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Active Sonar Query

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:10 pm
by Knightpawn
1. Does movement speed of a surface ship affect the detection effectiveness of an active sonar operating on that ship?
2. Does operation of nearby active sonars affects (cancels out) the detection effectiveness of active sonar operating on a ship? (in other words: in a CVBG does it pays to have only one active sonar on, or the more the merrier?

While I am interested in "real life" answers, It would be good to know if those "real life" answers are also modeled in CMO behavior

Thanks

Re: Active Sonar Query

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 9:16 pm
by bsq
There is a sweet spot around 15 knots or so. Faster than that degrades range.

Active sonar has its place though. Good for deterence. Attack. Herding. Puts a lot of noise in the water, that can affect passive sensors. Good versus SSK on batteries where passive struggles. Generally you would only want your dedicated close ASW screen to even use active sonar and it gives away the position of the equipped ships and the area of those they are protecting.

In a CVBG, your distant ASW assests will want to be fully passive. A close escort might be active in case a sub has got in amongst the 'sheep'. Also dont forget that most modern CVBGs come with their own SSNs as escorts.

Re: Active Sonar Query

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 5:15 am
by Knightpawn
Thanks for the replies.

I tend to use active sonars on ships a lot. Yes they do give away position, but for a ship (not a sub) I consider this a positive. It is essentially a message "better stay away lest that you get sunk". Am I wrong?