Doubts about radar, planes and anti-aircraft artillery

[Cajun Kaleun]

Originally Posted by jorgegonzalito

After attacking a convoy and sinking 3 merchant ships and a destroyer (Strait of Mindoro mission) and spending some time avoiding another, my batteries were at 40% of their capacity. I'm already going to meet another convoy and I need to have a full load. I also wanted to test if I could keep a plane away without having to submerge, but apparently it is not convenient to do that, because either I did something wrong or the gunners do not act automatically in the game. When I had the contacts on on the map, I would see planes marked with a triangular icon approaching, and they didn't take me that much by surprise. I have removed some items to increase the realism to 65% so far. But now they don't appear on the radar screen. I have answered your question friend, but you have not answered mine: does the radar detect or not detect airplanes? If I don't see them on the screen, how can the crew signal a radar contact?

Razark already answered the question about the SD radar. As to the rest of it the only options I have is external camera for screenshots and updating map because I'm not doing all the plotting so my realism is pretty high but don't remember the number. Your batteries are really low it seems like you are doing excessive maneuvering submerged.

I track surfaced as long as possible until I plot their track and get my firing position setup then I typically haul at flank or lower depending on distance to get ahead of the convoy then dive and lay in wait at about 0.5 knot while setting up my firing solutions. Then launch my fish and dive deep at flank then cut back to silent running and listen. Then if I want to re-engage the convoy I will break visual then surface and rinse and repeat. Learning battery management is key with WW2 subs and excessive submerged high speed maneuvering is going to leave you in bad spots.

As to the AA make sure again like razark said you have the correct options selected otherwise they won't engage but you should never be engaging aircraft outside of an S boat. American fleet boats have the technological advantage throughout the war against IJN aircraft and shouldn't be getting bounced like U-boots by the Royal Navy and RAF.

[jorgegonzalito]

Originally Posted by Cajun Kaleun

Razark already answered the question about the SD radar. As to the rest of it the only options I have is external camera for screenshots and updating map because I'm not doing all the plotting so my realism is pretty high but don't remember the number. Your batteries are really low it seems like you are doing excessive maneuvering submerged.

I track surfaced as long as possible until I plot their track and get my firing position setup then I typically haul at flank or lower depending on distance to get ahead of the convoy then dive and lay in wait at about 0.5 knot while setting up my firing solutions. Then launch my fish and dive deep at flank then cut back to silent running and listen. Then if I want to re-engage the convoy I will break visual then surface and rinse and repeat. Learning battery management is key with WW2 subs and excessive submerged high speed maneuvering is going to leave you in bad spots.

As to the AA make sure again like razark said you have the correct options selected otherwise they won't engage but you should never be engaging aircraft outside of an S boat. American fleet boats have the technological advantage throughout the war against IJN aircraft and shouldn't be getting bounced like U-boots by the Royal Navy and RAF.

Even sailing at a third the battery wears out quickly. Excessive maneuvers? I approach the convoy sailing on the surface until in the distance I see the shadow of the ships. Then I dive in and keep sailing until I reach the convoy. I must avoid being detected by the escorts, but at the same time I must at least match my speed with that of the convoy in order to catch up, and get within firing range. I suppose that everyone has their own criteria, I act with common sense although the game seems to me that it has very little of that.