Courses for dummies

[Nuoz]

I can't believe i'm confused by this but never went to the navy. When a convoy report comes in saying: Course: ESE what does that read like? East South East?? Doesn't make sense to me and is crutial to know if you're playing GWX 2.1. Thanks in advance

[Madox58]

Yep.
If it's heading ESE?
It's steaming on a East South East course.
So it would be coming from the West North West of you.

[Nuoz]

Oh, i see. sorry i posed the question wrong. What i don't understand is what East South East means, i know East, i know South and I South east. I don't know East South East. What is it, more East than south so the angle to the West-East line is not exactly 45º rather something more "East" meaning an angle bigger than 45º to the West-East line? Thanks for your response sir.

[Madox58]

Ok, I see what you want now.

With out graphics.

East is at a horizontal position.
East South East would be at a 45 degree down angle from there.

[Nuoz]

Oh... It seemed like East was doubled there, but who am i to say that. Thank you for your reply! :)

[Madox58]

Well,
Haveing a very directional background.
If I was told SSW?
I could see going South South West.
Which is a bit more then South West South.
:lol:

It is easy if you look at a compass or such.
Anything you learn?
It's good!!

[UnderseaLcpl]

Ok, I see what you want now.

With out graphics.

East is at a horizontal position.
East South East would be at a 45 degree down angle from there.

Not to nitpick but SE would be a 45 degree angle from there. ESE would be about 112 degrees, only 22 degrees deviation.

Also there is no SWS, that would be SSW

[VipertheSniper]

Well,
Haveing a very directional background.
If I was told SSW?
I could see going South South West.
Which is a bit more then South West South.
:lol:

It is easy if you look at a compass or such.
Anything you learn?
It's good!!

NNE is 22.5°, ENE is 67.5°, ESE is 112.5°, SSE is 137.5°, SSW is 202.5°, WSW 237.5°, WNW is 292.5° and NNW is 337.5°. No such thing as South west south as far as I'm aware, I guess you mean West South West.

[Sailor Steve]

Here. Look at this, and understand.:sunny:

http://boatsafe.com/kids/082000.htm

[Nuoz]

Thank you people, you are the best gaming community, educated, civilized and helpful! Please forgive my speech, i've just been to a boxing forums :S

[seafarer]

I can't believe i'm confused by this but never went to the navy. When a convoy report comes in saying: Course: ESE what does that read like? East South East?? Doesn't make sense to me and is crutial to know if you're playing GWX 2.1. Thanks in advance

On your nav map screen, move your mouse cursor over to the lower right hand edge. A very nice Compass Rose slides out with all the markings on it (have a look on page 108 of the GWX 2.1 manual to see it as well).

[Mittelwaechter]

North -West reads the bearing between north and west = 45°
North -Northwest reads the bearing between north and northwest = 22.5°
North -Northwest to North reads the bearing between north-northwest and north = 11,25° (not used in game)

First indicator for general direction: West.
Second indicator for adjusting the direction: West -Southwest/West - Northwest
Third indicator for fine tuning the direction: West -Southwest to Southwest/West - Northwest to West

Confusing until checked!

[Frank0001]

Simple picture says a thousand words :up:

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s205/FrankTimmerman/Compass.jpg

Note that a full circle is 360 degrees.
North is 000 degrees (or 360 degrees), East is pointed at a quarter to the right of that circle, so 090 degrees.
Between North and East is NE, so 090 divided by two is 045 degrees.
Between North and NE is NNE, so 045 divided by two is 22.5 degrees.

And there you have it, if you need to calculate which direction is NNE, ESE, WNW etc. just add or subtract 22.5 to NE, SE, NW etc.

[Wreford-Brown]

Frank0001's message probably gives the best clarity. Despite needing to know for my job, I've never properly got the hang of East and West. Maybe I'll print his compass rose out and keep it in a pocket!

As for the original question - I think of ESE as East of SE, NNE as North of NE etc. It gives a quick ready reckoner when stalking convoys.

[Nuoz]

Thank you people. I think i got it, many thanks!

[Platapus]

Yep.
If it's heading ESE?
It's steaming on a East South East course.
So it would be coming from the West North West of you.

Your second statement is correct.

Your Third statement is not always correct. Depending on where my ship is located a convoy heading ESE may be

North of me
South of me
East of me
....

The course or heading of the convoy is independent of the bearing of the convoy's location relative to my ship.

Probably a nit to pick but some readers here still ask questions about heading and bearings Don't want any one to get confused.

[Platapus]

if you go to Wikipedia and search for "compass rose" look for a graphic called Compass_rose.png (it is the 16 point rose) and print it out. I always have it next to me just for making it easy to visualize.