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“The only thing that ever really frightened

me during the war was the U-boat peril.”

– W.S.Churchill, The Second World War

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TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

August 1939. The Second World War is about to begin. The grey wolves, the U-
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 boats of the German Kriegsmarine, take to the sea. There will be war in the
GETTING STARTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Atlantic. The goal – to cut England’s lifelines.
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Six years later, the war ends, and Germany lays in ruins. The U-boat fleet is all but
wiped out, 30,000 of its 40,000 men having died at sea. Still, fighting hard but fair,
Installing Silent Hunter® III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 they have accomplished success beyond all expectations and out of proportion to
Uninstalling Silent Hunter III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 their strength. At some points during the war, they had come close to bringing the
Running the Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 British Empire to its knees.
GAME MODES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 On the Allied side, the cost of victory has been even higher. More than 30,000
merchant seamen have been lost in this struggle, along with many thousands of
Naval Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 servicemen from all branches of the military. About 20 million tons of merchant
Single Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 tonnage lies under the sea.
Mission Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 And the emotional cost of the war has been even greater.
Career Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Yet, this is also a time of explosive technological development. Allied anti-
Multiplayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 submarine defenses have discovered how to defend against the U-boat and
Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 submarine warfare in general.
COMMANDING THE U-BOAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 But the real breakthrough is taking place in Germany. Having just entered operational
service, yet never used in actual combat, the revolutionary Type XXI U-boat is a
The Main Player Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 prototype for post-war submarine development in the world’s major naval fleets.
Moving Around the U-Boat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 This, alone, is testimony to the high level of professionalism and experience of the U-
Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 boat force and the engineers behind them.
Officer Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 This game pays homage everyone – Allied or Axis – who served at sea during the
Conducting Torpedo Attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 crucial years of World War II.
U-BOAT, VEHICLE, AND WEAPON DATA . . . . . . . . . . 44
The Silent Hunter III U-Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
The Type II U-Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
The Type VII U-Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
The Type IX U-Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
The Type XXI U-Boat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Torpedo Armaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Deck Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Machine Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
U-BOAT THREATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Escorts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Warships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Merchants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Enemy Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
ASW Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
WARRANTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INSIDE FRONT COVER
TECHNICAL SUPPORT . . . . . . . . . . . INSIDE BACK COVER

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GETTING STARTED GAME MODES

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS NAVAL ACADEMY
Supported OS: Windows XP/2000 (only)
® The Naval Academy menu gives you access to a set of five tutorials. Each tutorial
Processor: Pentium® III 1.4 GHz or AMD Athlon™ 1.4 GHz or faster (Pentium IV 2.0 focuses on a set of aspects of the game:
GHz or AMD Athlon 2.0GHz or faster recommended) • Navigation Course:
RAM: 512 MB (1 GB recommended) – U-boat direction control.
Video Card: 64 MB DirectX® 9-compliant graphics card (128 MB DirectX 9- – U-boat speed control.
compliant card recommended) (see supported list*) – U-boat dive controls.
Sound Card: DirectX 9-compliant PCI card • Naval Artillery Course:
DirectX Version: DirectX 9 or later (included on disc) – Deck gun aiming.
DVD-ROM: 4x DVD-ROM drive or faster (DVD-ROM only) – Deck gun ammo management.
Hard Drive Space: 2 GB • Flak Artillery Course:
*Supported Cards at Time of Release – Flak gun aiming.
NVIDIA® GeForce™ 3/4/FX series (except MX series cards) • Torpedoes Course:
ATI® RADEON™ 8500/9000 family cards or newer
Laptop models of these cards not supported. These chipsets are the only ones that will run this – Periscope use.
game. Additional chipsets may be supported after release. For an up-to-date list of supported – Torpedo tubes management.
chipsets, please visit the FAQ for this game on our support website at: http://support.ubi.com. – Torpedo attacks.
NOTICE: This game contains technology intended to prevent copying that • Convoy Attack Course:
may conflict with some disc and virtual drives. – Positioning in submersion.
INSTALLING SILENT HUNTER III – Target priority.
– Detection avoidance.
INSTALLATION KEY CODE: In order to prevent unauthorized copies, your
DVD may contain an unlocking installer key code. You will be prompted to enter this
number at the first launch of the game. The code is located inside the game box.
Silent Hunter III must be installed before you can run the game. To install, insert the
Silent Hunter III DVD and wait for the launch screen to appear. Click Install and
follow the instructions as they appear.
If you have auto-run disabled, you may launch the installer manually. Choose
Windows Explorer from the Programs submenu on your Windows Start menu.
Choose the Silent Hunter III DVD icon to display the files located on the DVD. Look
for Setup.exe among those files and double-click it to run the installer.

UNINSTALLING SILENT HUNTER III

To uninstall the game, select Uninstall from the Silent Hunter Start menu item. You
can also choose Settings from the Windows Start menu and select Control Panel,
select Add/Remove Programs, left-click on Silent Hunter III, and click on the
Add/Remove button. The game and all its components are then removed from your
system, except for your saved games. Note that each tutorial is playable as a training or exam session. Each tutorial
played as an exam session will grant you a result of pass or fail, with a quality
evaluation. You can retry a tutorial even after failing it. Only the best results per
RUNNING THE GAME tutorial are recorded.
From the Start menu, select: Programs: Silent Hunter III: Silent Hunter III. NOTE: Graduating all the tutorials will give you bonus renown when you start
The intro video will play, after which the Main Menu will appear. From the Main
Menu you can access all of the game’s features. See the sections further into the the Career mode!
manual for details.

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SINGLE MISSIONS CAREER MODE

The Single Missions menu gives you access to individual missions and historical The core of Silent Hunter III is the Career mode. The game uses a dynamic, random
scenarios. From this screen, you will also launch new missions created with the campaign engine based on historical reality. Every time you play, you can have a
game’s Mission Editor or downloaded from the Internet. unique career.
Career Renown
As a measure of your performance, after each patrol you will earn “renown” for
achieving objectives and destroying enemy units. Your renown will accumulate as
you play through Career mode. You can use your renown to gain access to better
U-boat types, improved equipment, or new crew members.
NOTE: If your renown reaches negative values, your career may suddenly end!

Career Timeline
The career timeline will evolve from the moment you start your career. The time
spent on patrol will add to the time you spend on base.
Between patrols, you will spend time performing a number of actions: repairing a
damaged U-boat after a patrol, changing the type of U-boat, or upgrading a system.
The menu consists of two main parts: You will spend a minimum of two weeks (of game time) on base between patrols.
• The list in the upper right corner shows the available missions. NOTE: No matter when you start your career, the war will always end in May
• The left side of the screen displays a short description of the currently selected of 1945!
mission.
If you want to play the mission with a different U-boat model than the one selected by Career Options
the mission maker, use the scrolling list provided on the lower portion of the screen.
Starting a New Career
THE MISSION EDITOR While the campaign has random elements, you can customize some things to your
Should you want more than the single missions included with the game, the first liking. By selecting a start year and initial flotilla assignment, you will change what
solution is to use the mission generator. If something more complex is what you’re type of U-boat you will start the campaign on, the theater of operation, and even
looking for, try the Mission Editor – included as a separate executable within the game. the nature of the warfare you will conduct.
You can use the Mission Editor either to create a new mission from scratch, or to
edit the campaign data for the dynamic campaign. Make sure you back up anything
you edit, though, or you may end up with an unusable install of the game.
Single missions also use the
dynamic campaign engine; you
therefore do not need to worry
about filling the ocean with ships.
The game engine will do that, and
do it with historical accuracy.
Full documentation for the Mission
Editor is available on the game DVD.

Starting Year
You can start the campaign at any time between 1939 and 1943. The later you start
your campaign, the more challenging the enemy will be.

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Starting Flotilla U-Boat Options

This choice will determine the operational base and the type of U-boat you will be This menu will allow you access to:
assigned. • Newer types of U-boats.
• 1st Flotilla • Upgraded versions of conning towers.
– 1939: U-boat Type IIA. • Newer versions of flak guns.
– 1940: U-boat Type IID. • The torpedo armament of the U-boat before leaving in mission.
– 1941: U-boat Type VIIB. • Access to new or upgraded versions of U-boat systems:
– 1942: U-boat Type VIIC. – Engine upgrades.
• 2nd Flotilla – Snorkel.
– 1940: U-boat Type VIIB. – Batteries.
– 1941: U-boat Type IXB. – Hydrophones.
– 1942: U-boat Type IXC. – Sonar.
• 7th Flotilla – Radar.
– 1939: U-boat Type IIA. – Radar warning.
– 1940: U-boat Type IID. – Sonar decoys.
– 1941: U-boat Type VIIB. • Personalized U-boat emblems.
– 1942: U-boat Type VIIC.
– 1943: U-boat Type IXC.
• 10th Flotilla
– 1942: U-boat Type IXB.
– 1943: U-boat Type IXC.
• 11th Flotilla
– 1942: U-boat Type VIIC.
– 1943: U-boat Type VIIC/41.
• 29th Flotilla
– 1941: U-boat Type VIIB.
– 1942: U-boat Type VIIB.
– 1943: U-boat Type VIIC.
Career On-Base Options Switching to a new U-boat or upgrading the conning tower will cost you renown.
When you start your career, and every time you return from patrols, you will access To have access to newer types of U-boats early on, you will need high amounts of
the main Career menu. renown.
In this menu, you will have access to a number of options specific to Career mode. Although basic torpedo load will cost you nothing, adding advance torpedo types to
your loadout will require renown.
Improving the systems or adding new ones to your U-boat will also tax your renown.
Gaining the right to wear an emblem and to personalize it depends entirely on your
performance during the patrols.

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Barracks Options Career Saving

This menu will allow you to: For each career patrol, there will be two auto-saves, one before leaving in patrol
• Replace crew losses. and one after returning from patrol.
• Add extra crew to your starting crew. You can also save during patrols. All these saves will be available for a specific
• Pre-arrange the crew in any desired configuration. career profile.
• Recruit experienced crew. Starting a new career with the same profile will cause you to lose any previous
saves under that profile.
Career Loading
To load career saves, you must select a previously created career profile. When
selecting a save, a panel will display relevant career details. Because saves are
stored in chronological order, loading an early save will delete all the following
saves of that career.

