Reliable Contact Reports?

[jgbishop]

Is there a way to reliably report a convoy without having to fully surface in the middle of it? I don't see any way to be able to radio a convoy position as I'm patrolling without being in visual range and on the surface (which is quite dangerous, as you might guess). Am I missing something here?

[tater]

No, the game is a little goofy that way.

1. No US submarine would ever radio a position report if they could possibly attack (with rare exceptions of specific orders given a few times all of which were later cancelled).

2. Given 1, US subs would only make contact reports if they were unable to intercept, and the target looked important enough (convoy or TF). They'd not give away their position for lone merchants.

3. The only contact reports made in proximity would be the mini-wolfpacks we used, and then only with short-ranged transmissions meant only for the other pack boats, presumed to be within a few tens of miles away at all times.

US subs were VERY quiet in radio use. The game mechanics require transmissions for certain things to happen in missions, so it's there because iut has to be, even though it is grossly unrealistic.

tater

[-Pv-]

What I have discovered is since patch 1.4 contact reports are no longer possible as opposed to the behaviour in earlier patches. Even within a few yards of a contact the function no longer works. I used to be able to lock on a merchant in a convoy with about 4500 yards and report in. No longer.
-Pv-

[TheSatyr]

Tater,it also depended on which Admiral you were serving under. Lockwood was all for his subs being as silent as possible. The boats out of Pearl were only supposed to radio in if major fleet units,troop convoys or large convoys were sighted. Pearl boats were also supposed to radio in once they left their assigned area. It let Pearl know the boat was ok and it also let them know that the area was clear so they could send another boat there.

Christie,on the other hand tried to play Doenitz for a time. His boats were supposed to send daily status reports and he often sent his boats new orders to change locations...which his boats had to send radio confirmation that they recieved the new orders. Needless to say,Christie started losing boats due to Japanese radio direction finding efforts,so he eventually stopped trying to directly control his boats. (Lockwood also "advised" Christie to knock it off since it was costing the US men and subs unnecessarily.).

[-Pv-]

In debating game issues, it's important to evaluate the actual game's behaviour as opposed to historical. Sometimes the game is historical, sometimes it's not. Because the game doesn't REQUIRE the player to make contact radio calls, you can play the game to the re-enactment level you prefer. What I'm not sure of is if a feature I used to use still works.
-Pv-

[Old Dog]

In debating game issues, it's important to evaluate the actual game's behaviour as opposed to historical. Sometimes the game is historical, sometimes it's not. Because the game doesn't REQUIRE the player to make contact radio calls, you can play the game to the re-enactment level you prefer. What I'm not sure of is if a feature I used to use still works.
-Pv-
Good catch PV. I had noticed that too, and had the same question kicking around in my noggin.

Old Dog

[LukeFF]

Sealion II sent a contact report to Pearl Harbor of the Kongo's presence on 20 November 1944 when it was within 32,000 yards of the task force.

[Old Dog]

In debating game issues, it's important to evaluate the actual game's behaviour as opposed to historical. Sometimes the game is historical, sometimes it's not. Because the game doesn't REQUIRE the player to make contact radio calls, you can play the game to the re-enactment level you prefer. What I'm not sure of is if a feature I used to use still works.
-Pv-
Good catch PV. I had noticed that too, and had the same question kicking around in my noggin.

Old Dog
I am currently patrolling the Celebes Sea, ran into a pair of Marus and sent a contact report. There was nothing on the messages clipboard (and I have "show all messages" selected). Sent a status report, and that showed up immediately. Tried another contact report a bit later, still no joy.
BTW, got both Marus, 10K tons. :up:

Old Dog