First Real Career

[SteamWake]

First off welcome to sub sim.

Glad you found them and they could help.

I dident have time to read your entire post while at work but seems like a good report.

Two things jumped out from my breif scan though.

"No torpedo impacts heard"... It is not at all uncommon to have two duds in a row. Hell I had 6 in a row one time. However there are a couple of things that alot of nubs overlook. 1.) Dont forget to open the torpedo bay doors first (Q key) forgetting to do so will screw with your solutions and make you miss aft. 2.) Double check your depth settings, WWII torpedos are notorious for running deeper than set. I generally set them shallow and go for impact detonations espically in rough weather.

"Subs wouldent run submerged at night in the rain"... Well they might for two reasons. If the sea state was high (big waves) its a hella lot more comfortable below them. Also they might dip occassionally for a sound check. In that sort of weather you can hear alot further than you can see. As you found out. If I was in transit though I probably wouldent bother.

Dont worry I have smacked into the side of a merchant more than once in bad weather. Stuff happens. :rotfl:

[doulos05]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

1.) Dont forget to open the torpedo bay doors first (Q key) forgetting to do so will screw with your solutions and make you miss aft. 2.) Double check your depth settings, WWII torpedos are notorious for running deeper than set. I generally set them shallow and go for impact detonations espically in rough weather.

"Subs wouldent run submerged at night in the rain"... Well they might for two reasons. If the sea state was high (big waves) its a hella lot more comfortable below them. Also they might dip occassionally for a sound check. In that sort of weather you can hear alot further than you can see. As you found out. If I was in transit though I probably wouldent bother.

Q, THAT's how you open the torpedo bay doors. I practically tore my manual apart trying to find that after I read about opening the bay doors here yesterday afternoon! I knew you needed to do that (I mean come on, that line is in every sub movie ever created "Flood tubes 1 and 3 and open torpedo bay doors." Plus, I seem to remember NES's Silent Service not firing at all if you didn't open the doors), but I had no clue how to and so I just assumed that either 1) It was handled auto-magically when using auto-targeting or 2) I was going to have to just live with it.

Also, I checked the depth settings on tube 1, but not tube 3. I set it at 5 feet, the draft on the destroyer I was targeting was 12.5, so I figured I be good. The default was a 10 ft draft. I'm using Mk10's, since I'm on a sugar so I didn't think they had as many problems with duds. I thought their problem was only running deep.

When I actually fired the torpedoes, the seas were smooth, with small swells. I've been lurking the forums since Sunday in preparation for getting to play last night and I saw a few posts about that as well (plus I'm a WWII history buff, so I've seen it mentioned in a few books).

Re: Patrolling, it sounds like I'm just gonna have to run at like 32x or 64x and set a routine. Sonar sweeps at the bottom of the hour and visual sweeps at the top. Good opportunity to practice crash dives anyway, run my sonar sweeps from 130 ft instead of from 55 ft. Also, since running submerged doesn't expend fuel and batteries are rechargable, that means time spent submerged is semi-free MPGs for your boat, right? I know that recharging the batteries reduces the top speed of the engines, so you pay for it eventually. But do you pay less? Also, I've seen somewhere on here something about choosing not to charge your batteries while running on the surface, how does that work?

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by doulos05

Q, THAT's how you open the torpedo bay doors. I practically tore my manual apart trying to find that after I read about opening the bay doors here yesterday afternoon! I knew you needed to do that (I mean come on, that line is in every sub movie ever created "Flood tubes 1 and 3 and open torpedo bay doors." Plus, I seem to remember NES's Silent Service not firing at all if you didn't open the doors), but I had no clue how to and so I just assumed that either 1) It was handled auto-magically when using auto-targeting or 2) I was going to have to just live with it.

Also, I checked the depth settings on tube 1, but not tube 3. I set it at 5 feet, the draft on the destroyer I was targeting was 12.5, so I figured I be good. The default was a 10 ft draft. I'm using Mk10's, since I'm on a sugar so I didn't think they had as many problems with duds. I thought their problem was only running deep.

When I actually fired the torpedoes, the seas were smooth, with small swells. I've been lurking the forums since Sunday in preparation for getting to play last night and I saw a few posts about that as well (plus I'm a WWII history buff, so I've seen it mentioned in a few books).

