Base course on a zigzagging convoy

[sniperpr1]

Hello mates,

I'm wondering if someone knows how to dertermine the base course a zigzagging convoy is travelling without having any contact report available. Is there some method someone can suggest to calculate the base course?

Thanks in advance...

[Mav87th]

Plotting....Plotting aaaaannnd Plotting.

This way you can determin the basecourse and how long time there is between zigs. That way you can utilize a zig to get in a firering condition you would not have had by only using base course.

[Sailor Steve]

You shouldn't be able to, without talking to the Convoy Commodore. That's why they do it.

Lots of skippers complained about them zigging away, or laughed when they zagged in.

[Bilge_Rat]

Do convoys zigzag in the game? I have not seen that.

[tedhealy]

Ships don't so much zig zag as they constant helm in sh4.

Zig zag is turns at a set interval off a base course. Finding the base course was done all the time by real skippers. I've never seen zig zagging in game.

Constant helming is constant turning off a base course. It is much harder to determine a base course or hit a ship that is constant helming. Ships in sh4 constant helm all the time when they spot you.

[zylark]

When hey spot me yes. And when some fish impacts a target, also yes. But for some reason, I've not seen them start helming when one of my fishes go off somewhat premature.

I would think that was a dead give-away. But the IJN and merchant fleet seem to think great fountains of water followed by a big boom is just some natural occuring event.

"Oh don't worry about that. Cadets these days, getting all excited over some whale that had a methane problem. Carry on, nothing to see here!"

[joea]

Thanks Ted, never knew the difference...btw many of the mods in SHIII put zig zags into the convoys maybe possible for SH4 too. Are there any pages with more detailed descriptions of these maneuvers?

[btaft]

Constant helming is constant turning off a base course. It is much harder to determine a base course or hit a ship that is constant helming. Ships in sh4 constant helm all the time when they spot you.

Actually it is not as hard as one would think. If you had already figured out the solution (i.e. base course and speed) prior to the constant helming it is only a matter of determining the new speed along the base course as a result of the turning slowing the convoy down. In a pinch you can usually take off a couple of knots. So if you are already in a good position, it is just a matter of waiting for the ships to come too you along the same base course. Setting the torps on magnetic detonation helps a little bit too

[sniperpr1]

Thanks. The reason I want to determine the base course of a zigzagging convoy is so I can determine the final point when I do the end around. Thanks again.

[btaft]

Thanks. The reason I want to determine the base course of a zigzagging convoy is so I can determine the final point when I do the end around. Thanks again

Another nice thing is that if you arrange to have your end point for your end around far enough away the convoy would have stopped zigizagging (or constant helming) and should have returned to its initial speed

[AhhhFresh]

Thanks. The reason I want to determine the base course of a zigzagging convoy is so I can determine the final point when I do the end around. Thanks again
Another nice thing is that if you arrange to have your end point for your end around far enough away the convoy would have stopped zigizagging (or constant helming) and should have returned to its initial speed
Yeah, from what I've seen their base course will be the same that you originally sighted them... so unless you wanted to try and figure out what their effective speed along that course is with the zigzagging all you have to do is get far enough in front of them that they stop worrying about you.

[tater]

Thanks Ted, never knew the difference...btw many of the mods in SHIII put zig zags into the convoys maybe possible for SH4 too. Are there any pages with more detailed descriptions of these maneuvers?


Was it modded to have them make a 25-35 degree turn off a base course every X miutes, or did they simply make many waypoints for the convoys?

[joea]

Thanks Ted, never knew the difference...btw many of the mods in SHIII put zig zags into the convoys maybe possible for SH4 too. Are there any pages with more detailed descriptions of these maneuvers?


Was it modded to have them make a 25-35 degree turn off a base course every X miutes, or did they simply make many waypoints for the convoys?

I believe it was the latter I'll check at home.