MULTIPLAYER
Silent Hunter III supports LAN multiplayer games for up to eight players and online
games for up to four players, on ubi.com™. Two modes are available: scripted
missions and generated missions.
The scripted mission included in the game covers a series of famous convoy
battles. You can add more scripted missions by using the Mission Editor.
Player Options Generated missions are based on the campaign data. Using the mission generator,
the host will select specific options like mission starting date, type and experience
This menu will allow you to: of enemies, U-boat starting positions, and more.
• Review your evolution for the current career.
• Review your evolution patrol by patrol.
• View your awards.
MUSEUM
• Apply for transfer to a new flotilla. Using the Museum interface you can familiarize yourself with the planes, ships,
• Promote your crew. and submarines included in the game. It is important to know your enemy before
• Specialize your crew. encountering him on the field of battle, and this is the place to do it.
• Award your crew decorations after each patrol. Units are sorted by nationality and type. For a given class or model, you can also
check which armament versions are used throughout the war.
You will be awarded medals and ranks as you progress in your campaign,
depending on specific conditions related to your combat service.
You can apply for transfer to a new flotilla at any time, but your request will be
approved only if you have proved yourself a valuable U-boat commander.
Between patrols, as your crew gains combat experience, you will be allowed to
promote or qualify some crew members. This will make your crew both more
resilient and more efficient.
At the end of a good patrol you may be rewarded with decorations for your crew.
They are a welcome upgrade for your crew members and have various beneficial
effects. You may end up with an elite crew that drastically improves your
performance in patrols.
Career Options
This menu will allow you to:
• Set the game difficulty.
• Adjust the video settings.
• Adjust the audio settings.

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Direction
COMMANDING THE U-BOAT You can turn you U-boat in two ways: by clicking on the rudders indicator to set the
rudders to the desired position, or by requesting a new direction relative to your
As captain, you will be required to manage your U-boat in an efficient manner. You
current position – click on the compass and let the Chief Engineer do the rest.
will need to move from station to station, keeping your boat’s running parameters,
the tactical situation, and the crew’s state under observation. The first method is useful when you want to start a turn of a certain rate –
dependent on the position of the rudders – for an indefinite time. The second
THE MAIN PLAYER INTERFACE method, on the other hand, should be used when a turn of precise magnitude and
fixed turning rate – maximum for the current conditions – is desired.
In the same section you will see the magnetic compass, indicating the current
direction, on the top of the panel.
HINT: Turning your boat demands a minimum speed; otherwise the rudders
are not effective. The faster the boat goes, the faster it turns.

Depth Control
Depth changes are requested by clicking on the depth meter. Two versions of this
instrument are available. The fine version, marked up to 25 m, is useful when
requesting depth changes near the surface in order to run at periscope depth or
snorkel depth or surface the boat. All these important depth settings are clearly
marked on the instrument.
Should you need to go deeper than 25 m, use the gross scale version of the depth
meter.
The player interface is designed to keep all vital functions of the U-boat within your Both versions show the depth of the U-boat’s keel; for this reason, the minimum
reach. For this reason, it is on-screen in almost every menu of the game. The main depth indicated will be about 4 m.
elements of the interface are:
• The Quick Controls Panel. HINT: While changing depth works even at zero speed by using the ballast
• The Messages Log. tanks and compressed air, it is best done when some speed is available to
• The Stations Panel. make use of the dive planes.
• The Officers Panel. When ordering depth changes, keep in mind that each U-boat has a maximum
• The Stealth Meter. operational depth, marked with green on the depth meters. Diving beyond that
Each of these elements is explained below. depth is a risky enterprise, but is sometimes useful to avoid detection or depth
charge attacks. When the red section of the meter is reached, however, you are
Quick Controls Panel inviting disaster and pressure hull failure.
Here you will find the most common commands and instruments required to Time Compression and Clock
maneuver your U-boat: speed, direction, and depth. In each section, you can
switch between displaying two instruments used for the same purpose by clicking You can set the time compression level from 1x to 1024x. Time compression is an
the button in the lower left corner of the section in question. absolute necessity when traveling long distances, as it makes time pass faster.
Note however that:
Speed • You will not be able to set time compression higher than 32x, except in the
The controls that set your U-boat’s speed are the Engines Telegraph, which Navigation Map station.
requests a certain regime from the Engine Room, and the knotmeter, which allows • Time acceleration will automatically drop down to lower levels in various
you to set a particular speed to be met by the engines. Keep in mind, though, that situations, such as when you are in close proximity to other ships or land.
circumstances – such as running on electric engines, sustaining damage, or
having an insufficient crew – may prevent the Engine Room team from meeting
your request.

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Messages Log Stealth Meter

Reports received from your officers or crewmen are added to the message log. This icon represents the overall stealth factor of your U-boat. It depends on the
Each entry contains the following: following factors:
• The time of the report. • Speed: The faster you turn the propellers, the more noise you make. This means
• The function of the person responsible for it. you will be detected more easily by hydrophone.
• The actual report text. • Height: The higher the silhouette of your U-boat above water, the easier it will be
Whenever an officer is selected in the Officers Panel, any reports received from to detect you by visual observation or radar.
him will be highlighted in the log. • Weather: High waves will make your U-boat’s silhouette harder to notice.
• Light Level: When it’s dark and you can’t see a thing, neither can the enemy. Until
Stations Panel someone lights a flare, that is.
This panel provides a quick, mouse-driven way to travel directly to certain sections The representation is color-coded. Green means you should be pretty safe, while
of the U-boat or game interfaces. Simply click on the desired icon to be transported Red is not good at all.
to that station. From top to bottom, the shortcuts are: NOTE: The stealth meter only shows how detectable your submarine is at the
• Command Room (shortcut: F2). moment. It will not tell you whether you have been actually detected by anyone.
• Attack Periscope (shortcut: F3).
• Bridge (shortcut: F4). MOVING AROUND THE U-BOAT
• Navigation Map (shortcut: F5).
Silent Hunter III was designed to immerse the player in the experience of a U-boat
• Torpedo Data Computer (shortcut: F6). commander, while allowing rapid access to the submarine stations vital to your job.
• Crew and Damage Management (shortcut: F7). Generally speaking, in every U-boat type you will be able to visit the following stations:
• Mission Orders (shortcut: F8). • Command Room
• Radio Room (shortcut: F9). – Chief Engineer’s Station.
• Deck Gun (shortcut: F10). – Attack Officer Station.
• Flak Gun (shortcut: F11). – Navigator Station.
• Free Camera (shortcut: F12). – Observation Periscope.
– Damage and Crew Management Interface.
Officers Panel – Conning Tower.
The most important members of your crew can be contacted through the Officers – Attack Periscope.
Panel. From left to right, they are: – Radio Room.
• Chief Engineer. – Radio Station.
• Navigator. – Sound Station.
• Weapon Officer. – Captain’s Log.
• Sonarman. – Bridge.
• Radioman. – UZO.
• Watch Officer. – Deck Gun.
– Flak Cannons.
NOTE: The officers and crewmen present on the panel are those assigned to
There are several ways to move between these stations, and our preferred method
the stations at the moment, through the Crew Management Interface. They is through the 3D medium. For this, the mouse is the primary controller:
are not necessarily those with the greatest expertise for that particular job. • Click the left mouse button (LMB) on a door to enter it.
The Officers Panel has twofold functionality. Left-clicking on an officer selects him, • Click the right mouse button (RMB) on an officer to move to his station.
which in turn opens up his primary orders level and highlights messages received • Click the LMB on an officer or instrument to interact with him or it.
from that station in the messages log.
• Click and hold down LMB to capture the mouse and rotate the view.
Right-clicking on the officer will instantly transport you to his station, allowing you
Should you find this method too slow, use either the interface buttons in the upper
to better supervise him and even manually take over some of the tasks.
right corner or keyboard shortcuts to speed up your movements. We recommend a
combination of all three methods for maximum effect.

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STATIONS • Ctrl PgUp/PgDn: Completely raise/lower periscope.

Papenberg Depth Meter
Periscope Station (Shortcut: F3) The higher the periscope stands above water, the easier it is to spot. You should
The primary tool for submerged observation and attack is the periscope. Most U- keep it as low as possible, and the Papenberg – named after its inventor – is just
boats carry two of them: the right tool to aid you.
• Attack periscope: In the middle of the meter, a moving liquid column shows the depth at which the
– Smaller head, harder for the enemy to spot. submarine’s keel is located. The current level can be read on the scale to the right.
– Larger magnification, allowing a better observation of the targets. On the left of the instrument, an index moving over a submarine silhouette shows
the current height reached by the periscope head. When the index is level with the
• Observation periscope: liquid column top, you are breaking the surface.
– Larger head, allowing better light transmission.
– Larger field of view for quicker spotting of targets. Tubes Status Panel
– Able to tilt to a higher degree upwards; more useful to scan for aircraft. The panel displays the torpedo tubes of your submarine and their status. The color
of the tube’s indicator lamp shows its status:
• Green: Tube is loaded and ready to fire.
• Red: Tube is loading.
• White: Tube is empty and no torpedoes are available for loading at this moment.
To select a different tube than the current one, simply click on its indicator.
Shortcuts:
• Y: Cycle torpedo tubes selection.
• Q: Open selected tubes.
• W: Close selected tubes.
• I: Open Weapons Management screen to check torpedo loadout.
Target Notepad
The Target Notepad displays acquired data for the currently selected target. More
information is available in the “Conducting Torpedo Attacks” section of this manual.
Both periscope stations have identical functionality and share controls. In the
interface, you will interact with the following areas: Recognition Manuals
Periscope View When encountering ships, make sure you correctly identify the target before firing.
Attacking friendly or neutral ships is not appreciated in the Kriegsmarine. The
Dominating the screen, the periscope gives you a view of the outside world. Recognition Manuals are organized by nationality, so make sure to check all of
Clicking on it will capture the mouse and allow you to rotate the periscope. them before committing to an identification.
Shortcuts: To bring up a manual, click on its spine. Click on the brackets in the lower right
• Arrows: Rotate the view. corner of the cover to cycle to another manual, or on the cover to open it.
• Shift + Arrows: Rotate the view fast. Shortcuts:
• Ctrl + Arrows: Rotate the view slowly. • N: Bring up/close the Recognition Manuals.
Periscope Up/Down Lever Lock Button
When submerged, you need to raise the periscope above the surface to check your To efficiently gather target information for an attack, it is best to lock the target.
surroundings. This is done by clicking on the respective part of the control lever. Place the crosshairs over the ship, and click the Lock button.
Shortcuts: Shortcuts:
• PgUp: Raise periscope incrementally. • L: Lock/unlock target.
• PgDn: Lower periscope incrementally.

