Ship interception after initial contact

[Kurt Alden]

Hello all

I am trying to work out the best way to intercept ships. As I understand it there are two distinct methods.

1) Moving slowly around around 15 metres and using the hydrophone.

2) Moving on the surface and using the good old eyeball.

I have a number of questions about these two methods and would really appreciate a bit of help with this. I bought SH3 on a whim (I normally play FPS's) and am loving it but really want to get in a bit deeper and get as much out of it as I can.

1) What is the range for spotting a target using methods 1 and 2?

2) What do you reckon the preferred method is?

3) Does the subs speed and time compression adversely affect what you can spot?

4) What is the range for visually spotting a target manually through the periscope, UZO and binoculars?

5) What factors will affect whether a target will appear on the map as a black line, a red box that disappears when you zoom in or an actual ship that you can see zoomed all the way in?

Sorry for so many questions. I have ploughed through the FAQS, manual and wiki but have found to answers to these specific questions.

Cheers
Ben

[MirabelleBenou]

Hello there

1) What is the range for spotting a target using methods 1 and 2?

For visual range, with the Improved UBoat 1.02, the spotting range can be up to 16 km.

Without mod, I think it's 8.

For hydrophone, you can spot ships up to 30 km.

2) What do you reckon the preferred method is?

The two methods are useful.

Generally, I'm travelling to my patrol zone while surfaced and so, use the visual method. But I sometimes go to 20 meters, stop machines, and scan area.

When I'm chasing convoy, I tried to anticipate it's path on the map, and set zones where I'll stop, go to 20 meters and then scan with hydro.

3) Does the subs speed and time compression adversely affect what you can spot?

The sub speed affect your efficiency to spot target with the hydro (because of your engines noise). For visual spotting, I do not think it have an impact.

For the time compression, I do not know but I think not.

4) What is the range for visually spotting a target manually through the periscope, UZO and binoculars?

Same answer than question 1

5) What factors will affect whether a target will appear on the map as a black line, a red box that disappears when you zoom in or an actual ship that you can see zoomed all the way in?

The black line is when you're using hydro

For the other, I do not know.

[Crym]

Originally Posted by Kurt Alden

5) What factors will affect whether a target will appear on the map as a black line, a red box that disappears when you zoom in or an actual ship that you can see zoomed all the way in?

The red and black lines are lines to ships you can hear with the hydrophone, black is merchants and red is warships. A red box that disappears when zooming is a radio contact, click at the red box to get info about time of observation, speed etc., the course is as usual indicated by the little 'tail' on the box. Ships you can see zoomed in all the way are visual contacts. Important: Not all boxes are red, if green it is a neutral ship and will give negative tonnage/renown, if it is blue it is axis and gives 10x(!) negative tonnage/renown.

Enjoy
Crym

[Hartmann]

I usually stay surfaced in clear weather because i use the 16 km mod, if is at night or there are a storm with low visivility i do a hidrophone checks.

Whit the 16 km mod i can see the masts in the horizont in clear sky.

[Kurt Alden]

OK guys, thanks for all your responses. It seems that there are a couple of different approaches so I'll just keep trying both.

Cheers
k