User manual GAMES PC SILENT HUNTER III

[. . . ] "The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril. " ­ W. S. Churchill, The Second World War TM 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . The grey wolves, the U-boats of the German Kriegsmarine, take to the sea. The goal ­ to cut England's lifelines. Six years later, the war ends, and Germany lays in ruins. [. . . ] Depth Under Keel Using the Atlas Echolot, the Navigator will report the depth under keel. HINT: To find the depth from the U-boat keel to the sea bottom, the Navigator Navigator The Navigator assists you on long-range navigation. Although you can manually plot your course, the navigator will provide extra information useful in making long-term decisions. uses an active device that sends pings. Do not forget that these pings can disclose your location. Weather The navigator makes a brief weather report. Return to Course This order returns the U-boat to the previously plotted course (if there is one). Plot Course This order allows course plotting using the navigation map. 30 31 Weapon Officer The role of the Weapon Officer is to assist you with torpedo attacks. Although you can manually perform all the required torpedo attack procedures, the Weapon Officer will make a beginning U-boat commander's life easier. Sound Operator The Sound Operator informs you of any contacts revealed by sound detection. It is strongly advised to have the Sound Operator at his station at all times. Torpedo Attack Ship Identification Asks the Weapon Officer to identify a selected target. Solution Asks the Weapon Officer to calculate a torpedo solution for a selected target. Fire Torpedo Asks the Weapon Officer to launch a torpedo using the current available solution. Report Repeat Last Report Repeat the last report the Sound Operator made. Report on Nearest Contact The Sound Operator will make a report on the nearest hydrophone or sonar contact. Hydrophone Normal Sweep The Sound Operator will use normal sweep procedure. Follow Nearest Sound Contact The Sound Operator will follow only the nearest sound contact. Choose Target Nearest Ship Asks the Weapon Officer to select the nearest ship in range for a torpedo attack. Nearest Merchant Asks the Weapon Officer to select the nearest merchant in range for a torpedo attack. Nearest Warship Asks the Weapon Officer to select the nearest warship in range for a torpedo attack. Recommended Target Asks the Weapon Officer to recommend the best target in range for a torpedo attack. Sonar Estimate Range to Contact The Sound Operator will estimate range to a selected sonar contact. Precise Range to Contact The Sound Operator will give the precise range to a selected sonar contact. Solution on Map The Weapon Officer will display the current torpedo solution on the attack map. Weapons Management The Weapon Officer will display the torpedo, deck, and flak ammo management screen. 32 33 Radio Operator The Radio Operator allows you to send and receive radio communications. Although you can perform radio and radar procedures manually, it is advisable to maintain a Radio Operator at station at all times. Play Start the music on the gramophone. Next Skip the current melody. Report Report Nearest Radio Contact The Radio Operator repeats the last radio contact received. Send Contact Report The Radio Operator sends a contact report to the base. Send Patrol Report The Radio Operator sends a patrol report to the base. Orders Requests new orders for the current patrol. Escort to Base This message will request a surface vessel escort from a nearby naval base. This message is available only if the U-boat is close to a friendly base. Watch Officer The Watch Officer controls the crew on deck when the U-boat is at surface. [. . . ] Detection by hydrophone is best avoided by keeping noisy activity at minimum in the U-boat by giving the Rig for Silent Running order and running your engines on Slow Speed ­ the setting that creates the least cavitation and noise. While virtually blind in his steel hull during depth charge attacks, an experienced Uboat commander can lessen the chances of receiving damage. Waiting for the moment when the approaching escort increases speed to enter the attack run, he can order full speed in confidence that he has entered the ASDIC blind spot and the escort cannot hear much due to its own increased speed. Gaining as much distance and depth as possible is always a good thing to do just before the depth charges start exploding. Once this happens, acoustic conditions will be ruined in that particular area for a period of time, which leads to both the ASDIC and hydrophone becoming ineffective. 56 57 Hedgehogs A bigger threat to the U-boat was forward-throwing weapons such as the Hedgehog, a salvo of 24 projectiles landing simultaneously in an elliptical pattern over the U-boat's suspected position. [. . . ]