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Gyro Angle Indicator You can access the UZO in two modes: In 3D mode, go to the bridge (shortcut: F4)
The firing solution received from the Torpedo Data Computer is displayed here and and left-click on the large, white binoculars that you see mounted in the center. Or,
will be used for subsequent attacks. you can press the U key on the keyboard to be transported directly to it.

Fire Button NOTE: The UZO station, like the bridge, is only accessible while surfaced.
Press this button to launch torpedoes from the selected tubes on the current firing Function-wise, this station is almost identical to the two periscopes, except that the
solution. Papenberg Depth Meter and Periscope Up/Down Lever are missing. Refer to the
Shortcuts: previous section for information on how to use the UZO.
• Enter: Launch selected tubes. Torpedo Data Computer (Shortcut: F6)
Launched Torpedoes Status Panel The Vorhaltrechner, or Torpedo Data Computer (TDC), is the brain of the U-boat’s
Once a torpedo has been launched, it appears in the Torpedoes panel and stays attack system. Using data provided by the player and the currently used optic
there until it hits something or runs out of fuel. Clicking on a torpedo icon selects it (periscope or UZO), it computes the gyro-angle – the angle at which the torpedo
and displays its timing information on the Chronometer. will need to turn in order to enter a collision course with the target.
Chronometer
The Chronometer comprises two displays. The main one, with the needle, shows
the seconds elapsed since the last minute has been completed. The smaller
display, inserted in the main one, shows the total time and is marked in minutes, up
to 12 of them.
You can use the Chronometer to time events taking place in the game, such as
submerging operations or depth charge attacks. To start the timer, click on it. A
second click will stop the timer, allowing you to view the end time. A third click will
reset it to 0, ready for another use.
Additionally, the Chronometer will automatically time torpedo attacks. When a
torpedo is selected in the Launched Torpedoes Status panel (see above section), a
red needle on the timer will show the time remaining to impact.
HINT: The torpedo’s time of impact is based on the range obtained from the
periscope at the moment of firing. If the range is erroneous or the target starts
Attack Map
maneuvering, the timer will be off. This is the main element of this station. You can see on the map your submarine
and any surrounding ships detected by your sensors. Clicking and dragging the
map will make it display a different area. The map will also show, with a red line,
UZO Station (Shortcut: U) the current shooting solution for your torpedoes.
Contrary to popular belief, the most common type of U-boat attack took place on Shortcuts:
the surface, during the night. The choice aiming device was the UZO (short for
• Tab or mouse wheel: Map zoom level.
Uboot Zieloptik), which was placed on a rotating post on the bridge.
Map Tools
Sliding in from the upper part of the screen are the map tools. Click on them to
zoom in or out on the map, or to display a map helper.
Target Data Section:
• Input switch: Normally the TDC receives data from one of the attack stations.
However, you can choose to adjust the data from here by clicking on the Input
On/Off switch.
• Bearing: Shows and sets the bearing received from the target.
• Range: Shows and sets the range to target in hectometers (1 hm = 100 m).
• Angle on bow: Shows and sets the target’s angle on bow.
• Speed: Shows and sets the target’s speed, and also shows in the inset dial the
selected torpedo speed.

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Gyro Angle Navigation Map (Shortcut: F5)

This is purely a feedback dial, showing the resulting firing solution.
Salvo Switch
Switches between single shots (one tube only) and salvo shots (multiple tubes),
depending on submarine.
Tubes Selection
In addition to the tubes indicator lamp board at the top of the screen, which is
basically the same as in the Periscope and UZO stations, you can also select
tube(s) using the historically accurate rotating knobs. Only the knob used for the
current shooting mode – salvo or single shot – is displayed. The use of the knob is
mandatory for salvo shots.
Spread Angle
When a salvo shot is prepared, this dial shows and sets the opening of the fan
angle covered by the torpedoes.
The navigation map is where you can plot course for the U-boat. By changing your
Pistol realism settings, you can change how information on the map is displayed.
Switches the torpedo detonation mode between I (impact only) and M (magnetic The tools available on the navigation map can be selected from the upper right
plus impact detonation). corner, and are from left to right:
• Zoom in: Allows you to zoom in.
Depth • Zoom out: Allows you to zoom out.
Sets the torpedo running depth from 0 to 25 m. Use it in relation to the pistol • Marks: Allows you to place markers on the map to help you remember possible
selection and the ship’s draft value read in the Recognition Manual. Actual contactspositions, important places, etc.
minimum running depth is 3 m.
• Liner: Allows you to draw lines and measure the distance between two points.
Torpedo Speed • Compass: Allows you to draw circles and measure ranges.
Sets the torpedo running speed on steam-running torpedoes to slow (30 kts), • Plot course: Allows you to plot your course using a waypoint navigation system.
medium (40 kts), or fast (45 kts). • Delete: Delete any marks, lines, circles, or waypoints on the map.
FAT/LUT Settings HINT: Left-click and hold you can pan the map to easily reach adjacent zones.
To get maximum effectiveness from FAT or LUT pattern-running torpedoes you will
need to set several parameters for their trajectory. When one of these torpedoes is Crew and Damage Management (Shortcut: F7)
loaded into a tube, a green button will appear on top of its status indicator lamp. At this station, you can assign crew to specific locations and repair damaged
Press the button to access the dials for Straight Run, Second Gyro Angle, Pattern systems on the U-boat.
Leg, and Pattern Angle, and press it again to return to the normal dials.
Crew Structure
Fire Button In Silent Hunter III, the crew is composed of the following:
If you are happy with the data set and need to launch the torpedo(s), click on this • Sailors:
button.
– Seaman.
Shortcuts:
– Able Seaman.
• Enter: Launch selected tubes. – Leading Seaman.
NOTE: For more information on torpedo attacks, refer to the section • Warrant Officers:
“Conducting Torpedo Attacks.” – Warrant Officer.
– Senior Warrant Officer.
– Chief Warrant Officer.

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• Officers: Each compartment is associated with one or more specific systems on board the
– Senior Midshipman. U-boat. In addition, each compartment has a predetermined number of crew slots.
For example, on a Type VII U-boat, the bow torpedo room has 15 crew slots and a
– Lieutenant Jr.
specific torpedo tubes loading time.
– Lieutenant Sr.
The basic stats of each crew member are: Crew Roles on U-Boat
• Morale (blue bar). The crew is assigned to compartments to play specific roles. For example, to move
• Fatigue (yellow/red bar). the U-boat, the player will need crew in the engine room (diesel on surface,
electric underwater).
• Health (visible only when crewmember is wounded).
The crew’s influence on systems performance in any compartment is represented
Warrant Officers and Officers can be qualified in the following areas:
by an Efficiency meter (green bar under each compartment).
• Torpedoes.
Efficiency has four different states:
• Gunner.
• None: No crew or not enough crew assigned to man the compartment.
• Flak.
• Minimal: Barely enough crew assigned to man the compartment.
• Watch.
• Normal: Usual-size crew assigned to man the compartment.
• Command.
• High: Supplemental or very qualified crew assigned to man the compartment.
• Communication and Sensors.
According to its size and systems, each compartment requires a certain number of
• Engines. crew members to function. Thus, the player will need to assign crew to specific
• Damage Control. compartments for specific tasks to be performed. For example, if the player wants
• Medic. to fire the flak guns, he should assign crew to the flak guns.
Using specialized crew in specific compartments will increase crew efficiency in Remember, the efficiency of the crew a compartment influences the performance
those compartments. of the systems in the compartment.
While Warrant Officers are allowed only one qualification, Officers are allowed up
to three qualifications depending on their rank. Crew Assignment Methods
At the start of a mission, U-boat crew assignment is preset (during the career this
U-Boat Structure structure is decided by the player before leaving on a mission).
The U-boat is structured in compartments. A typical U-boat has the following Method 1: From Crew Quarters
compartments: Double left-click on any compartment name to automatically assign enough crew
• Bow/Stern Torpedo Room. from quarters to that compartment to make it work. If there is no crew in the
• Bow/Stern Crew Quarters. quarters, the operation will not take place.
• Radio and Sonar Room. Right-click on a compartment name to send the crew to quarters (for rest and
• Command Room. recovery from wounds).
• Diesel/Electric Engine Room. Method 2: Between Two Compartments
• Tower Deck. To easily move the entire crew (or as many as needed) from one compartment to
• Deck Gun. another, select the destination compartment (left-click on compartment name) then
right-click on another compartment name.
• Flak Gun.
Note that right-clicking on individual crew members will send them to a selected
compartment.
Method 3: Moving Individuals
Left-click and drag any individual crew member to place him in any compartment
with free crew slots.
Note that during a mission, certain automated assignments are active.
1. Whenever the U-boat navigates at surface, a watch crew has to be maintained
in the tower deck location (they are lookouts).
2. If the boat is surfacing, a watch crew is automatically assigned to this position, if
there are crew members in the crew quarters.

