SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - Question about 4 bearing method against a convoy

PapaSmurf · 09-25-17, 11:37 PM

I am wanting some educated opinions about using the 4 bearing method when tracking a convoy. It's pretty straightforward against a lone target but depending on the size and range of a convoy the sound signature of a convoy can be 20 degrees wide or even more. With this in mind, how do you captains decide what the correct bearing is to use when doing your hydrophone checks? I have been trying to find the 2 edges of the merchant sound contacts and then using the center of those 2 readings as the bearing that I mark on the map. This obviously involves some guestimation and I was wondering if there is a better way to do this against convoys. I don't use escort sounds because they are twisting and turning enough to possibly mess up the works whereas the merchants pretty much stick to a set course. So how do you guys decide which bearing to record when using the 4 bearing method against a convoy?

09-25-17, 11:37 PM	#1
PapaSmurf Bosun Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: On the front of a bass boat or in a deer stand Posts: 64 Downloads: 129 Uploads: 0	Question about 4 bearing method against a convoy I am wanting some educated opinions about using the 4 bearing method when tracking a convoy. It's pretty straightforward against a lone target but depending on the size and range of a convoy the sound signature of a convoy can be 20 degrees wide or even more. With this in mind, how do you captains decide what the correct bearing is to use when doing your hydrophone checks? I have been trying to find the 2 edges of the merchant sound contacts and then using the center of those 2 readings as the bearing that I mark on the map. This obviously involves some guestimation and I was wondering if there is a better way to do this against convoys. I don't use escort sounds because they are twisting and turning enough to possibly mess up the works whereas the merchants pretty much stick to a set course. So how do you guys decide which bearing to record when using the 4 bearing method against a convoy?