Phases of the Moon

[keithf]

Hi Guys,

I have never seen any mention of Moon phases when operating my boat at sea and as these phases could be critical in planning a night convoy attack, I though that I would research the Moon and I wanted to share this moon phase predictor for any Month and Year.

http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_p...calendar.phtml

It remains to be seen whether the designers have chosen actual moon phases in their designs.

Hope you find it useful.

Kite

[ThePrody]

i think the moon phases are well represented , however they don't seem to have any influence over AI's Visual Sensors .

[XenonSurf]

Theoretically, it's best to have the enemy between you and the moon, you look at the enemy and see the moon so you are in the darker side relative to the enemy. The contrary is bad for you, the bigger the moon phase. But I doubt that SH3, SH4, SH5 will consider this for the convoys or escorts to spot you more easily, in Aces of the Deep (an early sub sim) this is actually a factor

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by XenonSurf

Theoretically, it's best to have the enemy between you and the moon, you look at the enemy and see the moon so you are in the darker side relative to the enemy. The contrary is bad for you, the bigger the moon phase. But I doubt that SH3, SH4, SH5 will consider this for the convoys or escorts to spot you more easily, in Aces of the Deep (an early sub sim) this is actually a factor

AOD has so many things out of the box that the SH series has to have modded in, if even at all.
It's still an incredible game.

[XenonSurf]

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

AOD has so many things out of the box that the SH series has to have modded in, if even at all.
It's still an incredible game.

I'm playing it now, a reason why I jumped in here, and i can only confirm what you say

An example of how cured this sim is? In AOD you can release Bolds from your sub in 1939-1941 although subs weren't equiped with them at that date (a Bold is a countermeasure canister), no problem, the sim will let you hit the key command, but the crew voice will be : 'Bold? What is Bold Captain?'

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by XenonSurf

I'm playing it now, a reason why I jumped in here, and i can only confirm what you say

An example of how cured this sim is? In AOD you can release Bolds from your sub in 1939-1941 although subs weren't equiped with them at that date (a Bold is a countermeasure canister), no problem, the sim will let you hit the key command, but the crew voice will be : 'Bold? What is Bold Captain?'

Yep. I've always liked the bearing lines for escorts, convoys, merchant ships in a convoy. Very well done, and much better than the useless sonar man in SH3.
Plus the sounds as an escort or ship passes near. SH3 sorta/kinda has them, but they don't start soon enough or are loud enough.

[blackswan40]

I use something similar when writing a SH3 Moonlit night Missions

https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar...2010&country=9

[rudewarrior]

Originally Posted by XenonSurf

Theoretically, it's best to have the enemy between you and the moon, you look at the enemy and see the moon so you are in the darker side relative to the enemy. The contrary is bad for you, the bigger the moon phase. But I doubt that SH3, SH4, SH5 will consider this for the convoys or escorts to spot you more easily, in Aces of the Deep (an early sub sim) this is actually a factor

According to The U-Boat Commander's Handbook:

204.) Favorable conditions of attack, enabling the submarine to remain unseen:

a) Attack the enemy when he can be seen against the light horizon, or against the moon, and move toward him from the direction of the dark horizon, or the dark portion of the sea.

However, it is well known that the information in the handbook was either obsolete or soon to be when it was issued in the winter of '42/'43.

According to The U-Boat War in The Atlantic 1939-1945, specifically dealing with convoys engaged in late Feb/early March '43:

On moonlight [sic] night the enemy appears to station his escorts mainly on the down-moon side. Attacks from the direction of the moon are therefore often more promising, because the danger of radar location is reduced.

This, however is a result of radar issues, rather than a visibility issue.

Regardless, from what I understand, the game doesn't simulate any effects from the moon, let alone the moon phase.