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3. If the player is using the guns, the watch crew automatically goes to the To get a better view of a target, use the optical aiming device of the gun by
quarters to avoid unwanted casualties. pressing the Tab key. On the vertical left side of the optical aiming device, you will
4. If the gun crew is sent below deck, the watch crew automatically returns to see the current elevation of the gun in meters.
tower deck location.
5. If the U-boat dives, the crew in the engines room will automatically switch from
diesel to electric compartment.
U-Boat Damage
Non-Repairable Damage
The first type of damage affects the general integrity of the submarine hull. This
type of damage is not repairable while in patrol. Beware – as your hull integrity is
affected, your U-boat safe depth will decrease. Diving too deep will no longer be an
option if your boat integrity is seriously affected.
Repairable Damage
The second type of damage is specific to compartments, locations, and systems
aboard the U-boat. Your crew can repair these items if they are not destroyed. Any
destroyed system is lost until you return to base, where the system will Move the crosshair left or right by using the left and right cursor keys or the mouse
automatically be replaced. Any dead crew member must be replaced when you to point the gun in the desired direction.
return to base.
Use the up and down cursor keys or the mouse to aim at long range or at close range.
The repair system works as follows:
Press the Space bar to fire.
If any crew members are on location, they will repair any minor damage to the
compartment/location and any system. Flak Gun Stations (Shortcut: F11)
For more serious damage you should assemble a repair team. To assign this team
to a specific location, left-click on the damaged location on the small submarine There can be up to three different flak gun locations, depending on the type and
silhouette below it. version of the U-boat. The flak guns can be used only when at surface, and only in
good weather. In order to control your flak guns, you will need to assign crew to
Moderate damage to a compartment or location can result in some damage to
operate the guns.
systems and crew. Usually, the crew on location will fix this kind of damage without
any other measures. There are two ways to assign crew to flak guns. One way is to select the Watch
Serious damage to a compartment or location can result in major damage to or Officer (lower left side of the game screen, right-most officer). First, select the
destruction of a system or even crew casualties. To recover from this kind of Crew on Deck option. Next, select Man the Flak Guns order.
damage it is best to assign a damage control team to that compartment. Alternatively, you can go to the Crew Management screen (shortcut: F7 key).
Critical damage to a compartment or location can result in destruction of systems, Double-click on the Flak Guns location. This will assign enough crew to operate the
crew casualties, and very often flooding. In these situations you must act quickly or flak guns.
the U-boat may be doomed. To use the flak gun manually, select
If any compartment within the pressure hull is destroyed, your boat will be lost. the Flak Guns icon from the upper-
left side of the game screen
Deck Gun Station (Shortcut: F10) (shortcut: F11 key). If more than one
From this location you can control the deck gun of the U-boat. The deck gun can be flak gun is available, you can use
used only when at surface, and only in good weather. In order to control your deck the F, T, and G keys to get directly to
gun, you will need to assign crew to operate the gun. a specific flak gun.
There are two ways to assign crew to deck gun. You can select the Watch Officer To zoom in on the view of a target
(lower left side of the game screen, right-most officer). First, select the Crew on through the targeting device, press
Deck option. Next, select the Man the Deck Gun order. the Tab key.
Alternatively, you can go to the Crew Management screen (shortcut: F7 key).
Double-click on the Deck Casing location. This will assign enough crew to operate
the deck gun. Move the aiming device left or right by using the mouse to point the flak gun in the
To use the deck gun manually, select the Deck Gun icon from the upper-left side of desired direction. Use the mouse to adjust range and follow your target. Press the
the game screen (shortcut: F10 key). left mouse button to fire.

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Radar Station (Shortcut: R) Radio Messages Station (Shortcut: M)

From this location the player can read, send, and receive messages.
• Send contact report: Sending contact reports will give precise enemy locations
to the commander of the U-boats (referred to as the BdU, for Befehlshaber der
Unterseeboatwaffe). This can result in Luftwaffe or Kriegsmarine attacks!
• Send patrol report: If you send a patrol report with the available number of
torpedoes, fuel level, and U-boat and crew status, BdU may relocate to a new
patrol grid according to the new conditions or ask you to return to base.

Captain’s Log (Shortcut: K)

The radar station will allow the player to manually handle the radar.
• Radar on/off: Turn the radar on/off.
• Direction handler: Left-click on the handler to change the listening direction.
• Radar range scale: Choose between range scales of 4,500 m and 15,000 m.
• Radar mode: The player can select between Continuous and Focus modes.
• Range: Read the range to the contact in the lower left part of the radar.
HINT: While the radar is a very powerful tool for detecting enemy contacts
(ships and airplanes), don’t forget that using it will give away your presence.
This screen will note all the ships sunk, aircraft destroyed, and other useful
Hydrophone (Shortcut: H) information. Each entry will have an entry date, class type, and tonnage description.
The External View
This view allows you total freedom of movement in the scene. The camera will go
as high as 50 m above sea level and as deep as 300 m below sea level.
Camera controls:
• Rotate left: Left cursor key.
• Rotate right: Right cursor key.
• Move forward: Up cursor key.
• Move back: Down cursor key.
Alternative control (left-click in view):
• Pan left: Left cursor key.
• Pan right: Right cursor key.
The hydrophone station will allow the player to manually handle the hydrophone. • Move forward: Up cursor key.
• Direction handler: Left-click on the handler to change the listening direction. • Move back: Down cursor key.
• Hydrophone volume: Set the volume of sound received with the hydrophone. • View control: Use mouse.
• Send ping (only available for sonar): Left-click to send a ping in the current
sonar direction. If you hit a target, it will return the range between the U-boat
and the object. Each additional ping will provide a more accurate range.
• Information displayed: In this notepad you add new contacts to the map.

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In both modes, you can also use the following controls: Rig for Silent Running
• Raise camera: Home key. This order changes the U-boat speed to Ahead Slow. While the U-boat is
• Lower camera: End key. set in this mode, the maximum speed available is Ahead Slow. All noisy
• Cycle camera through units visible in scene: activities, such as loading torpedoes or repairing, stop.
– Cycle up: Shift + “,” key. Secure from Silent Running
– Cycle down: Shift + “.” key. Cancel the Rig for Silent Running mode and all the above restrictions.
Note, however, that you will not be able to move freely away from the viewed unit,
when using the Cycle Units mode. HINT: The snorkel is a device that enables U-boats to run their diesel
engines for propulsion when submerged. It also allows the U-boat to recharge
OFFICER ORDERS its batteries while running underwater. The operating depth was usually 10 m.
It was available for U-boats starting in summer 1943.
Officer Interaction
In order to access the more complex functions of the U-boat, you will need to talk Maneuvers
to your officers. They are on the U-boat to assist you, so use them.
To talk to an officer or give him orders, left-click either on his icon in the Officers Knuckle Left
panel, or on his body in the 3D view. To take his post and do his job yourself, right- This evasive maneuver allows the U-boat to make a sharp 90° turn to port.
click on the same spots. The U-boat accelerates to Ahead Flank and goes to 25 m depth if at
Chief Engineer surface; otherwise, it maintains the current depth.
The Chief Engineer oversees all the U-boat governing systems and their use. Double Knuckle Left
Although the basic controls of speed, direction, and diving are accessible through This evasive maneuver allows the U-boat to make two sharp 90° turns to
this interface, assigning an officer to this post will offer a number of vital extra port in quick succession. The U-boat accelerates to Ahead Flank and goes
options. to 25 m depth if at surface; otherwise it maintains the current depth.
Knuckle Right
Propulsion This evasive maneuver allows the U-boat to make a sharp 90° turn to
starboard. The U-boat accelerates to Ahead Flank and goes to 25 m depth
Standard Mode if at surface; otherwise it maintains the current depth.
In this mode the U-boat uses both port and starboard engines for Double Knuckle Right
propulsion. At surface or when using the snorkel, the diesel engines This evasive maneuver allows the U-boat to make two sharp 90° turns to
provide the propulsion. When the U-boat submerges, the crew will starboard in quick succession. The U-boat accelerates to Ahead Flank and
automatically switch to electric engines. goes to 25 m depth if at surface; otherwise, it maintains the current depth.
Recharge Mode Deploy Decoys
This mode is available only when at surface or when using the snorkel. It This order launches a decoy astern of the U-boat.
allows the U-boat to use one engine for propulsion, while the other engine
is used for recharging batteries. HINT: This was a chemical device intended to confuse hunters equipped
Snorkel Up with sonar. It consisted of a metal can, released from a special launcher. It
Raise the snorkel. The operational depth for the snorkel is 10 m or above. presented a false target to the attacker’s sonar for a period of approximately
5–25 min, enabling the U-boat to sneak away.
Snorkel Down
Lower the snorkel.

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Emergency Orders Search Pattern

Crash Dive Pattern 1

This emergency order submerges the U-boat at 70 m depth in the fastest Plot a spiral search pattern.
way possible, with Ahead Flank speed.
Blow Ballast Pattern 2
This emergency order brings the U-boat to surface in the fastest way Plot a zigzag search pattern.
possible, using the compressed air to empty the ballast tanks.
HINT: While the Blow Ballast order brings the U-boat quickly to surface, it Pattern 3
uses large quantities of compressed air. It is recommended that you use this Plot an X search pattern.
order only in extreme situations.
HINT: Search patterns are recommended when you have to patrol an area
or you need to find a target in a specific zone.
Reports

Fuel Level Reports

Display the current fuel level on the U-boat.
Maximum Range at Current Speed
HINT: Don’t forget that the faster you run, the faster the fuel runs out. The Navigator will calculate the maximum range the U-boat can reach
with the available fuel using the current speed.
Battery Level
Time to Course End
Display the current battery level. When the U-boat is at surface and in
The Navigator will calculate the time needed to reach the end of the
Recharge mode, the battery is recharged.
plotted course.
Compressed Air Level
Range to Course End
Display the current compressed air level. When the U-boat is at surface,
The Navigator will calculate the distance to the end of the plotted course.
the compressed air is automatically replenished.
CO2 Level
Depth Under Keel
Display the current CO2 level in the U-boat. When the U-boat is at surface,
Using the Atlas Echolot, the Navigator will report the depth under keel.
the oxygen is automatically replenished.

HINT: To find the depth from the U-boat keel to the sea bottom, the Navigator
Navigator uses an active device that sends pings. Do not forget that these pings can
The Navigator assists you on long-range navigation. Although you can manually disclose your location.
plot your course, the navigator will provide extra information useful in making long- Weather
term decisions.
The Navigator makes a brief weather report.

Plot Course Return to Course

This order returns the U-boat to the previously plotted course (if there is one).
This order allows course plotting using the navigation map.

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Weapon Officer Sound Operator

The role of the Weapon Officer is to assist you with torpedo attacks. Although you The Sound Operator informs you of any contacts revealed by sound detection. You
can manually perform all the required torpedo attack procedures, the Weapon are strongly advised to have the Sound Operator at his station at all times.
Officer will make a beginning U-boat commander’s life easier.

Torpedo Attack Report

Ship Identification Repeat Last Report

Asks the Weapon Officer to identify a selected target. Repeat the last report the Sound Operator made.

Solution Report on Nearest Contact

Asks the Weapon Officer to calculate a torpedo solution for a selected The Sound Operator will make a report on the nearest hydrophone or
target. sonar contact.
Fire Torpedo
Asks the Weapon Officer to launch a torpedo using the current available Hydrophone
solution.
Normal Sweep
Choose Torpedo Target The Sound Operator will use normal sweep procedure.

Nearest Ship Follow Nearest Sound Contact

Asks the Weapon Officer to select the nearest ship in range for a torpedo The Sound Operator will follow only the nearest sound contact.
attack.
Nearest Merchant
Sonar
Asks the Weapon Officer to select the nearest merchant in range for a
torpedo attack.
Estimate Range to Contact
Nearest Warship
The Sound Operator will estimate range to a selected sonar contact.
Asks the Weapon Officer to select the nearest warship in range for a
torpedo attack.
Precise Range to Contact
Recommended Target
The Sound Operator will give the precise range to a selected sonar contact.
Asks the Weapon Officer to recommend the best target in range for a
torpedo attack.

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.

