Sub Simulation Tips

[Krofiterol]

Hi folks,

I love them but I am a pure noob about subsim games. (I will buy EA version anyway)

So I wanna learn. We can make this topic helpful for noobs like me while we waiting EA :) Of course you can't make me play perfectly but you can help. Anyone can give a tip (or tips) for beginners.

-I failed all convoy approach attempts so far in subsim games, how can I avoid from destroyers? Or how can I get rid of them after they detect me?

-What is thermal layers importance? Below that zone they can't detect us even at flank speed?

-In which depth can I avoid from depth charges?

[V11CU96]

Well it depends on the sub your driving and the sim your playing (and its mechanics)

Using tried and tested SH3 in a type 7,
Usually you are undetectable as close to crush depth as possible lol, so like 200+ Meters.
and at slow speed, at flank speed you can usually be heard no matter how deep. plus it will drain your subs batteries fast.

As for convoy attacks, the safest method is to get ahead of them and lie in wait at 90 degree angle from the convoy, at periscope depth and slow speed or stopped (if the game allows your boat to hover in the water) Get withing about 1000-2000 meters range.
Launch a salvo on 2 or 3 targets, then go deep to evade detection,
once you have lost the escorts (they go back to rejoin the convoy)
You surface and flank speed along side the convoy, just out of detection range.
Get ahead of them again -rinse and repeat, until you are out of torpedos.

The more effective method is what the Uboats often did - sail in to the convoy at night, between the lanes, popup and attack vessels at close range (400-500m) and duck below them using them for cover. You are actually safer from escorts this way, because they cant detect you so well amongst all the noise of the other ships, and they can easily get above you to drop charges with all the other ships blocking their way... but you do run the risk of colliding or being rammed, which is a death sentence. So you need to keep good situational awareness for it.

you cant really count on thermal layers too much, even when they are modelled properly in the game.

[Kennedy]

Depends on the game and how the AI is programmed. I don't have access to the demo, so these are just general techniques, that work in most games:

1. To avoid and escape escorts etc. dive deep, use silent running and slow speed. To escape, try to get behind them, because their passive sonar is unusable there, because of their own noise. Then you can also escape at higher speeds, until you are detectable by the passive sonar again.
Depending on their armour and weapons, it's generally not a good idea to fight them head on with the deck gun. If you want to sink a warship, use a torpedo, but escorts usually change speed and course the whole time, so it's very difficult to hit them and probably impossible on manual targeting, if they know you're around.

To intercept a convoy, it's best to wait somewhere in front of them on their course and attack from left or right side with the torpedo tubes (front of the boat) facing their course, to hit the broadside of ships. Approach your ambush point with slow speed and periscope down. And make sure, you ambush point is in torpedo range. Use your periscope only if you need it and lower it, if you don't to avoid being spotted.

I don't know, if it will be possible to break the ships in two pieces with deep torpedoes in this game, but long ships are weak to torpedoes being fired 1-2 meters below their hull with a magnetic pistol, so that the torpedo explodes right below them and the forces could break it in two pieces.


2. I have read thermal layers only in terms of active sonar (the ping). If you are below a thermal layer, usually deep in the water, active sonar of warships or anything above the layer, won't detect you, because it reflects the sound waves and they won't reach your ship. But I'm not sure, if that's true.


3. To avoid depth charges, dive deep and as soon as you know they are in the water, full speed and turn hard left or right. If you know the bearing of the ship dropping the charges, that's a good time to get behind it in the turn, because it's right above your sub. Again, no idea how they are in uboat, but depth charges ususally have to detonate very close to your sub to damage it.

[Wwulff]

Great advise form some fine U-Boot Capitans!!!

I am a noob as well....but one good tactic I use.When i am patrolling or travelling to my patrol area.I like to be surfaced and then dive, surface then dive.In 6 minute(real time) intervals.That way you get to use your eyes and your hydrophones to spot contacts. You need to dip your ears in the Atlantic.If you want to hear whats around you right?

But like I said .I am rather new and this seems to work for me and not drain all my batteries LOL.
Thanks for the great advise guys!
....Whats long and hard and full of seamen......a sub.Get your mind out of the gutter LOLOLOL

[BR|sCip]

So many times i see a convoy and i cant get in front of them because they are faster than me....

[Kennedy]

Originally posted by >5Cip<:

So many times i see a convoy and i cant get in front of them because they are faster than me....

Do you try to catch up while submerged?

You're way faster on the surface. Just get some distance between you and them, so you won't be spotted on the surface and it shouldn't be a problem to reach your ambush point, before they do.

[Wwulff]

Originally posted by Lil Kennedy:

Originally posted by >5Cip<:

So many times i see a convoy and i cant get in front of them because they are faster than me....

Do you try to catch up while submerged?

You're way faster on the surface. Just get some distance between you and them, so you won't be spotted on the surface and it shouldn't be a problem to reach your ambush point, before they do.

Yeah what he said!!!!!

