Navigation Question

So while practicing on my getting intercepts right and all by using the help with each tool, as I was doing this I couldnt help but notice, each one is upside down. What I mean by this is, if you turn the help on as you use the tools (protracter, waypoints etc.) you will see the degrees or directions and what not, but what Ive noticed is theyre all upside down, and at first I thought it was because Bearing was backwards from normal degrees (180 is actually North where as 0 and 360 degrees are almost always North) so then I checked by clicking on the waypoint plotter and noticed that South was in the position north was in and vice versa. I cant help but be annoyed by this as it kinda screws me up when I try to plot an intercept course coming to 90 degrees off track and what not. hope that makes sense

[Pebble Monkey]

With the plotting tools, read backwards on the protrators. It works because usually the line you've drawn ends in the centre of the protractor, so it would be impossible to read your course if the protractor was the right way up. Correct course is always pointing towards the origination point of the line, with the line ending in the centre of your tool.

Okay and I now have a second question pertaining to my campaign, I did my patrol and headed toward the Gibraltor straight in hopes of finding some ships. while submerged my Hydrophone found a warship (it is black night and very stormy seas right now (high winds, storm in the distance and no fog yet) would it be okay for me to run on the surface until in visual range? or should I stay under for as long as possible?

[danlisa]

All dependent on distance, you decide.

Conduct some further soundings and get a generalised course and speed plotted for your target. Surface for a set period of time, then submerge and sound again to re-establish the targets course/speed and distance.

Try not to be surfaced when you enter visual range. Some warships are n00bs and some are veterans.

It is however, during early war, possible to be surfaced (decks awash) and be within 1500 yards of convoys without being detected.

You make the call, Captain.

Well I figured out the ones in Gibraltor are definately vetrans. I was all good until I got within about 50 km of the strait or so. Then a destroyer pinged me I couldnt get out of the way in time and made a run on me. crippled my diesel engines and I had to fight to keep the thing even from sinking (flooding was bad in the Diesel Engine Area) but I almost got away when he pinged me again and made a second run and got me. man I gotta get better. 2 careers. one patrol each, each with one ship sunk only

[danlisa]

In instances like that, Crash dive and a knuckle turn towards the attacker, rudder amidships, gain some depth until the DD passes you then knuckle turn again and reduce speed to 2 knots. Keep gaining depth until you are 120+.

Then let the cat and mouse start. Always try to keep a minimum profile to the attacker, your boat is a lot smaller end on.

You can man the hydrophone and listen to the attackers engines, when they ramp up he is starting a depth charge run, you can have a quick burst of speed to alter course or depth, when you hear the DC splashes, resume 2 knots.

If you are playing GWX (I know you were going to try) you have to think like a RL captain or you will die. One piece of advice, just because they are pinging, doesn't mean they know where you are.

Stay calm, don't panic.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I've only been through the Straits three times, always at night, always '39/'40. First I carried on then was lost at sea after a save too close to France, the second was during a really heavy storm, tried a few long shots at something in Gibraltar in the distance, no effect, tried some more still to no effect then got out again before daybreak - curiousity got the better of me and I used the external cam - I guess all my shots hit the quay on THIS SIDE of the ship!

Just keep going, we all have crap patrols - you're just getting yours out of the way first!

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

.....tried a few long shots at something in Gibraltar in the distance, no effect, tried some more still to no effect then got out again before daybreak - curiousity got the better of me and I used the external cam - I guess all my shots hit the quay on THIS SIDE of the ship!

Torp or Deck Gun?

Gib has an extensive Submarine Net system.

[timmy41]

its safe to run on the surface until visual range until early 42. then, many DDs have radar that will pick you up before you can see them, even in foggy weather and storms.

read the GWX manual even if you dont get GWX, it has a lot of helpful info on everything youll want to know.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by danlisa

Torp or Deck Gun?

Gib has an extensive Submarine Net system.

Torpedoes, sea-state was too choppy for guns - maybe that's what stopped my torps?

Choppy sea, subnet, quayside, Bernard's fuse 'improvement'...? All I know is - it's not my fault in any way

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by timmy41

....its safe to run on the surface until visual range until early 42......

Not entirely. From the outset, a percentage of enemy vessels in GWX are rated as veteran or elite. Where they are , who knows. Perhaps you've been lucky.

I would risk it but then I know what was done during development.

[Puster Bill]

Originally Posted by danlisa

One piece of advice, just because they are pinging, doesn't mean they know where you are.

Stay calm, don't panic.

I sometimes hear the ping rate increase. I always assume that they've actually detected me at that point.

Thanks guys. Im not worried about it just frustrated. I still need to get my intercept and Manual targeting down. but for the most part I know where to hit ships to break their back and such. Gibraltor was a hell hole for me though. I will try it another day

On a side note. about the pinging. I assumed they knew where I was becasue I could here it. and when they got closer it would get shorter, but I assumed they got me when my sonarman said "Captain we're being pinged!" or something of the sort. I do say I had one hell of a fight to keep her up though. first round damaged my Conning tower, Diesel Engines and Sonar room all in the red, the D . E. filled up with water, nothing I could do to stop it (I had like 20% realism i.e. infinite battery and O2 and such) so I just put it into high and tried to keep her above crush depth (I couldnt maintain once I started flooding and the repair crews wouldnt fix the flooding fast enough) and then finally she came back for another pass and I tried to hard turn to port while crash dive (I was at 50 m at the time in depth) I evaded the first 4 or 5 in the string (they still got reaaal close, enough to shake the sub but not really damage it) and then the next 3 blew up litterally one meter or less from my conning tower. I was sunk
oh well a new patrol a new day Any real good shipping lanes?? preferably where alot of undefended merchants go??

[K-61]

I'd advise a new Kaleun not to venture into ports, straits or shallow waters. Practice your interception and approach techniques with convoys and single ship contacts. Have you tried the convoy exercise in the academy? That's a good way to get some practice without getting your career Kaleun killed. Or, you could try some easier level missions until you are confident of your skills.

[K-61]

Are you playing stock game or GWX? In stock, the damage radius of depth charges is rather larger than it should be. GWX corrects this so you can survive closer drops but the skills of the escorts are upped a bit. I prefer the AI of GWX.