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Radio Operator Watch Officer

The Radio Operator allows you to send and receive radio communications. The Watch Officer controls the crew on deck when the U-boat is at surface.
Although you can perform radio and radar procedures manually, it is advisable to Although you can manually perform all the operations on the deck, having the
maintain a Radio Operator at station at all times. Watch Officer at station will give you remote control on the gun crews and will
dramatically improve their performance when engaging surface and air targets.

Report
Deck Gun Target
Report Nearest Radio Contact
The Radio Operator repeats the last radio contact received. Nearest Ship
The Watch Officer will select the nearest ship available for a deck gun
Send Contact Report attack.
The Radio Operator sends a contact report to the base. Nearest Merchant
The Watch Officer will select the nearest merchant available for a deck
Send Patrol Report gun attack.
The Radio Operator sends a patrol report to the base. Nearest Warship
The Watch Officer will select the nearest warship available for a deck gun
attack.
Radar Recommended Target
The Watch Officer will recommend the best target available for deck gun
One Sweep attack.
The Radio Operator will make a 360° radar sweep.

Crew on Deck
Continuous Sweep
The Radio Operator will use the radar continuously.
Man the Deck Gun
The Watch Officer will order the crew to operate the deck gun.
Turn Off
The Radio Operator turns the radar off. Man the Flak Gun
The Watch Officer will order the crew to operate the flak guns.

Gramophone Man the Deck and Flak Gun

The Watch Officer will order the crew to operate the deck and flak guns.
Play
Start the music on the gramophone. Watch Crew
Previous The Watch Officer will order the watch crew on the bridge.
Go to previous melody.

Stop Weapons Management

Stop the gramophone.
The Watch Officer will display the torpedo, deck, and flak ammo management screen.
Next
Skip the current melody.

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Deck Gun Flak Gun

Fire at Will Fire at Will
This orders the deck gun crew to engage any target. This order allows the flak guns crew to engage any target.

Hold Fire Hold Fire

This order restricts the deck gun crew from engaging targets. This order restricts the flak guns crew from engaging targets.

Short Range
Short Range
This order restricts the deck gun crew to engaging targets only at short
range (up to 1,000 m). This order restricts the flak guns crew to engaging targets only at short
range (up to 500 m).
Medium Range
Medium Range
This order restricts the deck gun crew to engaging targets only at medium
range (up to 3,000 m). This order restricts the flak guns crew to engaging targets only at medium
range (up to 1,000 m).
Long Range
This order restricts the deck gun crew to engage targets at long range (up Long Range
to maximum range of 8,000 m). This order allows the flak guns crew to engage targets at maximum range
(up to 2,000 m).
Aim for Hull
The deck gun crew will aim at the target’s hull. Targeting Fighters
The flak guns crew will engage enemy fighters with priority.
Aim for Command Deck
The deck gun crew will aim at the target’s command deck. Targeting Bombers
The flak guns crew will engage enemy bombers with priority.
Aim for Weapons
The deck gun crew will aim at the target’s weapon platforms. Targeting at Will
The flak guns crew will engage any enemy aircraft.
Aim for Waterline
The deck gun crew will aim for the target’s waterline. Targeting Closing Targets
The flak guns crew will engage closing enemy aircraft with priority.

Engage Any Targets

The flak guns crew will engage all enemy aircraft.

Visual Contacts
The Watch Officer will report the closest visual contact.

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CONDUCTING TORPEDO ATTACKS Range

Determining range to a target of known height is a simple problem, so the first step
The German U-boat force was meant for one purpose: to wage war at sea. War in any attack is the identification of the target. Bring up the Recognition Manual
demands weapons, and the U-boat’s main weapon is the torpedo. (shortcut: M key) and flip through it until you find a match with the target you are
A successful torpedo attack requires several steps. As captain, it is your job to looking at through the optics. Check the empty box on the manual’s page. This will
perform each one of them. However, you may require assistance from your identify the ship in question and automatically enter the mast height – the tallest
Weapons Officer in completing some of them. object on the ship – on your notepad.
The steps are: HINT: It’s easier to identify a ship when looking at it from abeam (90° to its side).
1. Approach.
Click the Range section on the notepad, which will open it to the correct section.
2. Data Collection.
Once you have the target’s correct height from the ID book, all you need to do is
3. Sending Data to the TDC. read its apparent height (as angle ) from the periscope or UZO. Both optics are
4. Tubes Selection. fitted with marked reticles for this task and a Stadimeter-like tool to automatically
5. Attack. measure the target. The meaning of the reticle marks can be read in the table
below:
Approach OPTIC USED SMALL MARKS LARGE MARKS
Your torpedoes, especially early war models, are not extremely reliable or easy-to-
Periscope (1x or 1.5x) 1° 5°
use weapons. Before attacking, bring your submarine as close to the target as
possible, within 1000 m for best results. At short range, even if you or the torpedoes Periscope (4x or 6x) 0.25° (0°15’) 1.25° (1°15’)
are suddenly detected and the target starts evasive maneuvers, it will be too late UZO (7x) 0.2° (0°12’) 1° (0°15’)
for him.
To use the Stadimeter, first place the crosshair on the waterline of the target. Next,
Distance is not the only point of interest, however: the submarine’s position relative click the icon in the lower left corner of the notepad. Your mouse cursor will be
to the target is equally important. Generally speaking, the best initial position would captured and will be used to move a horizontal line in the periscope view. Place it
be “ahead of the beam,” meaning to 45° to either side of the target’s course. From on the target’s highest point – the masthead. When satisfied with the
this point, you would have plenty of time to gather the data required for the attack approximation, left-click and the range will automatically be calculated in the
and still be well placed for a bow or beam shot. notepad. If you agree with the results, check them to return to the main page of the
Data Collection notepad.
Should you desire to calculate the range yourself, use the following formula:
It is no simple task to make your torpedoes collide with the target and not the
empty space of the open sea. Every attack is a complex trigonometric problem that Mast
range = ––––––
requires a solution. In the Great War, the First Watch Officer would employ tables sin
and disc calculators for this purpose. Fortunately, this is no longer needed. Each U-
boat comes equipped with an electro-mechanical computer for this task. All you Angle on Bow
are required to do is gather the following data on the target:
The Angle on Bow (AOB) is, in brief, the bearing on which the target ship would
• Range. observe your U-boat. It is used to define the ship’s course relative to your own.
• Angle on bow.
• Speed.
To acquire this data, you will have to use one of the two main stations of attack: the
Periscope (optic used for underwater attacks) or the UZO (binoculars used for
surface attacks). Both of them are equipped with all the necessary tools. Later in
the war, when commanding a Type XXI U-boat, you will be able to use the
advanced Nibelung sonar to acquire sufficient data for underwater attacks without
even raising the periscope.
On lower difficulty settings, all data will be acquired automatically by the game
whenever your crosshairs come over a viable target. On Historical settings,
however, each step will need to be completed by you. To enter AOB for your target, click on the relevant notepad section. A new page
will open, showing the AOB tool. Entering the desired value is as simple as

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dragging the outer ring icon (representing your submarine) to the correct position In most situations, data collected for a target degrades rapidly, as AOB and range
and then checking the lower right corner box. The question is, what should the change over time for even non-maneuvering targets. Once entered in the TDC,
desired value be? however, the AOB will be automatically corrected for any changes in target bearing.
There are multiple methods for judging AOB on a target. The quickest method is At this point, advanced players should also begin worrying about some other settings:
through visual observation. This is obviously quite inaccurate, but the Recognition
Manual AOB page may help you come up with a reasonable value quite fast. Torpedo Running Depth
A more time-consuming and difficult – but also more accurate – method is to adjust This should be set in close relation to the desired detonation method (see below).
your heading until the lateral separation between your ships remains constant and For MZ detonations, it is best if the torpedo passes directly under the target’s keel.
you are both heading the same way. At this point, you have “matched course to In this case, take the Draft entry in the Recognition Manual and add 1–2 m. Keep in
target”; in other words, you are traveling along parallel courses. It’s easy to mind that large waves may change a ship’s draft quite a bit, and too great a
determine AOB at this point, using the following formula. distance may lead to the detonator not sensing the ship’s magnetic field.
AOB = 180° – bearing Torpedo Detonation Method
Speed German torpedoes of World War II used combined detonators that could be
triggered by either frontal impact with a solid object or sensing the magnetic field
The Speed section of the notepad is simple to use and understand. You are of a ship above it.
basically taking sightings (range + bearing) of a target over a period of time. Using
this data and your own speed and course, you can determine the target’s speed. As in real life, your torpedoes’ detonators will have two possible settings: Impact
Only and Magnetic + Impact. When a detonation is achieved under the ship’s keel,
To begin the process, left-click on the Clock icon on the notepad. This will take the the entire force of the explosion is vented inside the ship, crippling it. Even a
first sighting and begin counting the time. It is best to have the target locked at this battleship may be sunk with a single such hit. The only way to achieve such an
moment. When satisfied with the expended time – longer is better – left-click effect is by using the magnetic detonation part of the torpedo pistol. But magnetic
again. This will conclude the measurement and display the results. As always, detonations also have disadvantages, the main one being their poor reliability,
check them if you are satisfied with your approximation. manifested in premature detonations. Overly sensitive and insufficiently tested
HINT: This method of finding target speed is heavily dependent on the mechanisms lead to premature detonations, especially in bad weather and specific
accuracy of your range estimation. If you are getting speed results that are off zones of the globe. Read the “Torpedo Armament” section for further information.
the scale, recheck the range. Torpedo Running Speed
Another method of acquiring the speed of the target would be to match speed and Steam-powered torpedoes (T1 and relatives) can be set to different speeds, which
course with target. This is somewhat similar to the technique explained in the AOB also affect their range. See the “Torpedo Armament” section for further
section above – you adjust your own course and speed until the bearing and distance information.
to the target remains constant. At this point you should be traveling along parallel SETTING SPEED (KTS) RANGE (HM)
courses and at the same speed. You can enter this speed directly into the TDC.
Finally, you can estimate the target’s speed using the data from the recognition Slow 30 125
manual, visual observation, and plain experience. Medium 40 75
Sending Data to the TDC Fast 45 50

Once you have a complete set of data for the target, they need to be inserted in the Pattern-Running and Guided Torpedoes
TDC. On lower levels of difficulty, this is automatically done with the data As war progressed and the Allies strengthened their anti-submarine measures, U-
collection, when the crosshairs pass over a target. boat captains found it difficult to approach their targets in order to deliver an accurate
On Historical difficulty, however, you will be required to send the data yourself by torpedo attack. One solution was the introduction of pattern-running torpedoes.
checking it on the notepad. In case of a miss during the initial attack – which was more likely due to increased
NOTE: You may reset the TDC and data by pressing the X icon on the distance – the torpedo would begin to execute a trajectory that, with the proper shot
notepad. This will, among other things, set the Target Speed dial on the TDC to setup, would ensure that the target or another ship in the convoy eventually got hit.
0, which basically transforms your optics to a point-and-shoot device. Until Another solution was adding acoustical guidance to the torpedoes. Evidently, such
a torpedo would be able to track the target itself, thus negating minor aiming errors
new data is entered, the torpedoes will shoot on the bearing towards which
from the crew’s part.
the currently used optic is pointing.
For a complete overview on the settings that you can make for the pattern-running
torpedoes, see the “Torpedo Armaments” section of this manual.

