Sonar - What am I missing

Chubster · 05-10-10, 12:08 PM

Started a new career out of Pearl and I am on my way to Bungo Straits....Weather is tipping it down and sonar reports a contact. So I head straight for the bearing indicated and its getting closer and closer, still no visual. Eventually the sonar line is no bigger than my wake line and all of a sudden the deck watch shout "Ship spotted", quick whizz up to the bridge and this bloomn big tanker is about to straddle my back

So......I cant attack visually as I can only see as far as the end of my nose it seems so need to attack via soner. (Need to get to grips with this anyway and now is a good time to practice.)

What I am not getting though is after reading various threads all mention that the sonar line "seems to jump" this as I understand it would be the sonar sweep and each jump when marked on the map will give me an approx heading.

Well...er, mine doesnt seem to jump, well not all the time. I have a solid line and it jumps every now and then but there doesnt seem to be a pattern, like every so many seconds....what am I missing

Also...if i click "get range" from the sonar toolbar he always responds "no target selected" ????

Admiral8Q · 05-10-10, 12:16 PM

Try telling the sonar guy to "Follow nearest target"

Chubster · 05-10-10, 12:40 PM

Yep...done that. He verbally reports it and the bearing is changing but the black line does move its just a constant line. How am I supposed to plot his course ?

Chubster · 05-10-10, 12:47 PM

Following the WernerSobe_Sonar_Only_Tuturiol and nothing is happening as it is in the vid?

Goto the sonar station move dial to last reported contact. No ship type comes up

Then if I click the "estimate range to target on the left hand station and then click "send range to TDC I do not get a range message in my message box...

Chubster · 05-10-10, 12:53 PM

Arghhhh.....is there a way to get a bit further away from the sonar station as well !!

Real pain having to keep clicking the mouse so that I can see all the buttons

Admiral8Q · 05-10-10, 01:04 PM

Here's what I'd do in your situation...

If he's super close, and he's been ID'ed as a big juicy target, then he's worth trying to sink. Since visibility is nil, running on the surface should not be a problem. I'd deck gun him to death, but that's the easy way so I'll pretend I'm on the USS Perch with no deck gun like I've played my last three patrols. (Gawd I miss the Narwhal)

Playing realistically, by that I mean not save and load when screwing up, I would assume that the tanker has spotted us. Using the "marker" on the map I'd mark it at the end of the sonar line every time it is significantly changed. Back off and watch (or listen I should say) to what he's doing. After getting a general heading, zip around and flank him. Get to withing 600-1000 yards at as close to 90 degrees as possible to his flank. Fire a spread of at least 4 torpedoes, each off about 1 degree left and right. (6 torps if in a modern boat)

Wait and see...

raymond6751 · 05-10-10, 01:07 PM

It sounds like a visibility problem (weather) for the visual.

For the sonar, I'd try listening yourself to the sounds and noting the bearing changes every 3 minutes.

I don't think the 'send to tdc' works if you haven't got a target 'marked' yet. It makes sense if you consider having a convoy of multiple sound contacts. Sending that to tdc would be confusing. First make contact visually.

I've chased enough sound contacts to know what you are feeling. Patience. It is the submariners secret weapon!

Chubster · 05-10-10, 01:32 PM

Well yes I could do that....but I have been putting off this sonar only malarkey for long enough

Anyways...I am slowing getting there...The send to TDC is working. Basically I wasnt listening long enough. I was letting it do a complete revolution on the screen (4000yds is it) and then pressing sending to TDC.

Left it a little longer and although the range needle? had stopped it still returned a ping at 6000 odd yards...I was then able to send this to the TDC

OK....now the next problem, again using the video as a guide I have to set up his range using the compass. Well the compass only increments in 50 yard measurements and he is at 4180y. How accurate does this have to be because I can oviously only draw a circle either 4150 or 4200 ?

God I wish it were sunny

BillBam · 05-10-10, 02:00 PM

Just round it to the nearest 50 yards, the sonar range is not totally accure anyway. That is why in the video WS takes several sonar ranges to set an average, taking one that seems in the right range. You can test the accurace of the range by looking at the attack map and see how the white X is in relationship to the actual target.

Chubster · 05-10-10, 03:17 PM

4 fish fired and three hit and down she goes.......and saw nothing, couldnt even find her on the external cam

Thanks all

Admiral8Q · 05-11-10, 10:47 PM

Cheers!

