How can i make sure the depth i choose is the correct one?
That's the dream of all of us surface drivers Lucky - the short answer is you can't.
There are lots of things you can do to make it easier though.
Firstly I'd recommend taking one of those tin cans out for a spin and see how they handle, see how they perform. I'd recommend in fact that you try all three as they all have different performance characteristics.
Once you've sailed a sub a few times you'll get a feel for how fast they can dive and some of the tactics to use. Without repeating lots of information I'll just summarise some general tactics and you'll be able to find the detail throughout this forum.
Whilst they're on the surface press home your firepower advantage and don't forget that once they're submergered they're slow and ungainly and once they know you're there they become the hunted and have to evade you. Keep watching them and watch when they submerge, using your experience from sub driving you'll be able to guess theoretical max depth they could have achieved by the time you arrive at their (theoretical) position. Drop your DC's deep first and gradually reduce their depth along the course you think they've headed along, drop them as close together as you can. (eg you think the maximum depth they could have reached is 60m, drop at 80, 60, 40 and 20 and then if you have time drop a couple at 50 and 70m. If I'm sure I know where he is I drift across him with no throttle dropping 2 DC's at each depth, turn hard on flank and then drop again at a variety of depths - deep first).
Don't forget they he can't turn as fast as you can and he needs to be pointing either directly towards or away from you to shoot you so if you engage across the beam you're safe.
Keep an eye out for froth on the surface and you know he's not very deep. Use the external view when driving a sub to look at the bubbles generated by your sub and this should show you the bubble patterns and will give you further clues about his depth. Don't forget though that he will only be cavitating (bubble generating) when on the move and the faster he's going the more froth he'll generate.
Use a mic with SET CHARGES nnn (eg SET CHARGES ZERO SEVEN ZERO) to drop DC's at specific depths.
If you're sailing the LFN 'vette hedgehogs fire out about 300m.
Good hunting,
-- Rip
