Why is sonar not listed in ship equipment

[Tankerace]

Yep.

Also, I have a quick question on DC modeling in the game. Is it possible to simulate a dud rate? If memory serves me, a good portion of the time, early DCs wouldn't even detonate. And in early WW2, the WWI era DCs still had the same problem.

[Montbrun]

Absolutely correct. WWI-II subs were, in fact, submersibles, not true submarines...

Brad

[Tankerace]

I seem to remember hearing a US admiral call them "Submersible PT boats". LOL. Just don't tell that to a submariner.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

Yep.

Also, I have a quick question on DC modeling in the game. Is it possible to simulate a dud rate? If memory serves me, a good portion of the time, early DCs wouldn't even detonate. And in early WW2, the WWI era DCs still had the same problem.

I'd be happy with reduced accuracy at this point. That and randomize belt hits so that more deck hits result (less flooding...more system damage).

[Tankerace]

Yeah. Right now I am trying to figure out how to not have "uber" DCs in the WPO project. That could be a game killer. Im thinking either attempting to drastically reduce accuracy, or give ahistorically few amounts of DCs to ships.

[mikemike]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

Like Ron pointed out, for a time US PT boats (Higgins and Elco 77 footers) carried DCs, yet had no sonar.

Depth charges were not just for ASW, especially on PT boats (or similar vessels in other navies). Drop a DC close to a surface vessel and you can blow it right out of the water or at least damage it severely. It makes more sense to use DCs to sink barges than torps. Also, DCs are an economical way to kill survivors swimming in the water. Doesn´t tire out your machine gunners.

[tigercub]

Hi

The small coastal and harbour patrol boats like PTs would be watching the bouys attached to harbour netting. If an intruding sub had fouled the netting it would pull the bouys down giving away its position. A fast PT could respond quickly to the site and drop DCs on the sub even though it didn't have sonar. The depth of the harbour entrance would reduced the need to set the DC. Both sides would be able to do this.

PS. The Pacific Ocean was suprising clear to a reasonable depth in WWII and a long sub at a shallow depth was still an easy target if a sited early enough to get your PT boat overhead. Even though the sub might have submerged it was still visible. So no sonar was needed for some harbours.