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Wolfpack > Guider > Foxs guider
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The Helmsman
Av Fox
This guide will teach you have to operate the helm station and will prepare you to play in multiplayer games with other players.
   
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Kategori: Co-op, Gameplay Basics, Multiplayer, Walkthroughs
Languages: English
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9 jun, 2022 @ 15:53
2 feb @ 15:49
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Överblick
Introducton 
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1. What do the Helmsman do? 
2. Where do the Helmsman work? 
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3. How & When do the Helmsman act? 
3.1. TURN OPERATIONS 
- Turn Controls 
- Turn Orders 
3.2. SPEED OPERATIONS 
- Speed Controls 
- Speed Orders 
3.3. DEPTH OPERATIONS 
- Dive Orders 
- Surface Order 
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Authors Words 
Other Guides 
Kommentarer
Introducton
The Helmsman (in German: "Steuermann") is the Petty Officer ("Unteroffiziere") responsible for the boats rudder and speed.

As a Helmsman you want to be alert and communicative. As orders can be issued quickly, the Helmsman needs to execute them quickly while at the same time communicate that they understood the order and let their captain & crew know when the order have been accomplished.

This roles is one of the best roles for new players to start in when playing with other players as the jobs required, can easily be learnt but still offers some room for mastery.

Disclaimer
Keep in mind that not all players play this game in the same way and the player who decides how it should be played on a submarine is the Captain. This means that while this guide may offer you one way of playing the role Helmsman others may have a different idea how you should play but mastering what this guide offers will still offer you a good ahead start in how to adapt to each Captains playstyle
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1. What do the Helmsman do?
This is a list of implied tasks the Helmsman is expected to carry out. This may vary from Captain to Captain but should be fairly universal for the Wolfpack Community.

Tasks:
  1. Turn Operation
    • Changes course by new heading/course order
    • Changes course by adjustment in degrees left/right, port/starboard
    • Turns by rudder order and centers rudder by order
  2. Speed Operation
    • Changes speed by engine order
    • Changes speed by +/-10 RPM
  3. Engine Management
    • Changes between Electric & Diesel Engines
  4. Battery Management
    • Monitors battery status and updates the Captain if required.
    • Charges batteris
  5. Assist with
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2. Where do the Helmsman work?
  • Control Room
    Here the Helmsman have access to all the helm controls and gauges and can use the Observation Periscope "OP"
    • Engine Order Telegraphs "EOT"
    • Compass
    • Rudder
    • Tachometer + Odometer Read your speed in Knots "Kts" or "Kn"
    • Battery Status Read amount in Kiloamp Hours "kAh"
    • RPM Gauges

  • Conning Tower
    In the conning tower the Helmsman can do most of their work, and assist with the Torpedo Data Computer "TDC" Operations
    • Engine Order Telegraphs "EOT"
    • Compass
    • Rudder

  • Bridge
    At the bridge the Helmsman can use their own binoculars or the Underwasserzieloptik, commonly just called "UZO"
    • Compass
    • Rudder
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3. How & When do the Helmsman act?
The Helmsman should not change speed at their own will (with some exceptions listed later in this guide) as the speed is a tactical aspect of the submarines operation due to that it produces sound that can be heard by the enemy or change the time things would take, as such the Captain must be involved in what speed the submarine is going.
Therefor the Helmsman should not change speed until they receives an order from the Captain (or by anyone whom the captain appointed to have authority to command).

Verbal Command/Order
How the Captain say a order/command may differ from person to person. Factors that play in is, experience, personal preference, translation. It can take some time to get use to each individual Captains lingo, so therefor in this guide there is common variations of verbal commands listed.

