Convoy Question

[bill clarke]

Are the convoys in SHIII made so that they will scatter when under attack (as they did in reality ). ?
If not, is this moddable ?

[P_Funk]

Are the convoys in SHIII made so that they will scatter when under attack (as they did in reality ). ?
If not, is this moddable ?

I thought that in the event of an attack all the ships started to zigzag and any other major behavioral changes were ordered by the Convoy's Commodore (is that the right term?). In SH3 they always start to zigzag once they know you're there. From reading an escort commander's book I know that the ships would usually continue on normally (plus zigzagging) and the escorts would go after the U-boat. As for dispersing... well doesn't that demean the whole point of a convoy? I mean its protection in numbers. Its old school and its proven.

[SmokinTep]

Never seen them disperse. Zig Zag yes.

[Karl-Heinz Jaeger]

I've encountered instances where after torpedoing one or two of the lead ships, those that follow scatter at random and begin crashing into one another. It's quite comical to see an escort have to wade through colliding merchies trying to get a fix on your fleeing U-boot!! :ping: :arrgh!: :ping:

[GT182]

I haven't seen all shops scatter when a convoy is attacked. But I have seen a couple turn and head off in opposite directions to the main group.

Even had a couple try to ram me in my last patrol, in March thru April of 41. Noe that will keep you on your toes. Thank God I was watching the TDC screen. I just wish range were displayed there too.

[kiwi_2005]

I have come across a few convoys that are already scattered when i make visual contact, ( going in all directions) dont know if this is a bug or was suppose to happen.

[-Dreadnought-]

It was funny once when I attacked a convoy with two C2:s sailing in a line close to each other, making about 7 knots. My first torpedoes paralyzed and blew away the propellers of the leading C2. The other one had to do a quick evasive manouver and set back emergency to avoid a crash which could occur due to the other C2:s sudden stop...
Well, it managed to make a full stop and start reversing when beeing only about 50 metres from the paralyzed C2. It was close... :arrgh!:

[SkvyWvr]

I spent several years in the Amphib Navy and we crossed the Pacific an 11 ship formation. During the days we did regular naval drills but we practiced Convoy manuvers all night. The most effective manuver was the "Star" in which all the ship scattered using pre-determined bearings. :know:

[jasonb885]

I spent several years in the Amphib Navy and we crossed the Pacific an 11 ship formation. During the days we did regular naval drills but we practiced Convoy manuvers all night. The most effective manuver was the "Star" in which all the ship scattered using pre-determined bearings. :know:

Interesting.

Anyone curious about this, I recommend reading about Captain Walker and the sinking of the Audacity, the first CVE every deployed in a convoy. The practice didn't become more common place until years later.

[SkvyWvr]

:hmm: You may be right. It was the mid '70s and the enemy we prepared for was the USSR.

[Cdre Gibs]

SOP was basicaly the following on contact types:

Surface Raider = Convoy is to scatter (divide the raiders guns) buy order of the Convoy's Commodore's predetermined plan.

Submarine = Convoy is to zig zag at best speed (preset by slowest ship in convoy at the time) and try to out run the sub. If the sub surface's then the Armed merchants are to engage it with their DG's (if the convoy had any) and any ship is to try to ram it (failing no Escort or Armed Merchant).

[don1reed]

Individual ship position within the convoy and station keeping is essential to convoy discipline and integrity. Independant thinking early in the war got many killed as strays. As they became seasoned with the war, they maintained their discipline and allowed the escorts to do their jobs.

see The Battle of the Atlantic by Andrew Williams

rgds,

[thyro]

SOP was basicaly the following on contact types:

Surface Raider = Convoy is to scatter (divide the raiders guns) buy order of the Convoy's Commodore's predetermined plan.

Submarine = Convoy is to zig zag at best speed (preset by slowest ship in convoy at the time) and try to out run the sub. If the sub surface's then the Armed merchants are to engage it with their DG's (if the convoy had any) and any ship is to try to ram it (failing no Escort or Armed Merchant).

but in case of a submarine with deck gun? would be considered a raider?

in case of SH3s the convoy is easy to be taken out by a single uboat if enough torps + ammo are available... like I describe in one post under the following topic:

http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=50525


I'm all in favor of a change... a mod that make these things a bit harder... specially scatering the convoy in all directions at their max speed (or group speed)

I'll post a few pictures I'm with this convoy in the last 7 hours of game ... now I'm dealing with another DD :ping: that appeared from no where :up:

(probably SH3 convoy finally got radio coms and they sent a mayday call) :rotfl:

I'll post a few pictures later on under above link

I got my VIIC's hull at 45% due to navigation error (medium merchant ram my uboat when I was avoiding this DD)

[Kilamon]

I've encountered instances where after torpedoing one or two of the lead ships, those that follow scatter at random and begin crashing into one another. It's quite comical to see an escort have to wade through colliding merchies trying to get a fix on your fleeing U-boot!! :ping: :arrgh!: :ping:I love that. too bad you don't get kill credit from those results. :nope:

[MarshalLaw]

I had one convoy I attacked once where I hit the 3rd ship in line in the middle row. The ship stoped dead in the water. Hit another one in the same area on one of the outside rows. All ships behind the stricken ships did the usual bunch up , like most do. However the ships in front continued on in formation. The only thing they did was to start to zig zag.

The bunch up feature seems to be modded in the game. I wonder if with the new mods if it still does it. (GW) :hmm: