorkel to full charge and alternate battery and snorkeling every three hours. Top off the battery around dawn and repeat.

[TorpLos]

Originally Posted by Hinrich Schwab

Just to throw this out there, SHIII does not model a very important reality regarding snorkeling; high speeds break the snorkel mast. To best emulate the realism regarding snorkeling, never exceed Ahead 1/3. Speeds approaching ~10 knots would break the snorkel. Rough weather (Sea State > 5) would make snorkeling impractical due to snorkel flooding.

That being said...

My routine is battery only during the day. After dusk, snorkel to full charge and alternate battery and snorkeling every three hours. Top off the battery around dawn and repeat.

Thats how i play. I never run higher than 5knoten.

In my first patrol in May 1944 i started the routine of diving to 25 m at day. Surface to recharge once (HSIE patch prevents staying under to long, you waste oxygen) then dive again until night. When night comes i raise my Schnorkel and cruise at 4-5 knots. Havent been harassed by that method yet.
However.... I got a little bold and didnt dive one morning. And that was the end of U-352... Didnt even hear the bombs, direct hit, uboot destroyed.. After i spend all that time going round the pening route (Spanish Coast). Gargh

I had a quick question. Since running with the Schorkel was so hard on crews does GWX or NYGM emulate that? I thought i read somewhere in NYGM manual that running with the schornkel in high winds will fatigue the crew quicker, modeling the air being sucked in and out and all that other wonderful jazz that came with being a late war uboot crew.

[Hinrich Schwab]

Originally Posted by TorpLos

I had a quick question. Since running with the Schorkel was so hard on crews does GWX or NYGM emulate that? I thought i read somewhere in NYGM manual that running with the schornkel in high winds will fatigue the crew quicker, modeling the air being sucked in and out and all that other wonderful jazz that came with being a late war uboot crew.

I'd have to double-check, but since I use the no fatigue model, I haven't noticed. The problem with the snorkel is that most had faulty floats. They would either stick open (flooding the diesels and the sub) or stick closed (smothering the crew). When the float would open and close normally in poor weather conditions, the diesels sucking the air briefly out of the compartments would cause painful pressure changes in the boat that would strain or rupture the eardrums of the crew. This is probably what you are thinking of regarding the modeling.

[Shkval]

Originally Posted by Hinrich Schwab

My routine is battery only during the day. After dusk, snorkel to full charge and alternate battery and snorkeling every three hours. Top off the battery around dawn and repeat.

At what speed during the day... and night... 2 knots...3? And how long is the "black" period of time when Brits got radar and "we" don't have snorkel or any kind of RW... 6 months or longer? Was that the "Black March"? I remember the first time I got hit in the middle of the night out of nowhere... very unpleasant experience...
What do you do in those circumstances?

[Hinrich Schwab]

Originally Posted by Shkval

At what speed during the day... and night... 2 knots...3? And how long is the "black" period of time when Brits got radar and "we" don't have snorkel or any kind of RW... 6 months or longer? Was that the "Black March"? I remember the first time I got hit in the middle of the night out of nowhere... very unpleasant experience...
What do you do in those circumstances?

Speed isn't so much an issue as aircraft will find you regardless. The radar is really that good. Between March and Black May is when the new radar sets start coming out. There is about a 9-month gap between that and the snorkel. Your best bet is to run submerged for three hours, surface long enough to top off batteries and repeat. Even then, you still may be jumped by aircraft. The idea is to minimize being on the surface as much as possible.