Depth info

[tomoose]

I haven't a clue how to use the Editor to create missions so I can get depth surveys of various harbours and such so.............

Fm: USS Balao
To: COMSUBPAC

10 Oct 43
Posn: Long 151 - 38' E, Lat 7 37' N
Managed to do some soudings in Truk lagoon prior to being driven off by en destroyers.

Fol figures are "depth under keel" soundings for Truk
4 levels (i.e. shades of blue) surround lagoon
1st level = 539ft at SW end, 722ft at northern end
2nd level = 119ft, 182ft and 284ft all at SW area of Truk
3rd level = 67ft SW area
4th (shallowest) level = 47ft, 52 ft in SW area.

Could not continue soundings due to enemy action. Hope this is of some use to other crews.

Comd USS Balao sends.

[-Pv-]

The color gradiants on the map are consistant with all areas in the sim. Each color edge is always the same depth. These colors have been posted in various threads in this forum.
Land
White = 0 - 48ft.
lightest blue = 48 - 175ft.
next darker blue = 175 - 490ft
next = 490 - 850ft
Darkest blue = 850ft+

You can tell just by looking at the map what depths to expect no matter the location.
-Pv-

[tomoose]

That's kinda what I was looking for but it's too bad there aren't proper depth charts or indications on the map. e.g. "next darker blue =175 - 490 ft" which means 315ft difference in one colour which means if I'm at 400ft when I arrive at a "next darker blue" it could actually be 200ft or less which means CRRRRRUNCH!!! I think sub skippers would be hoping for more accurate depth info on their charts which is one element missing from the maps which could be really helpful.

As someone else suggested, the only way to really do it accuratel would be to set up something in the mission editor without enemy just to do surveys (i.e. pinging surveys) in key locations. Then transpose them graphically onto the nav map.

If I knew how to use the editor I'd give it a go but I'm a dunce at that stuff.

[-Pv-]

Naw, it doesn't work like that. The ranges I specify are from one edge of the color to another and are very reliable. You can guess within 10-20 ft what the depth will be at any specific shallow point. Oftentimes, even real world navigators didn't have that good information for all of the pacific in WWII. In nearly a year of playing every day, I haven't run aground yet (except the times I've done it on purpose.)

-Pv-

[tomoose]

Not sure it's that cut and dried. Look at my first post and the 'soundings' I took at Truk. The 1st level (i.e. the next less dark blue from main ocean blue) has a huge difference from one end of the atoll to the other: 539ft at SW end, 722ft at northern end, a 183ft difference in the same colour band. If I'd entered that colour band at the North at 700ft and followed that band around staying within the band contours to the SW without changing depth I would theoretically run aground at the 539ft point. Again that's based on soundings (pinging under keel).

I understand what you're saying that each colour band is a pretty consistent depth between contour lines but I'm not so sure given what my pinging is telling me. I'll have to start in Pearl and do pinging on the way out and see what that tells me.