Detection Range

[Mfezi]

Can somebody please explain the mechanics of detection range specifically, what determines for how long 'detectability' remains extended after firing the main battery guns. It seems that there times when detection range immediately returns to normal while sometimes it remains extented for an inordinately long period after firing. Does anybody know the underlying logic?....

[AspiringCodger]

I believe it's 20 seconds if an enemy has line of sight.  If nobody has line of sight on you, it immediately returns to normal.

[Battleship_Dunkerque]

If no enemy ship has LOS to you when you fire, then the "bloom penalty" expires immediately.

[Special_Kay]

Take careful note that detection range actually refers to what is essentially your draw distance, which varies by ship and is modified by an upgrade, as well as constrained by storms & radar. Speaking precisely, your ship's concealment range is what you are asking about.

 

That said, in regards to your question the previous two posters are spot-on. Note also that your AAA increases your concealment range, but has no such "cooldown" period—when the guns cease firing, that penalty is immediately removed. Similarly, being on fire adds to your concealment range—I believe it is a flat 2km, but I'm not certain on that point.

[Mfezi]

Makes sense - thanks!....

[Zim_Xero]

I still believe Radio Location should not work for a ship while at full detection bloom.   As far as the 20 second bloom goes.... there is certainly room for using this as a balancing tool or a new upgrade.  A 'stealth' mode for that allowed blooms to disappear sooner would be cool:   CV (16 seconds), BB (14 seconds),  CA (12 seconds),  DD (10 seconds)   

[Sotaudi]

As mentioned, being on fire increases your detectability as does firing AA.  The later also includes secondaries, not just AA.  These values also vary depending on whether the potential spotter is a ship or aircraft.   The exact values are as follows:

 

Being on fire:  +2km detectability to aircraft and +3km detectability to ships.

Firing AA or Secondaries:  +2km detectability to aircraft and +1.3km detectability to ships.

 

These values will return to normal as soon as the event ends (i.e., you put out the fire or you stop firing AA or Secondaries),  Also, the higher value wins.  That is, if you are firing AA/Secondaries while you are on fire, it is still only +2km for aircraft and +3km for ships, not +4km and +4.3km respectively.

 

Firing your main guns has additional variables involved.  For instance, the increase in detectability is not fixed.  It increases as the size of the guns increase.  You can determine how many kilometers your detectability will increase by simply multiplying the size of the guns in millimeters by .03.  Example:  Destroyer caliber 127mm guns will increase your detectability by 127 * .03 = 3.81km while firing the 460mm guns of the Yamato will increase its detectability by 460 * .03 = 13.8km.

 

That value, by the way, is for detectability to enemy ships.  To calculate the detectability increase to enemy aircraft, use .02.  For those same examples above, that would be +2.54km for 127mm guns and +09.2km for the 460mm guns when the is spotter is enemy aircraft.

 

The bloom (increased detectability radius) will last for 20 seconds after you stop firing your main guns.  However, that will only happen if you are already detected when your guns fired or you become detected because someone could see you with the increased detectability from firing your guns.  If you were not already spotted and no one spots you because you fired your guns, that bloom is immediately terminated, and your detectability immediately returns to normal.

 

That means if you are firing from behind an island or from within smoke and no enemy has line of sight on you when you fire, your detectability range immediately returns to normal even if they are within the increased detectability range.  If line of sight is blocked, they could not see the guns fire, so the bloom is immediately terminated.  This also means that you can fire completely in the open without being detected (stealth fire) as long as your gun range exceeds your detected after firing range and no enemy is within that latter range.  For instance, my Belfast has a concealment range of 8.7km.  When it fires its 152mm guns, it increases its detectability by 4.56km, so after firing its guns, it can be seen out to about 13.3km.  However, it has a firing range of 15.4km.  Thus, I can shoot at targets 13.4km to 15.4km without being detected as long as no enemy is within 13.3km of me (or, if they are, their line of sight is blocked).  In such a case, I will remain undetected, and my bloom for firing my guns will immediately terminate, immediately restoring my normal 8.7km detection range.

 

When you are in battle, you can quickly access your detection ranges without the need do any manual calculations by pressing H.  This will bring up a tool tip showing your various detection ranges.