convoy behaviour at night

[Joe S]

Will covoys stop, start milling around, and have the ships crash into each other at night like they do in SHIII? Just wondering. Joe S

[Torplexed]

Considering what an independent lot these merchant ship captains were, and that many of them chaffed under Royal or US Navy direction, it seems somewhat realistic that they occasionally act in this every-man-for-himself manner. There weren't a lot of civilian steamer captains back then trained in precision naval maneuvers. Just keeping them in column and at a consistent speed with the convoy was a major undertaking for the escorting warships at least early in the war.

[Snestorm]

Never had that happen to me in Stock SHIII.

In a real convoy:
Milling about should not happen.
Collisions are always a possability.

A merchant Ship's Master is conditioned to stay as far away from other ships as possable (Miles!). Now put alot of these guys in a "sardines can" with each "sardine" having different ship's handling charecteristics, and different Critical Speeds, and you have a very complex and difficult situation.
I realy do have alot of respect for these guys. They shoulder alot of responsability.