Estimate submarine's depth

TYCZYW · 07-14-17, 02:41 PM

Hello Guys,
I've been wondering since in Cold Waters TMA gives us very accurate depth which our threat is at. How is this in real life? Can you calculate depth with such precision?

Thanks and best regards.

jerseytom · 07-14-17, 03:03 PM

Not a SONAR guy, not a submarine guy, not even a Navy guy. Just an engineer guy here.

If you're underwater in 3d space - target depth and bearing/distance I would think are fundamentally no different to measure - particularly with a spherical sensor array.

PL_Harpoon · 07-14-17, 03:10 PM

I think it all depends whether your sonar can get a 3d bearing or not.
If yes, then you don't even need to calculate it separately. Just do a simple trigonometry once you know your target's position.
If no, then things get a little bit more complicated.

MBot · 07-14-17, 04:32 PM

Considering how sound propagates in water and that sound waves that are received from the lower hemisphere might still originate from a source above you, shouldn't it be extremely hard to determine target depth?

The Bandit · 07-14-17, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBot

Considering how sound propagates in water and that sound waves that are received from the lower hemisphere might still originate from a source above you, shouldn't it be extremely hard to determine target depth?

Yes, as far as I know (unless maybe this was changed with some of the new stuff they have out now like WAA and whatever the bottom-bounce donut type deal that's mounted on the bottom of the Virginia class) determining exact depth has always been a problem.

I'd have to find it but one of the manuals for the Mk 37 torpedo basically says since you're probably not going to know your target's depth here's how to bracket with three staggered torpedoes, one shallow (60-300) , one medium (300-700) and one deep (700 and beyond).

My limited understanding of the matter though, when thermoclines are involved and the contact is localized, its usually enough to figure out "above or below the layer" and set the weapon for that approx depth (shallower or deeper than the layer) and let it do its work.

SeaCadt07 · 07-14-17, 08:27 PM

Estimating depth is just that. An estimate. But you can usually get a ballpark idea from context, such as acoustic conditions, weather, geography, Intel, time of day, mission, etc.

Unfortunately, no video game is going to be able to give you all the context you would have in real life to figure it out for yourself so the game just gives you the info.

07-14-17, 02:41 PM	#1
TYCZYW Swabbie Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 8 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Estimate submarine's depth Hello Guys, I've been wondering since in Cold Waters TMA gives us very accurate depth which our threat is at. How is this in real life? Can you calculate depth with such precision? Thanks and best regards.

07-14-17, 03:03 PM	#2
jerseytom Watch Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 19 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Not a SONAR guy, not a submarine guy, not even a Navy guy. Just an engineer guy here. If you're underwater in 3d space - target depth and bearing/distance I would think are fundamentally no different to measure - particularly with a spherical sensor array.

07-14-17, 03:10 PM	#3
PL_Harpoon Engineer Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 210 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 4	I think it all depends whether your sonar can get a 3d bearing or not. If yes, then you don't even need to calculate it separately. Just do a simple trigonometry once you know your target's position. If no, then things get a little bit more complicated.

07-14-17, 04:32 PM	#4
MBot Loader Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 90 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Considering how sound propagates in water and that sound waves that are received from the lower hemisphere might still originate from a source above you, shouldn't it be extremely hard to determine target depth?

07-14-17, 08:27 PM	#6
SeaCadt07 Swabbie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 11 Downloads: 209 Uploads: 0	Estimating depth is just that. An estimate. But you can usually get a ballpark idea from context, such as acoustic conditions, weather, geography, Intel, time of day, mission, etc. Unfortunately, no video game is going to be able to give you all the context you would have in real life to figure it out for yourself so the game just gives you the info.