  • The guide will use a slash WORD/word then it is to separate alternations/variations of the same thing.
  • If you encounter brackets (Word) then it's optional, may be used together with other words but can be skipped by many captains.
  • If you encounter a underlined Word then its mandatory for the order to be received right

Repeat back & report back
The verbal command/order the Helmsman receives should always be repeated back. This has nothing to do with military roleplay but, by the fact that if the Captain is misusing their PTT or there is some other audio disturbance preventing the Helmsman from hearing the correct order, the Helmsman should allow the Captain a chance to correct any issues before they become problems. Thus the Helmsman should repeat back the order as they understood it. If the Captain then hears any anomaly in the repeated order, he can then clarify.

If an order takes longer time to execute than it takes to repeat back a order, the helmsman should also report back to the captain when the order have been finished. This is more common when turning as some turns can take a while to be carried out while speed changes are quick and the EOT will also make a ringing sound when it have been used, so the captain can hear when an engine order is executed.
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3.1. TURN OPERATIONS
In order to conduct turns you need access to your compass and your rudder.

Compass
Your compass have two rotating number disks. The outside shows your full course and you inner circle shows a more precise last degree and decimal of the course.

Example: Course 163° 🡒
Rudder
If you are going forward and the rudder needle is pointing left/port, you will be going left/port and right/starboard when its pointing right/starboard. When going backwards, the resulting turn directions gets reversed.
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- Turn Controls
In order to change the rudder you must use your keyboard keys A and D. When you want to center it you need to use W. Not using W to center the rudder can cause the boat to slowly turn over time. however waves can also push the boat off course and sometimes, you can leave the rudder intentionally not center to counteract the waves pushing you off course

Hotkeys
  • A Turn rudder/boat left/port
  • D Turn rudder/boat right/starboard
  • W Center rudder/Boat stops turning
- Turn Orders
Change Course
DESCRIPTION
Turns the rudder to the new ordered course as fast as possible.
VERBAL COMMAND
Variations:
  • Change (Our)
  • (Make) New/Our
  • Go/Come to
  • Turn left/right/port/starboard to
  • Course
  • Heading
  • One One Three
  • Directly East/North/West/South
Examples: "Make our course Zero Five Four", "Go to heading Two Zero Three", "New Course Three One Three"
EXECUTION
Helmsman Repeats back the ordered course and possibly add the turn direction he will use. Once course is reached Helmsman will report in that it have been reached by once again stating the new course

Adjust Course
DESCRIPTION
Helmsman is provided with an amount of degrees to adjust the course to and a direction to turn
VERBAL COMMAND
Variations:
  • Adjust/correct (Our) Course/Heading Twenty (Degrees) Left/Right/Port/Starboard
  • Go/Come/Turn Left/Right/Port/Starboard Twenty (Degrees)
  • Twenty (Degrees) Left/Right/Port/Starboard
Examples: "Eleven Right", "Adjust course Forty-five degrees starboard", "Thirty degrees course correction left"
EXECUTION
Helmsman Repeats back the ordered course adjustment and possibly calculate the new resulting course and reports it back. Once course is reached Helmsman will report in that the course adjustment have been completed and optionally stating the new course

Set Rudder
DESCRIPTION
Sets the rudder to a specific direction and amount and maintains it until receiving new order is given or until order to center the rudder.
VERBAL COMMAND: Turn
Variations:
⚠ To distinguish this order from a Course Adjustment order, you must use the word Rudder in your command.
  • Ten (Degrees) Left/Right/Port/Starboard Rudder
  • Rudder Left/Right/Port/Starboard Five (Degrees)
  • Left/Right/Port/Starboard Full/Standard Rudder
Examples: "Rudder port fifteen degrees", "Left full rudder", "Five degrees rudder right"
VERBAL COMMAND: Center
Variations:
To cancel the rudder order
  • Rudder Amidship
  • Center Rudder
Examples: "Rudder amidship", "Center the rudder"
EXECUTION
Helmsman Repeats back the ordered rudder and maintains the rudder until the order is cancelled by a Amidship/Center rudder command or another order countermanding it.
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3.2. SPEED OPERATIONS
The Engine Order Telegraphs "EOT" have multiple Engine Orders on them. Historically the EOT is a communication device that was connected to a similar EOT in the engine room(s). Once a order was issued the engine crew, when they saw the order, they responded with their EOT mimicing the same order. The engine crew then changed the engines RPM's to allow the boat to change its speed.