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Tubes Selection The key element to remember when attacking a convoy is that all ships share
course and speed. Once you determine those factors for one merchant, you can
This step can actually be taken at any point in the attack, as it simply means quickly, to the limit of your torpedo loadout, attack a multitude of targets.
selecting the torpedo tube(s) to be used for the attack. You should ask yourself the For a non-maneuvering target, the TDC will automatically correct the angle on bow
following questions: in relation to the bearing transmitted by the optics. As the ship’s course will not
Should this be a bow or stern shot? change, this is simply a matter of mathematical calculation. You can use this to
All factors being equal, it is best for the Gyro Angle turns made by the torpedoes to your advantage, because the calculator will also automatically correct the AOB
be as small as possible. There are also limits to what Gyro Angle can be set: +/- 90° when you point the optic at another ship traveling on the same course – as in, you
at the start of the war; +/- 135° later. guessed it, a convoy.
What torpedo should I use?
It is impractical to reload a torpedo before the actual attack, as it is a time-
consuming process. Therefore, the current loadout should govern your choices in
tube(s). Check the Weapons Status panel for information on the loaded torpedoes.
Do I need more than one torpedo for this target?
Large targets may require multiple shots, either organized as a salvo (fan-shot) or
as succession of shots. It is a good practice to aim each torpedo at a different point
on the same target – under the mast, at the funnels, or whatever you consider a
weak spot. For a succession of shots launched individually, aim each torpedo by
placing the optic’s crosshair over the desired impact point. The Torpedo Data
Computer is a simple tool that will take the current bearing input as the target; this
allows for very precise shots.
If a salvo is your approach, a quick way to set the correct spread angle is to point
the optic at the extremities of the desired impact zone on the target. Make note of
the bearing interval covered in the process, and enter it as the spread in the TDC.
A salvo can also be a good solution when you want to make sure you score a hit on
the target, regardless of its maneuvering prior to the hit. The angle covered by the
spread of torpedoes should be set in order to cover all the possible routes the
target may take. Take into consideration the forward motion of the target as a
factor in its ability to maneuver.
Attack
At this point, you are ready to launch your torpedo. To speed up the process and
avoid any sudden changes in target data ruining the shot, begin opening the
torpedo tubes before acquiring the data.
A final assessment of the situation should be done before firing the shot. Keep in
mind the following advice:
• All factors being equal, shorter range is better (provided that arming distance is met).
• The higher the torpedo speed, the lesser the chances that the target will avoid it.
• The closer to 0° the target’s bearing is (or 180° for stern tubes shots), the less
important range estimation errors become.
• It’s best to attack from abeam (AOB ~ 90°).
Multiple Target Attacks
The primary method of warfare for the German U-boat, as predicted by Admiral
Doenitz in the years before World War II, was the nighttime surface attack on
convoys. The U-boat was adequate for this purpose, and with some practice, you
can excel at it too.

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U-BOAT, VEHICLES, AND • Beam: 5.0 m

• Draft: 3.9 m

WEAPON DATA • Max. speed: 13 kt (surfaced), 7.9 kt (submerged)

• Endurance: 3,450 nm (at 12 kt surfaced), 56 nm (at 4 kt submerged)
• Depth: 125 m (operational), 175 m (maximum)
THE SILENT HUNTER III U-BOATS • Dive time: 25 sec
• Torpedo tubes: 3 bow, 0 stern
Silent Hunter III includes a good cross-section of the U-boats available throughout • Reloads: 2
World War II. The following sections discuss the different U-boat types and the
weapons they used.
• Guns: 1 20mm machine gun

THE TYPE II U-BOATS THE TYPE VII U-BOATS

Nicknamed the “einbaum” (dugout canoe) by their crews, the Type II U-boats were The Type VII design was selected over the earlier Type I-A design partly because
the first production submarines constructed for the Kriegsmarine after World War I. of its smaller size, which allowed more U-boats to be constructed within the
While the earlier Type I prototype (which would eventually evolve into the Type IX tonnage limitations established by treaty. However, the design was very sound and
long-range U-boat) was designed as a fleet submarine, the Type II was designed as it would form the backbone of the U-boat fleet, with over 700 of all subtypes
a short-range coastal boat primarily for defensive use. completed.
Because of their short range and relatively weak armament (three torpedo tubes Type VII-B
and a machine gun) the Type II U-boats were mostly relegated to training duties
after 1940. The original Type VII variant had a single rear-firing torpedo tube that was mounted
externally. This awkward arrangement was corrected in the Type VII-B, which had
However, six Type II-B’s were dismantled and shipped by barge, road, and rail to a real aft torpedo room and room for one reload for the single aft tube.
the Black Sea port of Constanta, from which they operated against Soviet shipping.
The VII-B was also equipped with four watertight compartments on the upper deck,
which were used to store additional torpedo reloads, bringing the total torpedo
Type II-A load to 14.
The original variant. First launched in 1935. The Type VII-B was also gifted with more range and speed than the original,
• Displacement: 254 tons (surfaced), 303 tons (submerged) allowing it to go farther out into the Atlantic. First launched in 1938, the Type VII-B
• Length: 40.9 m would pave the way for the most common U-boat variant of them all, the Type VII-C.
• Beam: 4.1 m • Displacement: 753 tons (surfaced), 857 tons (submerged)
• Draft: 3.8 m • Length: 66.5 m
• Max. speed: 13.0 kt (surfaced), 6.9 kt (submerged) • Beam: 6.2 m
• Endurance: 1,050 nm (at 12 kt surfaced), 35 nm (4 kt submerged) • Draft: 4.7 m
• Depth: 100 m (operational), 150 m (maximum) • Max. speed: 17.2 kt (surfaced), 8.0 kt (submerged)
• Dive time: 35 sec • Endurance: 6,500 nm (at 12 kt surfaced), 90 nm (at 4 kt submerged)
• Torpedo tubes: 3 bow, 0 stern • Depth: 150 m (operational), 225 m (maximum)
• Reloads: 3 • Dive time: 30 sec
• Guns: 1 20mm machine gun • Torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 1 stern
• Reloads: 7 internal, 2 external
Type II-D • Guns:
This final variant of the Type II had extra saddle-tanks similar to those used on Type – 1 88mm naval gun
VII U-boats, giving it sufficient range to operate around the British Isles. First – 1 20mm machine gun
launched in 1940, the II-D saw active service only briefly, as the need for training
boats was so great. By 1941, they all had been relegated to training duties.
• Displacement: 314 tons (surfaced), 364 tons (submerged)
• Length: 44.0 m

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Type VII-C • Displacement: 999 tons (surfaced), 1,099 tons (submerged)

• Length: 68.7 m
The Type VIIC was by far the most common variant of any U-boat built, with 577
units completed by the end of the war. Length was increased over the VII-B, but • Beam: 6.7 m
engine power was not, leading to a slight reduction in submerged performance. • Draft: 5.1 m
First launched in 1940, these units formed the backbone of the U-boat forces • Max. speed: 18.6 kt (surfaced), 8.2 kt (submerged)
employed in the Battle of the Atlantic. • Endurance: 10,000 nm (at 12 kt surfaced), 80 nm (at 4 kt submerged)
• Displacement: 761 tons (surfaced), 865 tons (submerged) • Depth: 250 m (operational), 350 m (maximum)
• Length: 67.1 m • Dive time: 27 sec
• Beam: 6.2 m • Torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 1 stern
• Draft: 4.8 m • Reloads: 7 internal, 4 external
• Max. speed: 17.2 kt (surfaced), 7.6 kt (submerged) • Guns: 1 20mm AA
• Endurance: 6,500 nm (at 12 kt surfaced), 80 nm (at 4 kt submerged)
• Depth: 150 m (operational), 225 m (maximum) THE TYPE IX U-BOATS
• Dive time: 27 sec Derived from the earlier Type I-A U-boat prototype, the Type IX was envisioned as a
• Torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 1 stern long-range U-boat, with much greater endurance than could be managed by the
• Reloads: 7 internal, 2 external Type VII. The Type IX U-boats operated as far away as the Caribbean, the South
• Guns: Atlantic, and even the Indian Ocean.
– 1 88mm naval gun The Type IX U-boats were larger than the Type VII variants in order to carry
– 1 20mm AA sufficient fuel and supplies to operate at long ranges. This made them unsuitable
for some theaters, particularly the Mediterranean, where large size was a
Type VII-C/41 disadvantage in light of the Allied air presence.
In the face of increased Allied ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) efforts, it was Type IX-B
decided that there was room for improvement in the Type VII-C design. Increases
in pressure hull thickness allowed this variant to dive deeper, and a new bow This first improvement to the Type IX illustrates the design history of this class –
design improved seakeeping. mainly the search for extended range. This variant mainly incorporates greater fuel
capacity for a slight range improvement at the expense of performance. Otherwise,
• Displacement: 759 tons (surfaced), 860 tons (submerged) this variant, first launched in 1938, is similar to the Type IX-A.
• Length: 67.2 m • Displacement: 1051 tons (surfaced), 1,178 tons (submerged)
• Beam: 6.2 m • Length: 76.5 m
• Draft: 4.8 m • Beam: 6.8 m
• Max Speed: 17.0 kt (surfaced), 7.6 kt (submerged) • Draft: 4.7 m
• Endurance: 6,500 nm (12 kt surfaced), 80 nm (4 kt submerged) • Max. speed: 18.2 kt (surfaced), 7.3 kt (submerged)
• Depth: 150 m (operational), 225 m (maximum) • Endurance: 8,700 nm (12 kt surfaced), 64 nm (4 kt submerged)
• Dive time: 25 sec • Depth: 150 m (operational), 225 m (maximum)
• Torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 1 stern • Dive time: 35 sec
• Reloads: 7 internal, 2 external • Torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 2 stern
• Guns: • Reloads: 8 internal, 7 external
– 1 88mm naval gun • Guns:
– 1 20mm AA – 1 105mm naval gun
Type VII-C/42 – 3 20mm AA
Another improved variant – the Type VII-C/42 – was planned but constructed in – 1 37mm AA
small numbers, as priority was shifted to the newer Type XXI U-boats. First
launched in 1943, this was the last Type VII variant produced.

