User Guide

SONAR STATION SELECTION BUTTONS
On all sonar stations six buttons are always visible and permit you to move from one sonar station
to another.The buttons contain the same icons regardless of which sub class you are
commanding. During gameplay place your cursor over a button to display the name of the station
reached by clicking the button.
Broadband Sonar Station
Narrowband Sonar Station
DEMON Sonar Station
Active Sonar Station
Active Intercept Sonar Station
Sound Speed Profile (SSP) Sonar Station
ABOUT SONAR
In order to understand the functions of the Sonar Suite it is important to understand a bit about
sonar. Sonar is used to detect both submarines and surface ships and it is your only sensor when
operating below periscope depth.There are two types of sonar: passive and active.
A passive sonar system consists of a set of hydrophones (sensors) that receive sounds produced
by other sources. Passive sonar can be used only to listen. Its major purpose is to detect and
classify other ships.Under optimal conditions, modern passive sonar can sense ships over several
nautical miles, thus allowing the submarine to detect potential targets or enemy ships long before
it comes into the range of their sensors. However, passive sonar has its limitations.With passive
sonar, the sonarman can only determine the direction,or bearing, of the sound source.The
distance to the other ship (range)–an important consideration when maneuvering into an attack
position and programming weapons–is initially unknown.
The same is not true of active sonar, which operates on the principal of echo ranging.An active
sonar system transmits a high-energy acoustic signal or “ping”.Objects in the area reflect the
sound, and the resulting echo is picked up by the submarine’s hydrophones. The lag in time
between the initial transmission and the returning echo reveals the target’s range with great
precision.
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