Originally Posted by danita
@ Norm.
You're correct in saying that a BO's Total Ability doesn't improve the range at which you spot other ships, but it's not completely true for all sailors.
Sonarman ability does have an effect on sight radius, but only for subs ( and against subs on ASW ).
When submerged your sonarman's Total Ability determines what sight radius you'll have, until you reach your ships sonarcap.
Subs do not use the FCS for sight when dived. It switches to Sonar Potential Ability as it is no longer using sight range, but sonar range to produce a visible area (As in your are no longer 'seeing' targets but locating them via simulated echo location.)
aka Sight Range =/= the sonar visibility used while dived.
This can be observed by how with no sonarman, visibility is the same minimal range regardless of the value of the "sight range" stat on the loaded FCS.
BO Potential Ability determines your 'Torpedo Spotting Distance'. This is independant of Sight Range and Sonar Range.
Also, I'll ask to confirm, but I'm pretty sure there is no cap for sonar ability.
Quick recap:
Visible Range for surface ships and sufaced submarines is provided by the FCS 'Sight Range' stat.
Visible Range for submerged submarines is provided by the sonarman's Sonar Potential Ability. Sonar Potential Ability, to my knowledge, has no cap. This is not related to sight range, it is an independent function for spotting targets, simulating sonar. To my knowledge Sonar Range cannot exceed the FCS sight range.
Torpedo Spotting Range is provided by Bridge Operator's BO Potential Ability.