How effective is "Bold" modelled?

[RConch]

In the ancient CAoD "Bold" was a very effective tool in evading escorts initially.
Is it modelled well in this game?

[Redbear]

That's a good question. I can tell you that in my experience, it isn't very effective, but that may be because I really haven't figured out how to use it correctly.

[Draka]

It appears to be very effective once you figure out the tactics. The usual routine is to go flank and do a course change when the depth charges are going off - well as soon as the attack appears to be over, as I go to Silent Running I'll pop one, then make a further SLIGHT course change - large rudder angles put out noise that they will close in on. So far it works very well unless I am so boxed in by multiple warships that damn near nothing works.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Constant depth changes are also good for avoiding ashcans.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Relatively speaking, BOLD works very well in-game.

[flakmonkey]

Saved my virtual ass on many occasions, you just have to know how best to use it.
My usual tactic is to deploy bold and then get as far away from it as posible at flank speed before the destroyer turns for another run and i have to go silent.

[tomfon]

Relatively speaking, BOLD works very well in-game.

Yes, thats true but imho the duration time of each bold canister could be increased by 5min. A few months ago i read some interrogation reports formed by the US Navy during the war period where German crews when asked to talk about the technical specifications of the decoy device mentioned that the duration time of the latter versions was 30min long. In an occasion the crew replied that it lasted for 40min but this was probably an exaggeration. On the other hand, SH3 doesn't model the maximum depth at which a Bold canister can be deployed and therefore i assume that the fact that the duration times remained unaltered in GWX3 is to compensate for the lack of the "maximum depth" feature i mentioned (?). But again, since the use of the Bold decoy at a considerable depth wouldn't be a wise choice then increasing the times by 5min wouldn't be far from being fare. Or not?

Last, having read these reports i changed the times and tested it both in single missions and throughout the campaign (1944+). In the case of being hunted by a single destroyer i managed to reach a safer depth (250m or so) and "force" the destroyer to lose contact relatively easy. But in the case of 2,3 or 4 destroyers coming after me things were as hard as usual. Thats all!

[Sag75]

yes they do! I really think too much...

This tactics works for me: let the pinging DD approaching you.. when it's 500-600 meters far release the bold and move out at flank speed for a while. Usually the DD will stop pinging the bold released and you are (almost) free to get far or deeper...

Of course if you have many alerted DDs and you are in '44 or '45....... there are no chances at all. :shifty:

[Sandman_28054]

i have had great luck with them.

When I fire a "fish" at a DD and it misses, if the DD is within 500 meters, I can deploy one, and go to flank speed and turn 90 degrees, head to 120-150 meters depth, and go to silent running when the depth is achieved. With the external cam, if deployed correctly, you will see the DD stop and actually back up for however long the "Bold" is designed for.

If you use it correctly, it can save your butt.