Doubts about radar, planes and anti-aircraft artillery

[jorgegonzalito]

Regarding the PPI radar, contacts with surface ships are clearly seen, but sometimes the crew announces a contact that does not appear on the screen. Shortly after, the surface submarine is attacked by one or more aircraft. The obvious question is if the planes are targets so small that the radar doesn't pick them up, and if the radar operator sees the contact, why can't I see it? Another question I have is the light anti-aircraft gun, when activating it there are options such as "fire at discretion" or "attack planes that attack the submarine". I expected the crew at their posts to shoot the plane, but they didn't and I had to dive. So in addition to everything else I have to do as captain, I also have to handle the anti-aircraft?

[Cajun Kaleun]

Why are you fighting planes on the surface? If you are doing that you are already in trouble. I have not had any issues with radar and I have not had aircraft catch me with my pants down except early on in an S boat. Once I got into the Salmon and above I had plenty of warning to dive.

[jorgegonzalito]

Originally Posted by Cajun Kaleun

Why are you fighting planes on the surface? If you are doing that you are already in trouble. I have not had any issues with radar and I have not had aircraft catch me with my pants down except early on in an S boat. Once I got into the Salmon and above I had plenty of warning to dive.

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]

No, the A-scope and PPI only display surface contacts. There is no display for air contacts, except for the contacts on the map. In reality, the SD radar system would not actually give the crew a location, but would only return a distance to the contact, so the map is giving you more information than the crew would have had.


As for the AA guns, you have crew assigned, you've given the order to man them (or gone to battle stations), and have given the Fire at Will order? Beyond that, I don't know what needs to be done, since I hide from airplanes rather than engage them, because airplanes = death.

[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 razark

No, the A-scope and PPI only display surface contacts. There is no display for air contacts, except for the contacts on the map. In reality, the SD radar system would not actually give the crew a location, but would only return a distance to the contact, so the map is giving you more information than the crew would have had.


As for the AA guns, you have crew assigned, you've given the order to man them (or gone to battle stations), and have given the Fire at Will order? Beyond that, I don't know what needs to be done, since I hide from airplanes rather than engage them, because airplanes = death.

My assumption was correct, the radar does not detect the planes. I thought so, because in some movies they detect it before the lookouts spot it and give the alarm. In the movie "Up Periscope", the submarine is on the surface while a diver makes repairs to the hull. They detect a plane with the radar but watch it while they continue working, until minutes later the lookouts see it and then take the diver up and order the dive. Perhaps for the gunners to act automatically, the "battle stations" alarm must first be activated. I sometimes forget that detail and take action with the minimum crew on duty.

[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.

[razark]

Originally Posted by jorgegonzalito

My assumption was correct, the radar does not detect the planes.

The SD radar absolutely does detect planes. (The smaller the plane, the closer it will get before it is detected.) The SJ radar detects and displays surface contacts.


"The radar" is made up of two different systems that serve two different purposes. Knowing which ones you have, and how they behave, is key to using them effectively. The screens you have in the boat are tied to the SJ surface search system. They do not display aircraft at all. The SD radar will alert you to aircraft, and will display them on the map, if you have Map Contacts on.


Planes are death to submarines. The only reason to fight them is if you can not submerge. Plane detected? Crash dive, turn towards the plane. Anything else is asking for a very early end to your career.

Originally Posted by jorgegonzalito

I must at least match my speed with that of the convoy in order to catch up, and get within firing range.

Stay outside of the escorts' detection range, but on the surface. Set a parallel course to the convoy, at a higher speed. Once you are well in front of them, turn to intercept their course well before they arrive, and only then should you submerge. Knowing their course and speed, you can set up your attack in advance of when they show up, dodge the escorts, get in close, and fire your torpedoes. This is a classic "End Around" attack. The only submerged maneuvering is at very slow speed when you are actually attacking. This saves your battery for afterwards, when you need to dodge depth charges and slowly creep away from the escorts.

[jorgegonzalito]

Originally Posted by razark

The SD radar absolutely does detect planes. (The smaller the plane, the closer it will get before it is detected.) The SJ radar detects and displays surface contacts.


"The radar" is made up of two different systems that serve two different purposes. Knowing which ones you have, and how they behave, is key to using them effectively. The screens you have in the boat are tied to the SJ surface search system. They do not display aircraft at all. The SD radar will alert you to aircraft, and will display them on the map, if you have Map Contacts on.


Planes are death to submarines. The only reason to fight them is if you can not submerge. Plane detected? Crash dive, turn towards the plane. Anything else is asking for a very early end to your career.






Stay outside of the escorts' detection range, but on the surface. Set a parallel course to the convoy, at a higher speed. Once you are well in front of them, turn to intercept their course well before they arrive, and only then should you submerge. Knowing their course and speed, you can set up your attack in advance of when they show up, dodge the escorts, get in close, and fire your torpedoes. This is a classic "End Around" attack. The only submerged maneuvering is at very slow speed when you are actually attacking. This saves your battery for afterwards, when you need to dodge depth charges and slowly creep away from the escorts.

Now I have everything clearer. Very wise advice to take yours into account! Muchas gracias!!!