Submerged radio messages

Captain Drastic · 01-16-25, 03:59 PM

I routinely cruise at 21 meters (not correct, sorry, see below) in order to receive messages while submerged in GWX. In fact, I have this modded into my keyboard commands in place of snorkel depth, which then becomes the order "Go to cruising depth". Snorkel depth I set manually, although for the Type XXI I set it the same as periscope depth. You can still only transmit while surfaced, though.

***Further testing shows 21m too deep for messages. 19m gets messages.

Shadowblade · 01-19-25, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Drastic

I routinely cruise at 21 meters in order to receive messages while submerged in GWX.

why 21 m? I use periscope depth (13 m) usually so I can check surroundings when anything is detected.

Hooston · 01-19-25, 01:46 PM

in rough weather there is the risk of the conning tower being exposed at periscope depth. Also in very calm conditions with clear water an aircraft could spot a submarine at periscope depth.
Are these in the game? No idea.
i also tend to sit at around 25m when cruising submerged.

Captain Drastic · 01-19-25, 04:13 PM

I apologize for going back and editing the previous post, but I didn't want something incorrect in the record.
It turns out that 20 meters is the deepest depth that is both below periscope depth and also able to pick up messages. However, if the depth goes just slightly below 20m then no messages. So 19m is the best. Periscope depth is known as the danger zone because of the risk of colliding with surface vessels.
However, 19m is still not enough to clear all surface vessels. After more testing I found that even 21 meters is not deep enough, you can get your conning tower smacked by a large tanker. In order to be safe, I am going to be setting my cruising depth below 21m, 25m as Hooston said sounds good. That means to receive messages you have to come up to 19m "comms depth" at certain points in submerged cruising.
And yes, the conning tower can get exposed in rough weather at periscope depth- the game models this- it's probably worst in a Type II. I have never been spotted by aircraft at periscope depth, so is probably not modelled in the game. Still, nice to have a camo paint scheme in the Med, just in case.
All of this is what I found running GWX, I don't know if other mods are different.

Shadowblade · 01-20-25, 06:59 AM

@Hooston - good, for rough weather going deeper makes sense.
I dont think that spotting comletely submerged uboat by ASW aircraft is ingame. But when they saw you diving then sure, they will try to attack you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Drastic

However, 19m is still not enough to clear all surface vessels. After more testing I found that even 21 meters is not deep enough, you can get your conning tower smacked by a large tanker. In order to be safe, I am going to be setting my cruising depth below 21m, 25m as Hooston said sounds good.

I never had this issue, because my hydrophone crew would detect nearby ship and after planning her course I would see if the ship is on collision course (for neutral ship). If it would be enemy ship then I would try to sink it first.

Captain Drastic · 01-20-25, 02:58 PM

What depth you cruise at is really not a game problem, it is part of your style of play. Some people like a more immersive playing style and try to follow the instructions given in the WW2 U-boat commanders handbook for this type of thing. Other people just do whatever the game lets them get away with. As far as being immersive the list of ways to work with the game is seemingly endless.
The Just Follow Orders Mod is a great example of this. Some people love it for the added realism, other people don't want to bother with stuff like that. I myself am a big history buff so I like more historical details in my games.

Hooston · 01-20-25, 05:01 PM

My central heating boiler is in my bathroom and it has just sprung a leak. Many people would see this as a crisis, but for me it is an opportunity to take the SH3 experience to the next level.

Shadowblade · 01-20-25, 05:05 PM

@Captain Drastic: well, I follow the historical guidelines like G7a/G7e torpedo storage, but I didnt read that uboats had any recommended cruising depth

01-16-25, 03:59 PM	#1
Captain Drastic Machinist's Mate Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 129 Downloads: 644 Uploads: 0	I routinely cruise at 21 meters (not correct, sorry, see below) in order to receive messages while submerged in GWX. In fact, I have this modded into my keyboard commands in place of snorkel depth, which then becomes the order "Go to cruising depth". Snorkel depth I set manually, although for the Type XXI I set it the same as periscope depth. You can still only transmit while surfaced, though. **Further testing shows 21m too deep for messages. 19m gets messages. Last edited by Captain Drastic; 01-20-25 at 12:07 AM. Reason: Further testing shows 21 m too deep for messages.*

01-19-25, 01:46 PM	#3
Hooston Frogman Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 293 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	irrational behaviour? in rough weather there is the risk of the conning tower being exposed at periscope depth. Also in very calm conditions with clear water an aircraft could spot a submarine at periscope depth. Are these in the game? No idea. i also tend to sit at around 25m when cruising submerged.

01-19-25, 04:13 PM	#4
Captain Drastic Machinist's Mate Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 129 Downloads: 644 Uploads: 0	I apologize for going back and editing the previous post, but I didn't want something incorrect in the record. It turns out that 20 meters is the deepest depth that is both below periscope depth and also able to pick up messages. However, if the depth goes just slightly below 20m then no messages. So 19m is the best. Periscope depth is known as the danger zone because of the risk of colliding with surface vessels. However, 19m is still not enough to clear all surface vessels. After more testing I found that even 21 meters is not deep enough, you can get your conning tower smacked by a large tanker. In order to be safe, I am going to be setting my cruising depth below 21m, 25m as Hooston said sounds good. That means to receive messages you have to come up to 19m "comms depth" at certain points in submerged cruising. And yes, the conning tower can get exposed in rough weather at periscope depth- the game models this- it's probably worst in a Type II. I have never been spotted by aircraft at periscope depth, so is probably not modelled in the game. Still, nice to have a camo paint scheme in the Med, just in case. All of this is what I found running GWX, I don't know if other mods are different. Last edited by Captain Drastic; 01-20-25 at 12:12 AM. Reason: Further testing shows 21m too deep for messages, and 19m too shallow to avoid collisions.

01-20-25, 02:58 PM	#6
Captain Drastic Machinist's Mate Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 129 Downloads: 644 Uploads: 0	What depth you cruise at is really not a game problem, it is part of your style of play. Some people like a more immersive playing style and try to follow the instructions given in the WW2 U-boat commanders handbook for this type of thing. Other people just do whatever the game lets them get away with. As far as being immersive the list of ways to work with the game is seemingly endless. The Just Follow Orders Mod is a great example of this. Some people love it for the added realism, other people don't want to bother with stuff like that. I myself am a big history buff so I like more historical details in my games. Last edited by Captain Drastic; 01-20-25 at 03:19 PM.

01-20-25, 05:01 PM	#7
Hooston Frogman Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 293 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Immersion My central heating boiler is in my bathroom and it has just sprung a leak. Many people would see this as a crisis, but for me it is an opportunity to take the SH3 experience to the next level.

01-20-25, 05:05 PM	#8
Shadowblade Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 734 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	@Captain Drastic: well, I follow the historical guidelines like G7a/G7e torpedo storage, but I didnt read that uboats had any recommended cruising depth __________________ Kapitänleutnant Vlad von Carstein - U-Flotilla Saltzwedel - U-123, Type IXB SH3 GWX 3.0