Finding convoys

[richardnewnes]

Hi there,
I am playng TMO 2.5 in career mode, June 1943. After I have completed my objectives where would I look for convoys. I only ever see 1 or 2 merchants at a time.
Many thanks, Bruce

[WernherVonTrapp]

Where was your objective?

[BernieP2]

There is a convoy route map behind the AM radio. Check it in comparison to where you are .. you may be close to a convoy lane ... or you may not.

The Singapore/Borneo route via the Palawan passage to Kyushu or the Bungo Suido are usually fruitfull locations. The space between northern Luzon (Apari) and southern Formosa is also target rich. The Ryukyu (sp?) islands (incl Okinawa) are good locations on this route.

If all else fails, the Truk to Honshu route has a lot of traffic.

The harbor at Siapan will usually have a bunch of merchants sitting there for the taking.

Fair Winds and Good Hunting

BernieP2

[richardnewnes]

Hi there,
My mission was Insertion of agent in Akkeshi off Hokkaido. But I struggle to find convoys on all missions,
Thanks, Bruce

[kstanb]

I have limited experience with TMO 2.5 +RSRD (just 3 war patrol, all early war).

But everytime I feel like a a war patrol is not being "rich" in terms of convoys,I test ports.. so far I have successfully entered Manila, Balikpapan and Saigon, in each ocasion sinking the biggest merchant docked and then run away unharmed.

If anything, it is too easy to get in and out of a port with TMO 2.5... maybe this is related to early war conditions?

[richardnewnes]

Hi , Thanks, I'll check out the ports

[Bubblehead1980]

I have limited experience with TMO 2.5 +RSRD (just 3 war patrol, all early war).

But everytime I feel like a a war patrol is not being "rich" in terms of convoys,I test ports.. so far I have successfully entered Manila, Balikpapan and Saigon, in each ocasion sinking the biggest merchant docked and then run away unharmed.

If anything, it is too easy to get in and out of a port with TMO 2.5... maybe this is related to early war conditions?


RSRD operates differently than other mods.RSRD does not spawn generic random convoys, the convoys represent real life convoys(lurker took the info from a book listing IJN convoys) times, dates, and routes are prob about 95% accurate, which is cool.Thing is, convoys are not spawning at a rapid rate.Less convoys in early war and in some areas no convoys.The maps publishing usually are not that helpful.What I did was look at logical convoy routes then opened the camapaign traffic via the mission editor which showed the routes. Open the mission editor..open up RSRD/campaign and find the appropriate convoy year, itll show you the routes.Plenty of convoys in RSRD.

[kstanb]

RSRD operates differently than other mods.RSRD does not spawn generic random convoys, the convoys represent real life convoys(lurker took the info from a book listing IJN convoys) times, dates, and routes are prob about 95% accurate, which is cool.Thing is, convoys are not spawning at a rapid rate.Less convoys in early war and in some areas no convoys.The maps publishing usually are not that helpful.What I did was look at logical convoy routes then opened the camapaign traffic via the mission editor which showed the routes. Open the mission editor..open up RSRD/campaign and find the appropriate convoy year, itll show you the routes.Plenty of convoys in RSRD.

Don't get me wrong, I love RSRD... and at any rate, I am getting at least 10 times more traffic than what was expected in the real war.

Another interesting way to deal with low traffic... somehow gamey, is to open a history book or search wikipedia for major sea campaigns or landings and then be there on time!
This way, I can get very good quality targets (like ocean liners filled with troops), but also, and more important, I can relate to what is happening in the war.
This works very well starting from Manila.

[Sailor Steve]

Another interesting way to deal with low traffic... somehow gamey, is to open a history book or search wikipedia for major sea campaigns or landings and then be there on time!
Yep. That's one of the problems with having things be historically accurate - the more accurate the game gets the less realistic the play becomes.

Working on my Ship Names mod for SH3 Commander I speculated that it might be possible to recreate every single convoy, with the real ships in their historic positions. Then all an enterprising player would have to do is look up the convoy and know where it would be on what date, and exactly which ships to shoot at for maximum results. More accuracy, less realism.

Fun, in a headache-inducing kind of way. :sunny:

[kstanb]

Yep. That's one of the problems with having things be historically accurate - the more accurate the game gets the less realistic the play becomes.

Working on my Ship Names mod for SH3 Commander I speculated that it might be possible to recreate every single convoy, with the real ships in their historic positions. Then all an enterprising player would have to do is look up the convoy and know where it would be on what date, and exactly which ships to shoot at for maximum results. More accuracy, less realism.

Fun, in a headache-inducing kind of way. :sunny:

I guess it is up to the player to see decide how much to dig into the archives or the campaign editor. I won't certainly go that far, and I will always stay close to my designated patrol area (which is, at least playing a Manila campaign, very close to where the "action" happened).

I also really enjoy doing the research on each campaign, I recently found this on the Phillipines campaign
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/5-2/5-2_Contents.htm#part2
and now I can understand what was the reason for all those multiple landings in Luzon...
For me, this is much better than killing generic convoys

[TorpX]

Personally, I like to be surprised. Also, I consider it better not to have too much traffic. It presents more of a challange that way. :03:

[Hylander_1314]

If you're around the imperial home islands, look to where the major ports are. Hang about 20nms off the coast in deep water, where the shipping routes come into them.

Also, like the real boats did, make sure to submerge before sunrise, and wait until after sunset to surface so search planes don't catch you on the surface. Since you have TMO, if you have a Gato, or Balao spend your daylight hours 450 to 500ft down.

Make sure you check the hydrophones every couple hours. If you do pick up on a convoy during daylight hours, and it's always good to surface to close the distance if they are far off, but before you surface, go to radar depth, and make sure you don't have any planes in the vacinity. Then blow tanks, and go to flank speed to close the distance fast.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I tend to agree with Hylander_1314. That's what I do when I'm close to His Imperial Majesty's house. I'll sit in the mouths of major ports waiting for the inevitable booty. I'll even raid some of the deepwater ports if I'm in the vicinity.
The Japanese didn't really employ a convoy system until later in the war, but if you're not playing RSRDC, you won't have to worry about that.:salute:

[richardnewnes]

Thanks to you all for your replies, I'll try them out tonight, Thanks again, Bruce

[sidmo001]

I find plenty of convoys in-between Tanega-shima and Okinawa.