05-10-10, 12:08 PM	#1
Chubster Frogman Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 288 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	Sonar - What am I missing Started a new career out of Pearl and I am on my way to Bungo Straits....Weather is tipping it down and sonar reports a contact. So I head straight for the bearing indicated and its getting closer and closer, still no visual. Eventually the sonar line is no bigger than my wake line and all of a sudden the deck watch shout "Ship spotted", quick whizz up to the bridge and this bloomn big tanker is about to straddle my back So......I cant attack visually as I can only see as far as the end of my nose it seems so need to attack via soner. (Need to get to grips with this anyway and now is a good time to practice.) What I am not getting though is after reading various threads all mention that the sonar line "seems to jump" this as I understand it would be the sonar sweep and each jump when marked on the map will give me an approx heading. Well...er, mine doesnt seem to jump, well not all the time. I have a solid line and it jumps every now and then but there doesnt seem to be a pattern, like every so many seconds....what am I missing Also...if i click "get range" from the sonar toolbar he always responds "no target selected" ????

05-10-10, 12:16 PM	#2
Admiral8Q Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada Posts: 1,077 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Try telling the sonar guy to "Follow nearest target" __________________

05-10-10, 01:04 PM	#6
Admiral8Q Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada Posts: 1,077 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Here's what I'd do in your situation... If he's super close, and he's been ID'ed as a big juicy target, then he's worth trying to sink. Since visibility is nil, running on the surface should not be a problem. I'd deck gun him to death, but that's the easy way so I'll pretend I'm on the USS Perch with no deck gun like I've played my last three patrols. (Gawd I miss the Narwhal) Playing realistically, by that I mean not save and load when screwing up, I would assume that the tanker has spotted us. Using the "marker" on the map I'd mark it at the end of the sonar line every time it is significantly changed. Back off and watch (or listen I should say) to what he's doing. After getting a general heading, zip around and flank him. Get to withing 600-1000 yards at as close to 90 degrees as possible to his flank. Fire a spread of at least 4 torpedoes, each off about 1 degree left and right. (6 torps if in a modern boat) Wait and see... __________________

05-10-10, 01:07 PM	#7
raymond6751 Admirable Mike Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,338 Downloads: 421 Uploads: 0	Distant target? It sounds like a visibility problem (weather) for the visual. For the sonar, I'd try listening yourself to the sounds and noting the bearing changes every 3 minutes. I don't think the 'send to tdc' works if you haven't got a target 'marked' yet. It makes sense if you consider having a convoy of multiple sound contacts. Sending that to tdc would be confusing. First make contact visually. I've chased enough sound contacts to know what you are feeling. Patience. It is the submariners secret weapon! __________________ Game Designer: Close The Atlantic - World War Three https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/...orld-war-three

05-11-10, 10:47 PM	#11
Admiral8Q Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada Posts: 1,077 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Cheers! __________________

05-10-10, 12:40 PM	#3
Chubster Frogman Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 288 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	Yep...done that. He verbally reports it and the bearing is changing but the black line does move its just a constant line. How am I supposed to plot his course ?

05-10-10, 12:47 PM	#4
Chubster Frogman Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 288 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	Following the WernerSobe_Sonar_Only_Tuturiol and nothing is happening as it is in the vid? Goto the sonar station move dial to last reported contact. No ship type comes up Then if I click the "estimate range to target on the left hand station and then click "send range to TDC I do not get a range message in my message box...

05-10-10, 12:53 PM	#5
Chubster Frogman Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 288 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	Arghhhh.....is there a way to get a bit further away from the sonar station as well !! Real pain having to keep clicking the mouse so that I can see all the buttons

05-10-10, 01:32 PM	#8
Chubster Frogman Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 288 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	Well yes I could do that....but I have been putting off this sonar only malarkey for long enough Anyways...I am slowing getting there...The send to TDC is working. Basically I wasnt listening long enough. I was letting it do a complete revolution on the screen (4000yds is it) and then pressing sending to TDC. Left it a little longer and although the range needle? had stopped it still returned a ping at 6000 odd yards...I was then able to send this to the TDC OK....now the next problem, again using the video as a guide I have to set up his range using the compass. Well the compass only increments in 50 yard measurements and he is at 4180y. How accurate does this have to be because I can oviously only draw a circle either 4150 or 4200 ? God I wish it were sunny

05-10-10, 02:00 PM	#9
BillBam Watch Officer Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Yuba/Sutter, CA Posts: 347 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Just round it to the nearest 50 yards, the sonar range is not totally accure anyway. That is why in the video WS takes several sonar ranges to set an average, taking one that seems in the right range. You can test the accurace of the range by looking at the attack map and see how the white X is in relationship to the actual target.

05-10-10, 03:17 PM	#10
Chubster Frogman Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 288 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	4 fish fired and three hit and down she goes.......and saw nothing, couldnt even find her on the external cam Thanks all