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Type IX-C Type IX-D2

This second Type IX variant extended the range of this series to 11,000 nautical In the quest for greater operational range, the Germans attempted to stretch the
miles, a significant improvement over its predecessors. Power plant improvements Type IX series to its ultimate limit with the Type IX-D. Physically larger than their
helped maintain performance parity with earlier Type IX’s. First launched in 1939, predecessors, the D variants included two sets of diesel engines instead of the
the Type IX-C’s design remained relatively stable, with 54 units produced in total. usual single pair. One set was smaller and designed for low-speed cruising, while
• Displacement: 1,120 tons (surfaced), 1,232 tons (submerged) the other set was larger and could propel the boat at its maximum speed. This
• Length: 76.8 m arrangement allowed for a phenomenal doubling of the boat’s endurance.
• Beam: 6.8 m Unfortunately, the original Type IX-D1 engines were very troublesome and only a
few were built. All were converted to transports.
• Draft: 4.7 m
First launched in 1942 with a revised power plant, the Type IX-D2 successfully
• Max. speed: 18.3 kt (surfaced), 7.3 kt (submerged) extended the Ubootwaffe’s range as far as the Indian Ocean and beyond, giving the
• Endurance: 11,000 nm (at 12 kt surfaced), 63 nm (4 kt submerged) Germans the ability to assist their Japanese allies in the Far East.
• Depth: 150 m (operational), 225 m (maximum) • Displacement: 1,616 tons (surfaced), 1,804 tons (submerged)
• Dive time: 37 sec • Length: 87.6 m
• Torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 2 stern • Beam: 7.5 m
• Reloads: 8 internal, 8 external • Draft: 5.4 m
• Guns: • Max. speed: 19.2 kt (surfaced), 6.9 kt (submerged)
– 1 105mm naval gun • Endurance: 23,700 nm (12 kt surfaced), 57 nm (4 kt submerged)
– 3 20mm AA • Depth: 150 m (operational), 225 m (maximum)
– 1 37mm AA • Dive time: 42 sec
Type IX-C/40 • Torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 2 stern
• Reloads: 8 internal, 12 external
This was the most common variant of the Type IX series, with 87 units completed
through 1944. Though more were ordered initially, many were cancelled to • Guns:
accommodate Type XXI production. First launched in 1941, this variant included – 1 105mm naval gun
even greater range than its predecessors, although it was similar in most other – 2 20mm AA
respects. – 1 37mm AA
• Displacement: 1,144 tons (surfaced), 1,257 tons (submerged)
• Length: 76.8 m
• Beam: 6.9 m
• Draft: 4.7 m
• Max. speed: 18.0 kt (surfaced), 7.0 kt (submerged)
• Endurance: 11,400 nm (12 kt surfaced), 63 nm (4 kt submerged)
• Depth: 110 m (operational), 230 m (maximum)
• Dive time: 37 sec
• Torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 2 stern
• Reloads: 8 internal, 8 external
• Guns:
– 1 105mm naval gun
– 2 20mm AA
– 1 37mm AA

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THE TYPE XXI U-BOAT In both cases, a mechanical depth-keeping device and a gyroscope comprised the
guidance system, allowing the torpedoes to, in theory, run a straight course at a
Derived from the Walter-designed Type XVIII, the Type XXI represented the state of fixed depth until intersecting a target or running out of power.
the art in submarine design in World War II and was the basis for most post-war The Germans also had both impact and magnetic influence detonators. The
submarine development among the major powers. The Type XXI was designed first magnetic detonators were designed to allow a torpedo to run under the keel of the
and foremost for excellent submerged performance. The deck gun, always target before detonating, causing catastrophic structural damage.
considered an auxiliary weapon anyway, was removed, and numerous streamlining
measures were incorporated. Problems
The result was a phenomenal submerged speed of 17 kts – faster even than the German submariners experienced a number of torpedo failures that were
boat could travel while surfaced – and unparalleled submerged range. In addition, remarkably similar to those their American counterparts would face a few years
large internal storage for torpedoes and a new fast-reload mechanism made this later in the war against Japan. The problems were traced to a whole series of
model a formidable opponent. technical difficulties with the German torpedo designs.
Unfortunately for the Germans, the revolutionary technology and complex A faulty depth-keeping mechanism caused torpedoes to run deeper than they were
production process meant that few of the 120 units built would ever become programmed to. When this was discovered, the U-boat crews were ordered to set
operational. their torpedo depths to zero until a revised mechanism could be designed.
• Displacement: 1,621 tons (surfaced), 1,819 tons (submerged) In addition, the magnetic detonators tended to be oversensitive, resulting in
• Length: 76.7 m premature detonation once the torpedo had armed itself. U-boat crews were
• Beam: 6.6 m forced to disable the magnetic detonators and rely on their impact detonators until
a new magnetic influence pistol could be devised. Even then, many commanders
• Draft: 6.3 m would continue to disable the magnetic detonator, preferring to trust their lives to
• Max. speed: 15.6 kt (surfaced), 17.5 kt (submerged) the more reliable contact detonators.
• Endurance: 11,150 nm (at 12 kt surfaced), 285 nm (at 6 kt submerged) Unfortunately, there were problems with impact detonators as well. A series of
• Depth: 175 m (operational), 275 m (maximum) “whiskers” on the front of the torpedo were designed to trigger a detonation.
• Dive time: 25 sec However, a fault in this mechanism resulted in an increasing likelihood of failure at
• Torpedo tubes: 6 bow, 0 stern angles of impact other than 90°.
• Reloads: 17 internal Over the early months of the war these problems were gradually discovered, and
redesigned torpedoes were issued to the U-boat crews, improving the
• Guns: 2 20mm AA effectiveness of U-boat operations immensely. But this was just the beginning.

TORPEDO ARMAMENTS Improved Guidance Systems

Initially, German torpedoes resembled those of most of the other major powers in As the Battle of the Atlantic raged on, it became more and more difficult for U-boat
World War II. However, the desperate attempts to interdict Allied convoys in the commanders to approach a convoy closely enough to attack effectively with the
face of increasingly effective antisubmarine efforts and the customary German basic straight-running torpedoes. Allied ASW had become more effective at
ingenuity would combine to produce some of the more exotic weapons of the war. keeping the U-boats at arm’s length.
The Kriegsmarine sought ways to improve the odds of hitting a target at long range
Early War Torpedoes in order to give their U-boats a fighting chance. This resulted in a series of
guidance-system improvements that allowed torpedoes to behave more
When the war began the Germans had two basic torpedo types in service. intelligently.
The T-1 (model G7a) was a steam-powered torpedo 533 mm in diameter with a The effort proceeded down two separate paths:
maximum range of 12,500 m at its slowest speed, which was 30 kts. A medium • Torpedoes, which could run pre-programmed patterns, would be able to increase
speed yielded 7,500 m at 40 kts and a fast speed yielded a range of 5,000 m at 44 the odds of a hit by searching along the convoy’s path of motion.
kts. Because of the highly visible wake left by steam torpedoes, German doctrine
dictated that these be used only at night, if possible. • Acoustically guided torpedoes could home in on the sound of a ship’s engines,
overcoming the target’s ability to evade incoming torpedoes.
The T-III (model G7e) was an electric torpedo with a range of 5,000 m at 30 kts. The
electric power plant made these essentially wakeless, but the batteries required
preheating if these torpedoes were to achieve their maximum range. In 1942 the
improved T-IIIa was developed, which increased electric torpedo range to 7,500 m
at 30 kts.

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Pattern-Running Torpedoes DECK GUNS

