What makes a convoy go "twitchy"?
 

Never seen this before.

I have a large convoy between me and the rising moon... nearest target is 5000 m off, a Tribal. Next nearest is a Coastal Freighter. I cannot make out anything else, but my last hydrophone check showed 14-15 lines.

I am well off their path, not even intending to attack until much later tonight.

Suddenly, star shells go up. The coastal goes into zig zag and the Tribal turns on a dime, but not towards me.

Temptation gets the best of me, so I use the "lock-check" exploit (I'm human, sue me).... sure enough, a dozen or so out there all on zig-zag, escorts coming up.

It wasn't me that set them off, but what did?

Probably another Uboat. AI.

What is this 'lock-check' exploit I keep hearing about and how do I do it?

If it is what I think it is, basically you just sweep the periscope (or binocs) back and forth and keep tapping the lock target key or whatever (default is L) until you find a target. I have to admit do it a lot at night or in bad weather :shifty:

yeah, im guilty of that. i hate myself for doing it, but how can you not?

If you weren't on "Silent Running" and speed set at 1 knot you, gave your self away.

I was decks awash, 5 clicks behind the Tribal, and stationary. And anyway, he did not turn toward me, but back into the convoy. So he didn't hear me. No other escort was closer than 7500 and, again, they weren't coming for me.

Convoy did a course change 30 or so game minutes later, and the excitement seems to have died down from what I can make out. Just one of those mysteries, I guess.

Cap'n Crutch. Let's you find targets 18 clicks away -- in the dark.

I either need to go over to manual targeting or start losing 100 renown anytime I am even tempted to use it.

Not knowing the size of the convoy (rows) and the speed makes the following a bit iffy. But it could be that the front vessels reached the waypoint and started maneuvering for the next. Something at 8 knots takes about 30 min to move 7 to 8 km. Which could be the size of the convoy.

But if flares were shot in the air then I think you should seriously consider your own presence to be the trigger. (AI friendly units could be, but rare coincidence) It might have been for just a split second and the destroyers have allready lost you.

I think you are right. I've tried to approach twice since then and set them off, both times with (distant, 400-600m off) DC runs as a result. One of the escorts must have an elite watch crew. I expect this in 42-43, but surprising in October 39.

Getting toward dawn now, so I will either break off -- I mean, who needs this bother 250 west of Gibraltar? -- or go up and try the starboard side tomorrow night.

I 'd be thinking when taking into account the lighting conditions you were right on the edge of the visual envelope....if even for just a moment.