December 1940 radar-like search

madkiwi · 11-29-12, 02:00 PM

I decided to sniff around the shipping channels west of Gibraltar on my way back from a boring patrol off the coast of Africa. I was loitering (2 knots) at periscope depth when my sonar operator detected a warship at least 10 km to my southeast. I did have my periscope up, but thought nothing of it and hit time compression (256x) to wait for some prey.

A couple seconds later I noticed the sonar track getting much, much shorter and the sonar operator informs that the ship is closing, and increasing speed. I dropped back to normal time and peeked through the periscope at a destroyer now 2800 meters away, bearing straight down on me.

I rigged for silent running, set depth for 120 meters, and stowed the periscope.

The destroyer came right to where I was and started dropping depth charges like a possessed lunatic, Y launchers and all, pinging the crap out of me. After some evasive manouvers and speed runs I was able to get away undamaged.

But my question is- how is this happening? It is December 22nd 1940 and he was at least 8,000 meters away before he started coming in hot. I was at 12 meters in a VIIB, admittedly my periscope was up but visibility was moderate with overcast conditions.

Only mods (presently) GWX 3, Lite Harbor traffic, enhanced damage effects and merchant Fleet Mod 3.2 and skin packs.

Very disturbing that centimetric radar is somehow available much earlier than October 1941.

HW3 · 11-29-12, 03:03 PM

Low flying A/C spotted you and radioed your location to him or, the destroyer was manned by crew of eagle eyed carrot eating sailors who spotted your scope or, the rabbit eared hydrophone operator on the destroyer picked you up.

I really do not know why it happens, it just does, frustrating, but it does happen. It does however teach us to never let our guard down or, take anything for granted.

RConch · 11-30-12, 03:35 AM

Nothing good happens at 256x.

sublynx · 11-30-12, 12:32 PM

Time compression trouble is my guess for an explanation as well.

TwoGamers · 11-30-12, 03:14 PM

256x is the highest you can go but when tracking something best only go at 32x once in visual

HundertzehnGustav · 12-01-12, 07:35 AM

LOL he had a course that took him to you... without him even having any bad intentions.

but since you did not observe but stuck your head into the sand you realized that only too late.

and since he did not see you headon but from the side probably, your echo in the water was BIG.

so he heard you (no silent running) from afar...

and took a dump on your head.

like any good DD captain would have done.

* DD anywhere close?
-no time compression
-dive to 120
-rig for silent running
-recite Prayers of your preferred religion

You now gained a bunch of experience...

RConch · 12-01-12, 01:05 PM

It is a game to savored, not "wolfed" down.
It has a save feature, so use it, and bring your TC down to 64x max. All will be revealed with time to react.
At 256x you are lucky it was not a plane with you on the surface or you would have been dead before you knew it.

11-29-12, 02:00 PM	#1
madkiwi Seaman Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florence, MT Posts: 31 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	December 1940 radar-like search I decided to sniff around the shipping channels west of Gibraltar on my way back from a boring patrol off the coast of Africa. I was loitering (2 knots) at periscope depth when my sonar operator detected a warship at least 10 km to my southeast. I did have my periscope up, but thought nothing of it and hit time compression (256x) to wait for some prey. A couple seconds later I noticed the sonar track getting much, much shorter and the sonar operator informs that the ship is closing, and increasing speed. I dropped back to normal time and peeked through the periscope at a destroyer now 2800 meters away, bearing straight down on me. I rigged for silent running, set depth for 120 meters, and stowed the periscope. The destroyer came right to where I was and started dropping depth charges like a possessed lunatic, Y launchers and all, pinging the crap out of me. After some evasive manouvers and speed runs I was able to get away undamaged. But my question is- how is this happening? It is December 22nd 1940 and he was at least 8,000 meters away before he started coming in hot. I was at 12 meters in a VIIB, admittedly my periscope was up but visibility was moderate with overcast conditions. Only mods (presently) GWX 3, Lite Harbor traffic, enhanced damage effects and merchant Fleet Mod 3.2 and skin packs. Very disturbing that centimetric radar is somehow available much earlier than October 1941.

11-29-12, 03:03 PM	#2
HW3 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gresham Oregon Posts: 6,574 Downloads: 458 Uploads: 0	Low flying A/C spotted you and radioed your location to him or, the destroyer was manned by crew of eagle eyed carrot eating sailors who spotted your scope or, the rabbit eared hydrophone operator on the destroyer picked you up. I really do not know why it happens, it just does, frustrating, but it does happen. It does however teach us to never let our guard down or, take anything for granted. __________________ "Some ships are designed to sink...others require our assistance." Nathan Zelk

11-30-12, 03:35 AM	#3
RConch Captain Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: No. Virginia Posts: 619 Downloads: 518 Uploads: 0	Nothing good happens at 256x. __________________ "Noch und Noch" Prowling the Nord Atlantik with GWX 3.0.

11-30-12, 12:32 PM	#4
sublynx Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: In the conning tower of my VIIC scanning the sea through the periscope Posts: 1,698 Downloads: 173 Uploads: 7	Time compression trouble is my guess for an explanation as well. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] NYGM+H.sie v16+Stiebler 4C+MaGui WS

12-01-12, 07:35 AM	#6
HundertzehnGustav Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lux, betw. G, B and F Posts: 1,898 Downloads: 66 Uploads: 0	LOL he had a course that took him to you... without him even having any bad intentions. but since you did not observe but stuck your head into the sand you realized that only too late. and since he did not see you headon but from the side probably, your echo in the water was BIG. so he heard you (no silent running) from afar... and took a dump on your head. like any good DD captain would have done. * DD anywhere close? -no time compression -dive to 120 -rig for silent running -recite Prayers of your preferred religion You now gained a bunch of experience... __________________ In conclusion: SH3 is the shizzle, yo. -Frau Kaleun Another negative about using your deck gun is that you are definately DETECTED, which has long term effects on your relationship with aircraft. -snestorm

11-30-12, 03:14 PM	#5
TwoGamers Officer Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 240 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	256x is the highest you can go but when tracking something best only go at 32x once in visual

12-01-12, 01:05 PM	#7
RConch Captain Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: No. Virginia Posts: 619 Downloads: 518 Uploads: 0	It is a game to savored, not "wolfed" down. It has a save feature, so use it, and bring your TC down to 64x max. All will be revealed with time to react. At 256x you are lucky it was not a plane with you on the surface or you would have been dead before you knew it. __________________ "Noch und Noch" Prowling the Nord Atlantik with GWX 3.0.