Decks Awash and some other issues I like to see changed.
 

Hey all. I would like to mod a few files but do not know which ones to change.

I would like to:

-Have the radio man send contact and status reports when at periscope depth and at decks awash depth (Historically accurate).

-Have the WO identify and solution targets when at decks awash depth (Historically accurate)

-Have the possibility to use personal binoculars at decks awash depth (Historically accurate)

Any info on how/which files/values to edit are more than welcome. It would make gameplay better I think.

OLtzS Ashikaga

Probably hardcoded - if this was changeable it would have been done already, it's high on everyone's wishlist.

I would love to see all of these. It would also be nice to make decks awash infeasible except in calm calm water (like 0 m/s). Having the top deck below the waterline put the boat at tremendous risk in anything but very calm seas since it is inherently unstable in that position. The only KTB account I have read of running actually decks awash was U-995 in a Norwegian fjord.

As it stands though, I do use decks awash when I first surface, pop the hatch, do a quick scan before I completely empty the tanks, and then order them blown when it’s all clear, similar to history. That saved me last night because like an idiot I didn’t do a complete 360 scan with the scope and sure enough, the escort I thought was gone was right there off my beam (had turned around), luckily I got down in time before getting spotted in the fog!

In other words, it would be nice to have a feature besides decks awash that would still kept water in your ballast tanks, perhaps a “flooded down” state.

The tactic I use now is from decks awash, surface, send msg or have WO identify and range/lock then decks awash again.

Agreed on the inherent instability and that it was not often used. Only in calm waters as you wrote. Would be nice to add that in.

Also annoying, refusal of mechanic to recharge batteries the second a wave hits the bow in a swell that is not even that high or gale force, decisions by gun crew to leave you hanging when their feet get wet due to one wave in not even a large swell. So at times I put dive planes on manual and both up 10 degrees to make the boat sit a little higher n the water

The problem with radio messages and contact reports is of course that they can lead to early detection, that is also why they were often sent in very short bursts by sticking the ultra short wave (UKW) antenna up from under water.
Tou can see that in external view when you dive to periscope depth. (Antenna is animated to go up and down).

The directional antenna on a sub as well as the cables to the bow and stern also functioned as extra antennae. A bit like what we used to do with handheld radios with bad reception. Put the metal antenna against a larger piece of metal or a long metal wire and presto.

OLtzS Ashikaga

I remembered that I repaired that last time I installed SH5, now years have passed I installed SH5 again , and I can't find it. I remember that it was somehow connected to deckgun sea state setting... But now I'm not sure. It's definitely possible. I used to have desk awash setting in SH3/4/5 ... keep scratching.