[REL] Dark Waters

[Captain Prise]

Huh, so they are just really hard to find eh? I was certainly about to pull all my hair out of frustration lol. I probably just need to git gud. Does time compression affect the rate at which the ships spawn?

[Fifi]

Originally Posted by Captain Prise

Does time compression affect the rate at which the ships spawn?

No, only for planes

[Gray Lensman]

Originally Posted by Captain Prise

Huh, so they are just really hard to find eh? I was certainly about to pull all my hair out of frustration lol. I probably just need to git gud. Does time compression affect the rate at which the ships spawn?

I don't ever use time compression greater than 1024 and that's just to get close to my patrol area. Once there, I hardly ever exceed time compression of 32 or 64 and when I locate something I keep it at 8 or below when closing.

Not sure about Dark Waters, but depending on the mod, for instance with TMO, I'll run about 2/3 or Standard speeds at 64 or 32 time compression and once an hour, usually at the top of the hour, I'll drop the time compression down to 1 and submerge down below 40 feet maybe even to periscope and check the sonar ring... Kinda like a radar in a sense. Below 40 feet depth, you'll pick things up (10 to 15 miles away that you won't pick up on the surface so you can head towards them (lots of times before even a sonar track appears on the map). You don't have to submerge with the FotRSU mod... the sonar works on the surface. Not sure if this is realistic or not since surface noise probably seriously inhibited sonar capabilities on the surface in WW2. I use this technique quite a bit on the first patrol or two and even use it later in lieu of too much radar usage since the enemy can home in on your radar in latter years of the war.

Hope this helps.

Regards and Good Hunting!

[Captain Prise]

Originally Posted by Gray Lensman

I don't ever use time compression greater than 1024 and that's just to get close to my patrol area. Once there, I hardly ever exceed time compression of 32 or 64 and when I locate something I keep it at 8 or below when closing.

Not sure about Dark Waters, but depending on the mod, for instance with TMO, I'll run about 2/3 or Standard speeds at 64 or 32 time compression and once an hour, usually at the top of the hour, I'll drop the time compression down to 1 and submerge down below 40 feet maybe even to periscope and check the sonar ring... Kinda like a radar in a sense. Below 40 feet depth, you'll pick things up (10 to 15 miles away that you won't pick up on the surface so you can head towards them (lots of times before even a sonar track appears on the map). You don't have to submerge with the FotRSU mod... the sonar works on the surface. Not sure if this is realistic or not since surface noise probably seriously inhibited sonar capabilities on the surface in WW2. I use this technique quite a bit on the first patrol or two and even use it later in lieu of too much radar usage since the enemy can home in on your radar in latter years of the war.

Hope this helps.

Regards and Good Hunting!

Thanks this would help me big time. I'm going to have to adjust my play style

[Gray Lensman]

Originally Posted by Captain Prise

Thanks this would help me big time. I'm going to have to adjust my play style

I'll add a little more here...

When I find one of these "far away" contacts, I'll note the bearing of the "center" of the signal, go to the nav screen, zoom in until you see the bearing ring around the sub. Grab the ruler and draw a quick line from the center of the sub position outwards to the bearing of the "far away" contact. Now you have a "visual" cue on the Nav screen when you zoom out for a larger mileage area view. Come to the heading of the "ruled" line you just made and you're on your way.

I usually close at "Full" speed, especially if I don't have a sonar track showing on the Nav map and I'll close at that speed for 15 to 20 minutes. At that point, if I don't have a sonar track yet, I'll drop back down to periscope depth if necessary to reaquire his more than likely changed bearing. This also gives you a clue which way he may be heading and you might lead him somewhat using your intuition on your next closing leg. At some point, you should acquire a sonar track and you can then close continuously (or lead) on the track itself as you normally would.

I acquire 90% or more of my targets in this manner. Watch your time compression though (keep it low) ... You could be closing on an unidentified warship before you acquire an actual track and/or hear the fast screw noises in the sonar room and your sonar man may not tell you soon enough.

[Mad Mardigan]

Originally Posted by Captain Prise

Thanks this would help me big time. I'm going to have to adjust my play style

That, would be advisable...

Originally Posted by Gray Lensman

I'll add a little more here...

When I find one of these "far away" contacts, I'll note the bearing of the "center" of the signal, go to the nav screen, zoom in until you see the bearing ring around the sub. Grab the ruler and draw a quick line from the center of the sub position outwards to the bearing of the "far away" contact. Now you have a "visual" cue on the Nav screen when you zoom out for a larger mileage area view. Come to the heading of the "ruled" line you just made and you're on your way.

I usually close at "Full" speed, especially if I don't have a sonar track showing on the Nav map and I'll close at that speed for 15 to 20 minutes. At that point, if I don't have a sonar track yet, I'll drop back down to periscope depth if necessary to reaquire his more than likely changed bearing. This also gives you a clue which way he may be heading and you might lead him somewhat using your intuition on your next closing leg. At some point, you should acquire a sonar track and you can then close continuously (or lead) on the track itself as you normally would.

I acquire 90% or more of my targets in this manner. Watch your time compression though (keep it low) ... You could be closing on an unidentified warship before you acquire an actual track and/or hear the fast screw noises in the sonar room and your sonar man may not tell you soon enough.

I too, follow that same strategy...

+ 1

M. M.

[Captain Prise]

So I've been following your guide strategies and I can say that I have been really successful. Started this campaign last night then started to find and sink ships left and right! So big thanks yall

Do you guys play on the Pacific or the Atlantic?

[Mad Mardigan]

Originally Posted by Captain Prise

So I've been following your guide strategies and I can say that I have been really successful. Started this campaign last night then started to find and sink ships left and right! So big thanks yall

Do you guys play on the Pacific or the Atlantic?

Can only say this pertains to Me, as I can't speak for any 1 else than that.... but...

Thus far, all of the patrol orders I have gotten, have had Me out on patrol in the Atlantic so far... Not sure just how the campaign files are set up, if they are so that you get orders to say... patrol the Med, or to plot a course for being in the Pacific.

Fifi would be the 1, to give a definitive answer on that aspect...

I do know that near the end of the war, uboats were sent to the Pacific.. where by that time, the U.S. pretty much had that area in lock down. Leigh lights, radar, sonar that was dependable in finding & sinking them along with any subs that the IJN had left.

In short, the Pacific was a death trap by that time. Not that the Atlantic was a picnic, by any stretch of the imagination, either.

M. M.

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Captain Prise

Do you guys play on the Pacific or the Atlantic?

DW was designed for Kaleuns to enjoy playing in and around Europe and the East Coast of the US. Actually there are several theatres of operation available depending on the Start Date of your career and the Base you choose to start at. you can play in the Black Sea, the Med, the Atlantic, the Baltic, the North Sea, and the Arctic. Some of the missions for the Atlantic will take you to the East coast of the US and sunny Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
DW is the next generation of Operation Monson (OpM).
Fifi and some others fixed many of the unexpected features of OpM and added a lot of additional functionality and eye candy.
As originally designed into OpM, playing DW was very different than playing PTO in that you should expect to play your entire career in one boat. there are only a few upgrade opportunities.
Yes, there is path that can get you transferred to either Panang or Djkarta late in the war.
Most probably you should take advantage of the situation and enjoy the European side of the sea war.