Engine Order Telegraph
The EOT is used to order the desired speed, change the engine types and charge the batteries.
RPM Gauge
The RPM gauges shows the RPM's of the propeller shafts, its located in the control room on the right wall of the Helmstation.
Tachometer + Odometer
Based up on the running engine, drag and RPM your speed is determine and you can read your speed in Knots here ("Kts" or "Kn").
If you want to be absolutely sure you reading the speed right you can hop on the Navigation Chart you find at the Navigation Table and look there as it presents the speed in digital numbers.
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- Speed Controls
You change the speed of the submarine with the Engine Order Telegraphs "EOT" by selecting the desired pre-labeled "Engine Order". In order to operate the EOT you must mouse left-click click on the desired engine order for the inner needle to respond to your order. If you hold shift while clicking you will operate both EOT's the same time.

Do note that there is a delay between you clicking and the inner needle responding. Despite the delay you can stack multiple orders right after another and the EOT will remember them and you don't need to wait for the needle to respond to give the next order.

Hotkeys
  • LMB Select Engine Order on one engine
  • Shift + LMB Select Engine Order on both engines
- Speed Orders
Speed By Order
DESCRIPTION
Order issues referencing a pre-labeled RPM on the Engine Order Telegraph for quick and simple speed changes.
VERBAL COMMAND
Variations:
  • Both Engines
  • Engines
  • All
  • Left/Port Engine
  • Right/Starboard Engine
  • Ahead
  • Astern
  • Full/(Flank)
  • Great
  • Half
  • Slow
  • Dead Slow
Examples: "Both Engines Ahead Slow", "Astern Half", "Engines Slow Speed"
EXECUTION
Helmsman repeat back the order the same time they move the EOT to the requested speed order.

Immediate Stop
DESCRIPTION
Intended to be used when there is a need for the u-boat to completely to halt as fast as possible. Engines will be used to force the U-boat to slow down until it reaches 0Kts and 0 RPM at the same time.
VERBAL COMMAND
Variations:
  • (Engines)
  • Quick
  • Emergency
  • Stop
  • (Astern)
  • (Reverse)
Examples: "Quick Stop", "Emergency Stop", "Engines Astern All Stop"
EXECUTION
Helmsman repeats the order and the same time switches the engines in the opposite direction, using engines to break. ⚠ If submerged, then the highest speed order used in the opposite direction can not exceed the RPM used before the order were issued!

A perfect "Quick stop" is when you manage to make your boat reach 0Kts at the exact same time you reach 0 RPM. (Landing within 0.2Kts is acceptable). This require a degree of skill so Helmsmans is recommended to practice this.

Keep in mind that changing the Speed Order on the EOT have a delay from the time you, select it to the needle in the middle responds. Not only but the RPM of the propeller shafts will not instantly stop. the higher the RPM the longer time it needs to wind down.

If a "Quick Stop" takes longer time or about the same time as it would if you just put both engines to "Stop" then, you need to practice more.

Once the speed have reached 0Kts, then the Helmsman will announce that.

Speed by RPM
DESCRIPTION
This is used to "finetune" the speed or RPM of the engines to use a more precise/specific speed.
VERBAL COMMAND
Variations:
X = How many 10 faster/slower
  • 10*X
  • X
  • (RPM)
  • (Revolutions)
  • Slower
  • Faster
Examples: "Sixty RPM Slower", "Ten times Four revolutions Faster", "Five Faster"
EXECUTION
The Helmsman repeats the order and begins manipulating the RPM. In order to carry out the order, the Helmsman will choose the Left EOT if RPM needs to be reduced and the Right EOT if RPM needs to be increased, they will choose the "Both Engines 10 Slower" (Left) or "Both Engines 10 Faster" (Right). This will change the RPM by a change of 10 RPM +/-. If more is needed, the Engine Order: "Attention" needs to be selected. This does effectively nothing for the engine but it allows you to again choose the "Both Engines 10 Slower" (Left) or "Both Engines 10 Faster" (Right) to "chain"/"stack" multiple after each other.

