Communicating with subs

This new Commander's Edition of Harpoon Classic includes land units, neutral and unknown sides, an improved radar and area ECM model and a host of other improvements. Rounding that out are over 200 scenarios and the WestPac Battleset. Try out this great new version of the classic Harpoon!
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VictorInThePacific
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Communicating with subs

Post by VictorInThePacific »

I want to make some comments and ask some questions about communicating with subs, and in particular, how not communicating with subs affects the game. But probably this has already all been hashed out. If so, could someone please let me know where that discussion is?
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hermanhum
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Harpoon Classic Scenarios

Post by hermanhum »

Subs are always in communication with their commanders in HC.  This is a game representation and probably not true in real life circumstances.

According to Ed Dille, SSNs in the Direct Support role [DS] have special communications equipment for contact with surface ships when attached to CVBGs.  He does not elaborate on how this would work.  You can read it for yourself:
http://www.harpoonpages.com/ftp/harpoon2/h2manual.zip

Milan Vego's book, "Soviet Naval Tactics", describes some pretty elaborate coordination between all units and elements of the navy.  I, too, have always been curious how they intended to carry out sophisticated attacks while trying to maintain some contact with theatre command for intercept vectors.  IMO, subs that hang around the surface with a radio mast extended probably won't survive very long.

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CV32
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RE: Harpoon Classic Scenarios

Post by CV32 »

All units of one side in HCE are in constant communication with one another (networked, if you will). It really has nothing to do with submarines. The player (as the Commander) have total control of all units at all times. Just the nature of the sim.

As for real life ...

The UQC (commonly called the 'Gertrude') is the limited range, high frequency sonar device used by submarines to communicate with each other and surface ships while underwater. The principal drawback (other than the limited range) is that anyone else nearby can also listen in, or determine the submarine's position with their own passive sonar.

Extremely low frequency (ELF) radio has worldwide range and works very well in water, but has a very slow transmission rate and so its most useful for short, coded messages.

Very low frequency (VLF) radio also has long range but lacks the depth penetration of ELF, so submarines communicating by VLF have to come up to a shallower depth.

Look up the role of the E-6 Mercury TACAMO aircraft for more on ELF/VLF. (The TACAMO can also communicate in other bands though).

Most usually, a submarine only comes up to communicate during a pre-arranged period or upon receiving an ELF/VLF signal. It might go to periscope depth to raise a comms mast or stream a comms buoy. If friendly forces know the sub's position, they can establish two-way comms via VHF or UHF.

Keep in mind, though, that given a submarine's primary reason for being (i.e. staying stealthy, focused on the mission, and exact whereabouts unknown), they don't usually have any reason to communicate unless its pre-arranged or they receive a message to pop up for a chat about something important.

Forgot to add that this may be the future of sub comms: Deep Siren.
Brad Leyte
HC3 development group member for HCE
Author of HCDB official database for HCE
Harpgamer.com Co-Owner
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