[green_abobo]

Balance risk versus reward.

Use mother nature, fog night, etc


u travel faster on the surface but you don't want to get into a gun fight unless you know you're not getting return fire & even then you're noisey.

Hydrophones have the best detection range but you have to be submerged & you're sonar blind in the screws because of engine noise.


basically it's good to have a range of tactics based on the situation. knowing when to use them is what makes a captain or chief.

[oscar19681]

Originally posted by V11CU96:

Well it depends on the sub your driving and the sim your playing (and its mechanics)

Using tried and tested SH3 in a type 7,
Usually you are undetectable as close to crush depth as possible lol, so like 200+ Meters.
and at slow speed, at flank speed you can usually be heard no matter how deep. plus it will drain your subs batteries fast.

As for convoy attacks, the safest method is to get ahead of them and lie in wait at 90 degree angle from the convoy, at periscope depth and slow speed or stopped (if the game allows your boat to hover in the water) Get withing about 1000-2000 meters range.
Launch a salvo on 2 or 3 targets, then go deep to evade detection,
once you have lost the escorts (they go back to rejoin the convoy)
You surface and flank speed along side the convoy, just out of detection range.
Get ahead of them again -rinse and repeat, until you are out of torpedos.

The more effective method is what the Uboats often did - sail in to the convoy at night, between the lanes, popup and attack vessels at close range (400-500m) and duck below them using them for cover. You are actually safer from escorts this way, because they cant detect you so well amongst all the noise of the other ships, and they can easily get above you to drop charges with all the other ships blocking their way... but you do run the risk of colliding or being rammed, which is a death sentence. So you need to keep good situational awareness for it.

you cant really count on thermal layers too much, even when they are modelled properly in the game.

Where did you get the bright idea that your undetectable near crush depth? 😂😂

[Liquid]

In crush depth you may have some advantages:
- more time to avoid deep charges.
- thermal layer may stop sonar horizontal propagation, and confuse the sonar operator or simply don't be able to reach the uboat position.
- you have more effective range to avoid being detected with passive listen
- if you're close enough to the sea floor, the signal may confuse to the destroyer operator due to reflection.
- Possitive refraction will assist you!!

And some dissadvantages:
- The pressure makes you a glass tomb. Any deep charge can destroy you...
- ... then the deep charge explosion gain effective range.
- Poor chance to counter attack
- Very expensive in resources: compressed air and battery, in order to keep the depth.
- Big profile to close destroyer pings
- Difficult to silent running long periods of times, to keep the depth.

[nihilcat]

Two things that I find the most troubling in staying at large depths in UBOAT is that pumps don't work and that pressure hull breaches are instant kill for the ship. Only small leaks are survivable.

[User_No_Found (#54785454345)]

Hi,

Here are some tips:

- Always attacked "in" the convoy, and not from the outside. Unless in pack.

- Destroyers spot you, no panic, decends 50/80 meters, cuts the diesel, and Do the dead, waiting for the charge of depth, and send a little air balast surface .. Destroyer believe that he your touch.

-Uses the full potential of the U'boot his dive is 175 / 195m, some will say 220m..I will not test personally.

-Before attacking a convoy, look at the bottom map, do not attack them if you do not have enough depth.

-Use, "pilot's foot" (the keel lands on the sea bottom).

-Learn how to manage the "Bosco" to keep your crew calm.

-Always keep at least one torpedo loaded and ready to fire, after a convoy attack.

-Try to switch the engine to maneuver, if you maneuver left, more power in the right engine and vise versa.

-Use the schnorkel, but watch out for smoke.
Before surfacing, use your periscope. and do a 360 ° sweep
Do alert training (for your crew)

-If you can place yourself at 90 ° from the target, if not, get ready for the calculations, a bit of trigo will help and Thales too.

-Hide the day, and live at night, full moon night, your desk in profile, can be seen 12 km.

-Save your fuel, learns how to manage diesel and electric, uses 4/4 speed, only for escape.

Use hydrophone:
We differentiate between military and transport vessels by the noise of propellers:
- Military: fast propellers.
- Transportation: slow propellers.



-Ho and forget all story about Thermal Layer...called " Thermocline "
The thermocline is the zone of rapid thermal transition between the surface waters (generally warmer and oxygenated) and the deep waters (generally colder and anoxic and sometimes saltier).

The area above the thermocline is called epilimnion, and the area below is called hypolimnion. In eutrophic medium the hypolimnion can be depleted in oxygen, even anoxic, with the possible appearance of a dead zone.

This is only used by modern sub ( cause use autoguided torpedos, and can launch torpedo from depth, not a type VII)..the average deepth for find this is 100/200meters.
max depth for charge is 90meters.. and anyway run silent teh destroyer will lose contact, without you need use thermocline.

Cordialy 07

The submarine is your house, makes it clean and pleasant.
The submarine is your weapon, keep the loan and efficient.
The submarine is your homeland, never dishonor it.
The submarine is your grave, know how to die like a submariner.