⚠ It's important that, once done, that you leave the handle on either "Both Engines 10 Slower" (Left) , "Both Engines 10 Faster" (Right) or "Attention" as moving the handle back to a pre-labled speed will "desync" the engines and one will go faster than the other engine.

To check that you done it correct, you can check the RPM of the engines to the right of the Helmstation in the control room.

If you have desynced the engines, you can sync them again by simply changing to Attention for both engines and then change it back to the pre-labeled Engine Order Speed you started with.

Experiment in your own private locked lobby to practice.
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3.3. DEPTH OPERATIONS
While the Helmsman is not responsible for changing the depth of the submarine, the Helmsman still have a responsibility and taks to do when the boat is changing depths. The Helmsman can also help the Dive Officer with certain task as well as long as the Dive Officer does not mind. Communicate with your Dive Officer.

⚠ Remember that your first responsibility is to be a Helmsman, so do not focus on other things outside your area of responsibility until you are done with yours first!
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- Dive Orders
Routine Dive
DESCRIPTION
Submerges the boat as fast as possible while not overshooting the target depth
VERBAL COMMAND
Variations:
  • Dive/Submerge the boat
  • Make our depth X Meters
  • (Go to) Observation Scope Depth
Examples: "PERISCOPE DEPTH!!", "Dive us to eleven point five meter", "Dive, Ten meters"
EXECUTION
  • If on the surface, the Helmsman changes EOT to "Electric Engines" and instantly after Dead Slow (Unless other speed have been specified for the dive).

    The reason why Dead Slow should be selected in the absence of a speed order, is to make sure you as a Helmsman will not cause detection by loud sound. When turning on the Electric Engines, they will use the latest Speed Engine Order, so if that was full, you will dive at full speed. Hence always change speed to Dead Slow unless otherwise ordered.

    After the Ballas tanks have been filled, the Helmsman can (but not required) help the Dive Officer by closing the ballast vents, this taks should be verbally reported in to the Dive Officer so they know it's been done.

    ⚠ If the electric engines is not engaged in ample time the diesels will get flooded. This will mean that the EOT will effectively not respond to commands up to a minute and can have more consequences as side effects.
  • If already submerged, the Helmsman does nothing.

Crash Dive
DESCRIPTION
Submerges the boat as fast as possible and sacrifices risk of detection by using high RPM for faster dive
VERBAL COMMAND
Variations:
  • Crash Dive
  • (to depth X meters)
Examples: "Crash Dive to depth hundred and fifty meters!", "Crash Dive!"
EXECUTION
  • If on the surface, the Helmsman changes EOT to "Electric Engines" and instantly after Full Speed (Unless other speed have been specified for the dive).

    After the Ballas tanks have been filled, the Helmsman can (but not required) help the Dive Officer by closing the ballast vents, this taks should be verbally reported in to the Dive Officer so they know it's been done.