The idea behind these designs was to produce a torpedo that would perform 8.8cm and 10.5cm naval guns were fitted to Type VII and Type IX U-boats as
normally over an initial run distance but would, if no target was hit, go into a search auxiliary weapons. In the most optimistic view, these weapons could be used to
mode that allowed it to proceed along the convoy’s track and, hopefully, find finish off targets that had already been torpedoed or otherwise rendered helpless.
something to hit along the way.
As a practical matter, U-boats were fragile craft designed for stealth and not for
One of the most successful of these designs was the Federapparat Torpedo, or FaT, gun fighting. Against any target that could shoot back, a U-boat was much better
which was fitted to both the T-I and T-III torpedoes. The FaT-I guidance system was off diving deep and running away.
programmable to a limited degree. A gyroscope guided the torpedo along its initial
In addition, U-boats were poor gun platforms due to their low position in the water
run, a distance that was computed to carry the torpedo into the midst of a convoy.
and their tendency to roll and pitch in heavy seas. However, the practice of fitting
The torpedo officer could set this distance.
naval guns to submarines continued through much of the war, only giving way
If no target was hit over the initial run, the torpedo would perform a 180° turn to when it was clear that they were mainly adding weight and drag to the submarine
port or starboard, which could also be set by the torpedo officer, and backtrack in without contributing much to its capabilities. In fact, the advanced Type XXI U-
search of a target. boats were designed without deck guns to improve underwater performance.
The torpedo would then, if no target was hit, proceed a distance of 800 or 1,600 m, A few U-boat commanders garnered some success with their deck guns. Captain-
again selectable by the torpedo officer, and perform another 180° turn in the opposite Lieutenant Reinhard Hardegen, for instance, sunk several merchant ships using the
direction. This would repeat until the torpedo hit a target or ran out of steam. 10.5cm deck gun on his Type IX-B U-boat during Operation Drumbeat. However,
The result was a search pattern that resembled the rungs of a ladder and was given situations where escorts were present in force, attacking with gunfire would
designed to advance at a fixed speed along the convoy’s path of motion. To achieve have been a near-suicidal act.
this ideal search pattern, the U-boat commander would have to maneuver so that
his U-boat was close to a position directly abeam the convoy and fire across the 8.8cm Deck Guns
convoy’s path. These were fitted to Type VII U-boats for much of the war. In spite of having the
Other pattern-running variants were designed and deployed. The LuT torpedo was same caliber, these were unrelated to the famous 8.8cm flak guns used so
designed to overcome some of the limitations of the FaT-I, including the use of successfully by the Wehrmacht.
electric propulsion for wakeless performance. The LuT guidance system was more
difficult to program, including a second gyroscope for more flexible targeting 10.5cm Deck Guns
options. In any case, only about 70 of these were made. These larger weapons were fitted to Type IX U-boats.
The FaT-II was also electrically powered. Designed to run a circular pattern after their
initial run length, these torpedoes were meant to be fired defensively at escort ships.
MACHINE GUNS
Acoustically Guided Torpedoes Allied aircraft were the greatest enemies of the U-boat in World War II. Equipped
German U-boats increasingly fell prey to escort ships as the Allies improved their with centimetric radar and a brace of depth charges, the patrolling Catalinas,
ASW techniques and equipment. Some means of safely keeping the escorts Sunderlands, and Liberators made the Bay of Biscay a nearly impassable area for
occupied would help improve the odds for U-boats in the Atlantic. U-boats during the latter half of the war.
The T-V acoustically guided torpedo was designed to provide the edge needed. Until the development of the snorkel, U-boats were forced to travel on the surface
Based on the T-III electric torpedo, the maximum speed of the T-V was reduced to for much of the long, dangerous voyage to the convoy lanes, diving only when
24.5 kts in order to reduce self-noise, a constant problem with the acoustic attacked. Most U-boat types were designed from the beginning to carry machine
guidance systems. This had the side benefit of increasing range to 5,750 m. guns to fend off attacking aircraft. Usually these were single 20mm machine guns.
The Type IX U-boats, which were considered more vulnerable to aircraft due to
There were additional limitations to the acoustic seeker technology. A fairly loud
their larger size, were normally equipped with a single 37mm gun in addition to the
engine sound was required to attract the seeker, limiting its use to targets that
20mm. The 37 was a heavy, slow-firing weapon, but packed considerably more
were moving at 12 to 15 kts or faster. This also made it possible for the Allies to
punch when it hit. These were occasionally used against shipping, with some
easily devise decoys to draw off acoustic torpedoes. Also, the seeker was as likely
success.
to acquire the U-boat as any target, so standard practice was to dive after firing a
T-V in order to avoid this eventuality. This had the effect of reducing the U-boat In general, the number of machine gun mounts increased throughout the war.
commander’s knowledge about the effectiveness of his fire control, leading to Often, twin 20mm machine guns replaced the singles. A series of Type VII
unfortunate exaggerated claims about the T-V’s effectiveness. submarines were specially equipped with quad 20mm machine guns and were
designed to escort groups of U-boats across the Bay of Biscay. Known as the “U-
In any case, the actual effectiveness of the T-V was probably only around 30%,
Flak,” these boats were less than successful in their assigned roles.
making it an interesting, if not very successful, exercise in weapon design.

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As a practical matter, a U-boat was much better off diving deep and avoiding
aircraft. In hindsight, the development of radar detectors, radar, and snorkels were
of more practical use to U-boat crews, though the machine guns at least gave them
U-BOAT THREATS
a way to fight back. The German U-boat force’s primary target in World War II was merchant ships,
particularly those ships supplying the British Isles and the Allied war machine.
2cm Machine Guns Britain recognized the threat to its own survival, however, and organized defenses
The German 2cm/65 C/30 and C/38 AA MG were manufactured by Rheinmetall and against the U-boats.
were developed from an earlier Solothurn design, the ST-5. Both models were fully Here are the obstacles you will meet in accomplishing your missions:
automatic. The C/30 model was prone to jamming and used a small magazine (20
rounds), which meant frequent pauses for reloading. The later C/38 was a much-
improved gun and used a 40-round magazine.
ESCORTS
If merchants are the primary target of your missions, escorts are your primary
A very successful variation of this weapon was the Flak 35 Vierling, which enemy. Their objective is, put simply, to stop you from achieving yours. They have
combined four C/38 guns in a single quad mounting. A three-dimensional stabilized the sensors, the performance, and the weapons needed for this purpose.
navy-mount was introduced in 1944.
As war started, few escorts were available to Britain. They were mainly assigned
The C/38 was also produced in very sophisticated twin mounts for U-boats. These to convoy or task force escort duties, or to patrol the home waters and ports.
were able to withstand a 550-foot (200 m) diving depth.
Later, however, the appearance of dedicated Hunter Killer groups changed
3.7cm Anti-Aircraft Guns considerably the way the war was fought. These escorts would prosecute a U-boat
contact for as long as needed to destroy it, and were good at the job.
The 3.7cm/L83 was used on every major combatant ship in the German navy. A
unique feature of this weapon was a third axis of movement that stabilized the gun
carriage when the ship rolled or pitched. This allowed the gun to track an airplane AIRCRAFT
without interference from the motion of the ship. However, problems with this The most effective means of fighting the U-boat was with aircraft, especially
mounting led to its abandonment in subsequent designs of 3.7cm guns. because of the way U-boat warfare worked. Virtually immobile underwater before
These guns were in use until the last years of the war. However, this weapon was the introduction of the snorkel, U-boats scouted the ocean for convoys on surface.
only capable of semi-automatic firing, with each shell being individually loaded. Even after initial contact, U-boats would need their surface speed to overtake the
This made it a rather slow-firing weapon for anti-aircraft defense, approximately 30 target for the attack.
rounds per minute. Capable of covering large distances quickly, airplanes would detect any U-boats
approaching or trailing a convoy and, at minimum, force them underwater.
Additional forces could be vectored to the location, and sometimes an attack could
be made even before the sub would get to submerge.
Early in the war, patrolling aircraft would duel with a U-boat’s bridge watch in
visual detection. The sub was easier to spot, but more often than not the plane
would be detected quickly enough to allow an escape. At night, however, the subs
were safe.
With the introduction of centimetric radar, however, night could be turned into day
and aircraft would appear directly over the surprised watch without warning.
Even later in the war, the strengthening of air patrols and introduction of escort
carriers closed the air gap that U-boats had enjoyed in the mid-Atlantic.

WARSHIPS
Encountered by U-boats as convoy escorts or as part of a task force, warships are
generally not armed with any antisubmarine armament due to their inadequate
maneuverability for such tasks. On the surface, however, their direct-fire armament
is devastating, and even auxiliary cruisers will deal with U-boats without much ado.

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MERCHANTS Radar
Although primarily just a target for any warship, merchant ships are not always Used by both aircraft and escorts, radar can detect a target miles away, much
defenseless. As the war progressed, more and more merchants bore cannons and beyond your visual range. It relies on the same principle as ASDIC, but uses radio
machine guns, which, even with poorly trained crews, could easily pierce the waves instead of sound. Advances in technology led to even the snorkel head
pressure hull of a U-boat. being detectable towards the end of the war.
Additionally, even a small merchant may ram a U-boat if given the opportunity. The Avoiding radar is difficult. As with ASDIC, the strength of the echo depends on the
difference in mass between the two objects leaves little doubt about who the loser profile presented to the sensor. Unless you’re skimming the outer limits of its range,
would be. however, it won’t make that much difference. A much better defense would be
submerging and not presenting any profile at all.
ENEMY SENSORS ASW WEAPONS
The biggest ships and the largest cannons in the world are useless if there is no
way to detect their targets. Here are the sensors that you will be facing in Silent Once you have been detected, expect prosecution to occur quickly. If you are
Hunter III. visible, you may be subjected to gunfire or ramming. If you are submerged,
however, the weapons used against you change dramatically.
Eyeball Depth Charges
Up to this day, the human eye has not been completely replaced as a detection
tool, and its importance is never diminished at close range. Periscopes, torpedo Deployed from either the racks on the sterns of the ships or projectors on their
wakes, and partially submerged conning towers can be spotted easily by an alert sides, the depth charge is essentially the same weapon it was in World War I: a
watch. barrel filled with explosives that slowly sinks towards a set depth, which triggers
Keeping completely submerged will obviously help you avoid being seen, but there its explosion. It needs to explode within close proximity of the submarine’s hull in
are times when you need to take a peek outside or run the boat on diesels. For order to do any significant damage, and this, coupled with the lack of target depth
those instances, try to keep your profile (be it conning tower or periscope) as low information during early war, led to it being a very ineffective weapon. There are
above the surface as possible. Use darkness to your advantage, and never keep known instances of submarines surviving attacks of a few hundred depth charges.
the scope up more than it is needed.
ASDIC
The primary ASW sensor used throughout the war by Allied escorts, ASDIC (named
for the Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee) relies on sending sound
impulses through water and listening for echoes from submerged objects. Early
models projected an almost horizontal beam in the forward hemisphere of the
escort, and were unable to tilt it in the vertical plane. The consequences were
twofold: the depth of the target could only be guessed, and contact was lost when
the escort approached the target.
To defeat ASDIC, try to present the minimum possible silhouette to the escorts. This
may create a weak echo that will be ignored or lost on the way back to the sensor.
Another way to avoid detection would be to “use the vertical.” Move on the surface –
the waves create distortions that prohibit the proper travel of ASDIC waves.
While virtually blind in his steel hull during depth charge attacks, an experienced
Hydrophone U-boat commander can lessen the chances of receiving damage. Waiting for the
moment when the approaching escort increases speed to enter the attack run, he
A primary detection tool on submarines, the hydrophone was only of secondary can order full speed in confidence that he has entered the ASDIC blind spot and
importance for escorts. Still, even if not providing input sufficient for an attack, it the escort cannot hear much due to its own increased speed. Gaining as much
could detect a U-boat and prompt a search by ASDIC. distance and depth as possible is always a good thing to do just before the depth
Detection by hydrophone is best avoided by keeping noisy activity at minimum in charges start exploding.
the U-boat by giving the Rig for Silent Running order and running your engines on Once this happens, acoustic conditions will be ruined in that particular area for a
Slow Speed – the setting that creates the least cavitation and noise. period of time, which leads to both the ASDIC and hydrophone becoming ineffective.

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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. The attack is delivered while still maintaining
ASDIC contact with the target, making it a much more accurate weapon. In
addition, the projectiles would only explode on contact with the U-boat, which
meant no ASDIC blind zones would be created unless a hit was scored.

There’s little to be done to escape a Hedgehog’s attack except increase speed and
depth and change course. Without the aid of the external camera, the only hint of
the attack you may get is the noise of the 24 projectiles entering water – which may
be too late.
Fortunately, a single Hedgehog is not a very powerful weapon. It carries a very
small explosive quantity, and thus it lacks the potential for a catastrophic kill.

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Silent Hunter® III

Proof of Purchase

© 2005 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Silent Hunter is a registered

trademark and Strategic Simulations, Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are
trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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