Grid Patrol Patterns

[Blacklight]

Here's a question for you professional subsimmers out there...

When you reach your assigned patrol grid that you need to patrol for 24 hours, what kind of pattern works the best or gives you the most amount of coverage or bang for the buck while you're there ? I usually use a ladder style and I dive down and listen every couple hours. I rarely if ever stumble upon contacts in my patrol grids.

[Canovaro]

Do not expect more shipping in your patrol area than in other area's just because it is you patrol area. What I mean is that most sightings will be done on the way to or from the patrol area.

[jimmie]

I can't remember if I ever encouter anything within assigned grid. I had to think if it was purely objective thing and nothing with some information in BdU.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Here's a question for you professional subsimmers out there...

When you reach your assigned patrol grid that you need to patrol for 24 hours, what kind of pattern works the best or gives you the most amount of coverage or bang for the buck while you're there ? I usually use a ladder style and I dive down and listen every couple hours. I rarely if ever stumble upon contacts in my patrol grids.

LOL, its a good thing you like that search pattern as it is the only one in GWX. (and the only useful pattern IMHO)

The other two search patterns in GWX were replaced with the Kiel Canal inbound and outbound transit navigation waypoints so that you don't have to manually plot a course each time you are leaving or returning to Kiel Bay via the Canal.

[Hakahura]

How I patrol my grid depends on where it is.

Far out deep ocean I just use the supplied patrol pattern.
But if it's somewhere near shore eg AM52 (how many times have I seen that one, a personal favorite) then I set up a 24 hour patrol over the deepest parts. I always like plenty of room for manover under my keel.

[danurve]

It indeed may depend on what grid you get, but alot of times I just set 1 degree port/stbd and ahead slow.

[flag4]

correct me if i am wrong, but i dont think there is a particular search pattern that throws up the best action; i believe, from reading the books and reading ideas and feedback here and my own experience, that listening and watching are the best: good hydrophone work and watch crew - your own eyes and ears are important too, especially if your crew is inexperienced.

spend time doing the hydrophones yourself - carefull with that TC though, keep it low. the watch crew are very important, keep the green bar as full as possible, change crew to keep them fresh - monitor their health by clicking on them.

also, and for me, very important, read books about real life on board the boats: Jordan Vause: U-Boat Ace the life of Wolfgang Luth
http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-Boat-Bluejacket-Books-Jordan-Vause/dp/1557508631/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198101820&sr=1-5

if you are of an impatient nature and struggle to slow your game down this will aleviate your impatients - as it did and does for me. not alot happened all the time, life on board was very boring and tedious - and then suddenly all hell breaks lose.

you will, after reading these books develope your own routine on board your boat - as they did in real life ( i know - it's only a game !! ).

you could in fact say "to hell" with grid patrol for 24 hours and just go off and do your own thing in that grid, or a grid near by - near ports or shipping lanes, it's really up to you ! - you'll lose renown of course if you dont fullfil your orders.

Salute, and Bon Voyage Herr Kaleun.

[K-61]

To clarify, you won't "lose" renown, you'll just not earn it.

My patrol pattern is usually perpendicular to the expected axis of the convoy lanes where I am on patrol. If I am in the convoy lanes to the northwest of Ireland, my main legs will be north/south. If I am expecting convoys between the UK and the Med, I patrol with east/west legs.

[flag4]

sorry K-61,

yes.

i'm tired and err, too much snapps perhaps !

[K-61]

No need to apologise. But you know how it can be when a confused person reads something and interprets it the wrong way.

[Canovaro]

I usually go to 14 meters and time compression to 2048 until my patrol time is over.
If a ship comes to 20 km of my boot, the hydroman will report it.

[Bridger]

I patrol my assigned grid square as ordered, varied search patterns/sound check every 4 hours, only time i leave is if a convoy is reported and my fuel and calculations allow intercept, oh and of course regular crash dives and emergency drills..............cant let no moss grow!

[The Butcher]

If I am reading the manual correctly in GWX2 the assigned patrols don't generate any renoun only sinking ships or planes. Either way it is crucial to use your hydrophones. Your sonar man beats the watch crew by 10X. Even greater in bad weather. It is common to be cruising along the suface dip down and find a ship (not always a Merchant) is just outside of visual range.

[Jimbuna]

I usually go to 14 meters and time compression to 2048 until my patrol time is over.
If a ship comes to 20 km of my boot, the hydroman will report it.

At that tc you run the risk of missing some of the contacts :hmm:

[Ice Forge]

spend time doing the hydrophones yourself - carefull with that TC though, keep it low. the watch crew are very important, keep the green bar as full as possible, change crew to keep them fresh - monitor their health by clicking on them.
Salute, and Bon Voyage Herr Kaleun.

Spend time with hyrdo's yourself? is that even possible (know it is in sh2 but not here? ) howto?

[Jimbuna]

spend time doing the hydrophones yourself - carefull with that TC though, keep it low. the watch crew are very important, keep the green bar as full as possible, change crew to keep them fresh - monitor their health by clicking on them.
Salute, and Bon Voyage Herr Kaleun.

Spend time with hyrdo's yourself? is that even possible (know it is in sh2 but not here? ) howto?

Click on your hydrophonr guy and you'll be in his shack :arrgh!:

http://www.itsnature.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfmoon.jpg


http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd320/pasquarade/wolf-38.gif

[donw]

Click on your hydrophonr guy and you'll be in his shack :arrgh!:

Or just tap "H" on the keyboard. ;)

[Sailor Steve]

Search pattern? I do the same thing I did in Aces: I lay out a bunch of waypoints and cruise the area at Ahead Slow. My pattern starts with a square around the grid perimeter, then diagonals across the corners, then smaller squares and diagonals. When I finish up all the waypoints, I make more and start over.

[Mush Martin]

Search pattern? I do the same thing I did in Aces: I lay out a bunch of waypoints and cruise the area at Ahead Slow. My pattern starts with a square around the grid perimeter, then diagonals across the corners, then smaller squares and diagonals. When I finish up all the waypoints, I make more and start over.

Like he said:yep:

I lay mine out like when you draw an envelope shape with a single
pencil line.

my preset patterns are used not for search or the kiel kanal
but for autoevasive maneuvers instead.

M

[Sailor Steve]

my preset patterns are used ...for autoevasive maneuvers instead.

M
I never use any of the presets, even the ones designed for evasion. I just yell "Right full rudder! All ahead flank! Dive, dive!":rotfl:

[Pisces]

This may be an interesting read on this subject. (http://files.filefront.com/Patrol+Grid+Analysispdf/;6027715;/fileinfo.html)

[donw]

Wow! :huh: Talk about somebody with WAYYYY too much time on their hands!
But...interesting info ;)