    ⚠ If the electric engines is not engaged in ample time the diesels will get flooded. This will mean that the EOT will effectively not respond to commands up to a minute and can have more consequences as side effects.
  • If already submerged, the Helmsman only needs to change the speed to Full Speed (Unless other speed have been specified).
- Surface Order
Surfacing
DESCRIPTION
Raises the boat to a depth where diesels and air-compressors can be used.
VERBAL COMMAND
Variations:
  • Surface (The boat)
  • Blow the ballasts
  • Take us to the surface
Examples: "Lets go to the surface", "Surface the ship", "Dive Officer blow the ballasts"
EXECUTION
The Helmsman should go to any helm station and be ready to activate the diesels on the Dive Officers indication that they can be activated or that the boat have reached the surface. If no such indication is given, the helmsman have to ask if they can start the diesels to make sure they can be started.
When starting the Diesels the Helmsman should go to the Engine Orders in following order while verbally announcing them:
  1. Diesel Engine
  2. Charge Batteries
  3. Desired Speed

Many times the desired speed is Full Speed. The Helmsman can set full speed as long as they announce the speed so the Captain hears. If they Captain does not like that speed, the Captain will correct you.

If the Captain wants a high speed to charge at but the battery level is really low (to your opinion) the Helmsman can then report the battery level to the Captain, in order to prompt the Captain to perhaps change their mind. If they don't, then they are within the right to do so and you must comply.

When the battery is charged to 100%, the Helmsman reports that to the Captain.
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Authors Words
The Helmsman is a very versatile role, and while it at times can be boring, the Helmsman is always going to be needed. You can easily train new players to do the basic stuff that the Helmsman do, but to become a really good Helmsman, you need practice. Helmsmans should also not think that they only need to focus on the Helmstation. There are plenty of other supportive tasks they can help out with like, Ranging ships, Identifying ships, measuring speed and helping out with the TDC. After the player can branch into the Dive Officer role or get into the Sonarmans job.

New Captains should get familiar with this guide too. I meet many Captains that does not realize what they can utilize a Helmsman for and this guide can offer them an idea of the potential of having a experienced Helmsman on board, or how they should teach a new Helmsman player to be. You can reference them this guide and you, yourself can use it as material on what to go through with them, if you train them.

I also need to push the Wolfpack Official Discord[discord.gg]. Its a great resource to learn from experienced players or to find players to play with. Interested in practicing the material you learnt here? Well there is a channel called #looking_for_group where you can announce your interest for playing a game and check if there is any Captains interested in having you with them for a game.
13 kommentarer
< >
Fox  [skapare] 10 mar, 2024 @ 18:36 
I have yet not had time to update this guide for the dive order. but I can teach you in person if you like
tmaccabe 10 mar, 2024 @ 18:23 
Video for Helmsman discusses using "Dive" on the port EOT before selecting Electric Motors. Images in this guide for Diving show the stbd EOT which has no "Dive" selection. The requirement to switch to "Dive" is not mentioned. Recommend updating this guide to include.
Fox  [skapare] 20 okt, 2023 @ 12:56 
New TDC Guide available! https://test-steamproxy.haloskins.io/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2894764377
Strato64 28 sep, 2023 @ 18:17 
Terrific tutorial, very strait forward and easy to understand.
Fox  [skapare] 25 jun, 2023 @ 5:14 
New guide published

It aims to define Heading, Course, Magnetic/Relative Bearing and Angle on Bow
https://test-steamproxy.haloskins.io/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2994179687
SUBSIM  [utvecklare] 6 dec, 2022 @ 20:36 
"The Helmsman is a very versatile role, and while it at times can be boring, the Helmsman is always going to be needed."

It will be a lot more challenging when the Chief is added, and the Helmsman will need to adjust the rudder for uneven propulsion to maintain heading. Good guide!
Fox  [skapare] 22 nov, 2022 @ 15:13 
New guide available!

Optical Ranging Guide
https://test-steamproxy.haloskins.io/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2870513651
Fox  [skapare] 10 nov, 2022 @ 10:11 
A new guide is available for ship recognition
https://test-steamproxy.haloskins.io/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2871279241
Fox  [skapare] 25 sep, 2022 @ 12:10 
A bit late but..

New guide published
https://test-steamproxy.haloskins.io/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2842875340
☆ Special Guest Star ☆ 17 jun, 2022 @ 4:13 
Well done!