Periscope depth? Am I missing something?

Tshark · 06-06-17, 04:19 PM

I have read a lot of requests for a periscope depth hotkey along with other questions about operating at this depth. In post W.W.II submarine warfare isn't the use of a periscope (or other masts) similar to using active sonar? Doesn't it increase your risk of being discovered more than it helps you find the enemy?

IIRC the Americans enjoyed a sound advantage over the Russians and, as such, attacks were carried out with passive sound almost exclusively. I also thought I read somewhere (vague memory) that doing away with the periscope was considered, but was kept on primarily for photo recon. Can anybody who studies this era enlighten me.

Thanks

06-06-17, 06:12 PM

Periscopes are extremely important to this day, not only for reconnaissance.

Berserker · 06-06-17, 07:23 PM

Same question from me..In training I went to 50 ft and popped a torpedo at a freighter then went back to the sub and its sitting pretty as you please on the surface...NOT A GOOD THING EVEN IN A TRAINING MISSION..

StandingCow · 06-06-17, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabid Wolverine

Same question from me..In training I went to 50 ft and popped a torpedo at a freighter then went back to the sub and its sitting pretty as you please on the surface...NOT A GOOD THING EVEN IN A TRAINING MISSION..

Did you order your sub to stop rising before you hit 50 feet? Takes the sub a while to level out.

FPSchazly · 06-06-17, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tshark

I have read a lot of requests for a periscope depth hotkey along with other questions about operating at this depth. In post W.W.II submarine warfare isn't the use of a periscope (or other masts) similar to using active sonar? Doesn't it increase your risk of being discovered more than it helps you find the enemy?

IIRC the Americans enjoyed a sound advantage over the Russians and, as such, attacks were carried out with passive sound almost exclusively. I also thought I read somewhere (vague memory) that doing away with the periscope was considered, but was kept on primarily for photo recon. Can anybody who studies this era enlighten me.

Thanks

The periscope can be counter-detected, yes. But it is still a passive device in principle (unless you use a laser for range finding). Active sonar is, well, active! You're emitting sound that can be directly detected. A periscope is just receiving light (again, unless using a laser for range finding). I've also heard, and it's not a big stretch of the imagination, that periscopes incorporate stealth technology.

But, yes, the general protocol seems to be put it up for a few seconds and then lower it. Leaving it up can definitely be an issue for counter-detection.

The Bandit · 06-07-17, 01:03 AM

I'll play devil's advocate here, compared to just about any other sub-sim I've played (Sub Command, SH 3 & 4, briefly SH5) this is much more hands-on when it come to actually "flying" the boat, whereas everything that I mentioned above, you just push the "Go to Periscope Depth" button and your sub will go there and hover. Cold waters is refreshing

.

What I find works is to give a bit of negative buoyancy and then take it back to neutral right quick. I find when I do this, when the depth wanders, it will always end up pulling you down rather than broaching and inviting gunfire.

Side note, was PD for all these US SSNs really 50 feet. The Sonalysts games all had it at 65 and I always just kind of took that as gospel.

Catfish · 06-07-17, 01:59 AM

Seems some of the modern US subs are/were(!) difficult to steer and hold depth with, i read that with the first Albacore and the 688s maintaining periscope depth was a real challenge. Don't remember where i have read this though.. Clancy?

Julhelm · 06-07-17, 03:18 AM

Not sure, I think 65 feet is probably correct, but 50 feet was in there intially because RSR had it and I guess it just stuck. And we intitally had problems with the ocean clipping the scope (because we hadn't figured out how to mask the water to keep the player from seeing under the water) so we initially had the viewport sit much higher at a comfortable distance from the waves.

Sledgehammer427 · 06-07-17, 04:48 AM

For those having trouble with broaching, usually one of the things I've tried is to approach around 55-60', then use the ballast controls to fine tune the ascent the rest of the way. After a couple practice runs I can hit 50' on the button every time

06-06-17, 04:19 PM	#1
Tshark Sailor man Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 49 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Periscope depth? Am I missing something? I have read a lot of requests for a periscope depth hotkey along with other questions about operating at this depth. In post W.W.II submarine warfare isn't the use of a periscope (or other masts) similar to using active sonar? Doesn't it increase your risk of being discovered more than it helps you find the enemy? IIRC the Americans enjoyed a sound advantage over the Russians and, as such, attacks were carried out with passive sound almost exclusively. I also thought I read somewhere (vague memory) that doing away with the periscope was considered, but was kept on primarily for photo recon. Can anybody who studies this era enlighten me. Thanks

06-06-17, 07:23 PM	#3
Berserker Aggressive skipper Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 328 Downloads: 2166 Uploads: 0	Same question from me..In training I went to 50 ft and popped a torpedo at a freighter then went back to the sub and its sitting pretty as you please on the surface...NOT A GOOD THING EVEN IN A TRAINING MISSION.. __________________ Shoot,Move,Communicate..Kill,Destroy,Eradicate...

06-07-17, 01:03 AM	#6
The Bandit Sonar Guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 395 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 1	I'll play devil's advocate here, compared to just about any other sub-sim I've played (Sub Command, SH 3 & 4, briefly SH5) this is much more hands-on when it come to actually "flying" the boat, whereas everything that I mentioned above, you just push the "Go to Periscope Depth" button and your sub will go there and hover. Cold waters is refreshing. What I find works is to give a bit of negative buoyancy and then take it back to neutral right quick. I find when I do this, when the depth wanders, it will always end up pulling you down rather than broaching and inviting gunfire. Side note, was PD for all these US SSNs really 50 feet. The Sonalysts games all had it at 65 and I always just kind of took that as gospel. __________________

06-07-17, 01:59 AM	#7
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 16,897 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Seems some of the modern US subs are/were(!) difficult to steer and hold depth with, i read that with the first Albacore and the 688s maintaining periscope depth was a real challenge. Don't remember where i have read this though.. Clancy? __________________ >^..^<*)))>{ All generalizations are wrong.

06-07-17, 04:48 AM	#9
Sledgehammer427 PacWagon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Drinking coffee and staring at trees in Massachusetts Posts: 2,901 Downloads: 280 Uploads: 0	For those having trouble with broaching, usually one of the things I've tried is to approach around 55-60', then use the ballast controls to fine tune the ascent the rest of the way. After a couple practice runs I can hit 50' on the button every time __________________ Cold Waters Voice Crew - Fire Control Officer Cmdr O. Myers - C/O USS Nautilus (SS-168) 114,000 tons sunk - 4 Spec Ops completed V-boat Nutcase - Need supplies? Japanese garrison on a small island in the way? Just give us a call! D4C!

06-06-17, 06:12 PM	#2
Nippelspanner Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Periscopes are extremely important to this day, not only for reconnaissance.

06-07-17, 03:18 AM	#8
Julhelm Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Icy North Posts: 690 Downloads: 189 Uploads: 0	Not sure, I think 65 feet is probably correct, but 50 feet was in there intially because RSR had it and I guess it just stuck. And we intitally had problems with the ocean clipping the scope (because we hadn't figured out how to mask the water to keep the player from seeing under the water) so we initially had the viewport sit much higher at a comfortable distance from the waves.