Just how effective IS allied radar? - 1st Nov 1942

[Paul Riley]

A few things i'm finding a bit odd at the moment in my campaign (I did a similar post a few days ago on the absence of allied aircraft) is the sporadic and sometimes total absence of aircraft.As some of you may have read some of my reports in the 'tell us what you are upto in your current campaign' post I was molested about 6 or 7 times trying to break out of the bay of Biscay,and now there has been a total absence of aircraft altogether for 2 days or so now.My natural asumption is that at this point in the war (check date above in post title) allied radar appears very weak,if not totally ineffectual at longer ranges.I am currently about 1000km west of the French coast.

Can someone enlighten me exactly what is happening here,or is it just plain old luck that I have'nt been spotted yet,even at night on the surface?.I understand the difficulty for bombers as the range increases significantly,but 48hrs without even a single bomber at this range seems a bit too weird.I would have thought being surfaced,and on a clear day they would'nt have much trouble acquiring me.

Thanks.

[Bronzewing]

The earlier ASV (air to surface vessel) radars 41-42, had a blind spot in that once they got within the last few km of their target they lost it. This meant that in overcast conditions, or moonless nights, they often lost targets they'd followed in on radar because they lost radar lock before they could spot it visually. If the weather is overcast then maybe they have been detecting you, they've just been losing you on final approach. That's be the real life explination of course, why it's happening in game may be something else entirely, I don't know if it models ASV II radar that accurately.

[Paul Riley]

To be honest i've had very clear and calm days since leaving port.Seems that once I got to about 1000km west of France the air attacks stopped completely.
Thanks for the reply in any case.

[PappyCain]

http://www.usaaf.net/ww2/uboats/uboatspg4.htm

[Paul Riley]

Cheers pap.

[Bronzewing]

Oh, just thought of something. What time compressiona are you using? Anything above 256 and aircraft show up a lot less often for some reason.

[Paul Riley]

Hi BW

I use no more than 32 when I am still in fighter range,and when fighters stop appearing I crank up to no more than 64 when crossing the outer part of the bay of Biscay and upto 2000km from known air base/s.Then when out of air cover I go no higher than 128.

[RoaldLarsen]

What was the weather when the aircraft stopped appearing, and since then?

[Paul Riley]

Roald,

The weather has been clear and calm across the entire breadth of the bay,and the clear weather is still persisting.Strange,the month is November,I would have expected rough weather by now.

I aint complaining,lets hope it holds

[RoaldLarsen]

I guess you got lucky. Somebody has to, and its not me!

[Paul Riley]

I wasnt too lucky on the night of Nov 2nd thanks to you and your predicitons :o;)