Patrolling Methods

[Doolar]

Just look'n for a few opinions from other players on patrolling your assigned grid . What is the most efficient or prefered way to cover your grid . An east-west , north-south or diagnal pattern . I got my way but I like to hear other players methods and opinions . Thats how ya get better .

[eryan762mm]

well i only patrol my assigned grid for the sake of patrolling it, but when i do find an area i want to patrol i do a sort of zig zag with rounded ends, periodically submerging to take a listen with the hydrophones/sonar, and then backtrack except reversing the zig zag...idk if its really the most effective, but its what works for me

[timmy41]

I use the GWX convoy chart and follow along the traffic areas back and forth, with deviation to the sides. I don't hang around known regular ASW areas like the area NW of England (at least thats where I spot very many hunter-killer groups).

[Pisces]

This may be of interest to you.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=1021427&postcount=27

[Bakkels]

Well the link Pisces placed here is really helpful. It is a great guide to making full use of the u-boats equipment. But there is still the luck factor. It just depends on the course of the target you are trying to track. If it's traveling north or south, a horizontal search pattern will increase your chance of spotting / hearing the target, if it's traveling more west or east, a vertical pattern will be more succesful, as you will be more likely to cross it's course.
Generally, traffic closer to the European or American mainland will travel north or south, mid-Antlantic traffic will mostly travel west or east. My 2cts.

[desirableroasted]

Like Bakkels, I consider how traffic would probably move through the sector. I draw two parallel line that represent the likely corridor (and it could be sector wide, or fairly narrow. Depends on where), then plot a zig-zag up and down the corridor for several days.

Hydrophone checks at the turning points (because they effectively extend your range beyond the parallel lines), and then at the middle.

In bad weather, of course, hydrophone checks every hour or so.

Pisces, thanks for the link. I had that chart once, but had forgotten about it.

[Missing Name]

I have considered modifying the world map to approximate shipping routes. When I need to head somewhere distant, I use the convoy/merchant routes as much as possible. It's somewhat a pain to keep pulling down the chart, determine where the next point should be, stow the chart again, plot the point, pull it down again...

I like hanging around Gibraltar, the coast of North America, and the Canary Islands. Keep moving around in a spiral, submerge to 25m every 20 km or so.

[the.terrabyte.pirate]

I have considered modifying the world map to approximate shipping routes.

That's simple and brilliant. Include the air cover zones and I'd download that mod.