Re: Patrolling, it sounds like I'm just gonna have to run at like 32x or 64x and set a routine. Sonar sweeps at the bottom of the hour and visual sweeps at the top. Good opportunity to practice crash dives anyway, run my sonar sweeps from 130 ft instead of from 55 ft. Also, since running submerged doesn't expend fuel and batteries are rechargable, that means time spent submerged is semi-free MPGs for your boat, right? I know that recharging the batteries reduces the top speed of the engines, so you pay for it eventually. But do you pay less? Also, I've seen somewhere on here something about choosing not to charge your batteries while running on the surface, how does that work?

Yes go ahead tear up the manual thats about all its good for since about 90% of it came from SH3 :rotfl:

Auto targeting is notorious for being 'wrong' on the depth settings. Also either with or without auto target if you neglect to open the doors the 'system' does it for you but delays your shot by a few seconds. Enough to screw up your solution. Furthermore the torps even the Mk10 tend to run a bit deep. Also Mk10's still have duds just a few less than Mk14's. Best way to narrow down all these pesky variables is to get close to your intended target. I rarely take a shot outside of 1,200 yards. If its a destroyer or other combat ship even closer, like 600 yards. Thats why I rarely take shots at them.

When dipping for a sound check, I typically go to around 80 feet at no TC and do a sweep by myself. Often I can pick up things my sonar man doesent. Then again I dont do it all that often. At 80 feet it doesent take that long to either Periscope depth or surface.

"Batteries are free mpg" False... lets say youre batteries are at 50%, you surface and order ahead 9 knots. You will burn more fuel to maintain that speed than if your batterys were charged. Your best range / speed in the stock game is around 9.5 knots. S boats being the exception. I forget what their best range speed is but they have a hellua range anyhow.

There is a button under the 'command' button set. Looks like a battery with a lightning bolt on it. Click that. You will run without recharging the battery. Usually only used when you need and increased top speed when running down a contact. Try to keep your batts topped off. Someday you will be glad you did.

You seem to rely on time compression alot. I use TC alot too but only go to the really high rates when in transit. While patrolling I rarely exceeded 1024.

[kylesplanet]

Just to add my pitiful bit of knowledge to the discussion, I stay surfaced as much as possible, especially in a S boat because they take forever and a day to charge and if get into trouble with the bad guys, they may keep you pinned down for a long time. If your battery is not up, they'll be building memorials for you.

Welcome aboard at Subsim!

[Diopos]

Originally Posted by doulos05

...
Re: Patrolling, it sounds like I'm just gonna have to run at like 32x or 64x and set a routine. Sonar sweeps at the bottom of the hour and visual sweeps at the top. Good opportunity to practice crash dives anyway, run my sonar sweeps from 130 ft instead of from 55 ft. Also, since running submerged doesn't expend fuel and batteries are rechargable, that means time spent submerged is semi-free MPGs for your boat, right? I know that recharging the batteries reduces the top speed of the engines, so you pay for it eventually. But do you pay less? Also, I've seen somewhere on here something about choosing not to charge your batteries while running on the surface, how does that work?

Doule,
If (and as long as) you don't have a radar your sonar is your "scouting instrument" plus your bridge lookouts. And yes that means regular dives and "listening" periods even more so in low visibility conditions. Don't let your crew do all the "listening". They won't report contacts that have a "low signal" or that they consider as "undentified" even if they are fairly loud. I always "listen" the first sweeps myself, go on time comperssion for the next 10-15 minutes (game time), listen again surface and proceed to the next "listening spot".
And in pitch black visibility going on low speed would probably be SOP.

There is no free MPG when you are submerged. It's a loan. You pay it later when surfaced! Thermodynamics says that energy conversion always carries an entropy cost. Of course the important thing is what Ubisoft says on the issue! :rotfl:

In the control room --> bottom screen --> buttons the one next to the Silent Running button. Extremely important as under certain conditions (damage) your battery may not recharge fully at 100% but only reach 99% which means your diesel engines are essentialy at flank speed (trying to recharge batteries) regardles of your boat speed (this is according to post of more experienced guys and it sure seems they knew what they were talking about).

'Αντε και καλά ταξίδια!

PS: When I started answering to doulos I thought I would be the first to respond, then the daughter started to cry, then the wife phoned, then the mother phoned. FAMILY is DESTROYING my POSTING!!!!
Family values blah!!!!!!
What about posting values?

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Diopos

What about posting values?

Interwebs is serious stuff :rotfl:

[Seminole]

So... I'm not quite sure what to learn from this.

Two things:

1.Never assume you are "safe from" _________....(fill in the blank)

2. Always proceed with extreme caution