FAREWELL TO SILENT HUNTER

[Rockin Robbins]

I like the ice cream machine: the genius of the American Submarine and the end of all discussion about which was better, the U-Boats or the American Submarine. Let me squirt a little butterscotch syrup on this ice cream and think deeply about which one I like better.....

[ColonelSandersLite]

Originally Posted by TorpX

If there is a genuine desire to test convoys for this purpose (i.e. convoy station keeping), one needs to observe them for a period of time (perhaps in bad weather), without hostile detection.

Using a stock convoy as a control might be worthwhile.

Then, to test their reactions to attack, I would suggest a surprise torpedo salvo. It would probably be good if only one or two torps are fired to hit. We could then observe evasion and see what the turning, acceleration, deceleration looked like. I wouldn't rely too much on one test, though. It is unlikely you would always see the same results.

After the attack, there should be a fair period of observation (without further attacks) to see rally behavior. This should probably be at least 30 or 45 minutes. I don't see how you could tell much with less than that.

This was my test mission. My thoughts where similar and my test conformed on all points. If you want to run it, you need to wait at a fairly high time compression until the convoy shows up.

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[TorpX]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

I should have explained. This is a mission, Rockin Robbins Convoy from Hell.

....

I wasn't sure. I understand that video production has a different goal than mod testing. Probably more fun, too.

Originally Posted by ColonelSandersLite

This was my test mission. My thoughts where similar and my test conformed on all points. If you want to run it, you need to wait at a fairly high time compression until the convoy shows up.

Thanks, but if I decide to do any tests of this sort, I'll create a mission for it. The idea being to get the maximum amount of information, from a minimum amount of effort. I might want to put in some turns. Not sure about that, but from what people have posted, I imagine convoys will have difficulty in this area.



In my previous sea-keeping tests, I used 12 ships (3 columns) in each convoy. One merchant only, one naval only. I felt that limiting it to 12 made it easier to keep track of them.

Oh, about the TC. I am very suspicious of results occurring at high TC. I kept TC within 32x. From what I've seen, the game takes all sorts of shortcuts when we go above 32x.

I suspect that the space between columns could be important, when turning. Not sure what would be an appropriate spacing for a test. Who knows what kind of spacing convoys actually used? Or for that matter, what RSRDC uses?

[ColonelSandersLite]

I'm not sure how creating a mission from scratch is more effort that using an existing testbed mission or just modifing it slightly to fit your needs. It's a standard straight merchant convoy in 3X3 formation with 3 escorts spaced at 700 yards. This is the number used by stock and tmo. Dunno for sure about rsrd.

You misunderstand about the TC. Use TC until the convoy appears on radar (it will take a few game hours), then play as normal. The intent is to recreate campaign play accurately. Unless you're playing campaigns at 32x, but I very highly doubt it.

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by ColonelSandersLite

You misunderstand about the TC. Use TC until the convoy appears on radar (it will take a few game hours), then play as normal. The intent is to recreate campaign play accurately. Unless you're playing campaigns at 32x, but I very highly doubt it.

No, I understand.

The idea is to have the convoy sailing over a period of time to see if it holds together, can turn, etc. At high TC, it might well maintain perfect formation no matter what. The game cannot be trusted in this regard. Sea-keeping is much different when you go above 32x. How people play is irrelevant. If I am going to do it, I want valid results. Anyway, 32x is plenty fast, I don't need then to cross the Pacific.

Not that it matters, but I would never exceed 32x on an approach, or during evasion; to many things could happen.

[ColonelSandersLite]

Again, not advocating exceeding 32X on approach. The convoy can turn multiple times inside of radar range at any time compression you care for. There is exactly one point of using time compression in my test. That is to wait for the convoy to come into radar range. The test doesn't even really begin until the target is inside of radar range.

[TorpX]

I made a few tests with convoys, with and without ISP to test station-keeping. The results are posted HERE.

I'll just say I saw no reason to think ISP or any physics mod will harm convoy integrity.