Identifying Night Contacts?
 

How do you guys manage to ID contacts at night?

In late war I just torpedo everything in convoys with no exceptions. And, in convoys, I'm usually attacking at 400m so there's no question. For lone merchants you can sail up to within 2k without being spotted and check the flag.

Kb

How can I identify a flag if it's too dark to see it?

If it's light, or striped, then it might be greek, french or american. If it's dark, it's probably british. Get closer.

Kb

I will usually surface the boat and send a patrol to scout the area using a new peice of technology which we like to call our external camera. Seems to work o.k. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

If Dark, They could also be friendly

Well, if they're Axis, they won't be in a convoy with Allied boats. If they're neutral, then in my mind they should be in a convoy with Allied boats. It's worth the chance. In the later war there are very few neutral countries (thankfully it's a _World_ war) so IDing isn't such a big deal. With single merchants just get right up in em and turn up yer monitor brightness and contrast.

Kb

I couldn't care less what nationality they are if it's pitch black like the Ace of spades down it goes but that also depends what year am in 43 onwards everything that floats and I come across it goes down apart from HK's and TF's there lethal in my opinion later.

Occasionally you might get a Vichy French 2 ship convoy w/escort scootin' across Biskaya around Oh-dark 30.

THat ones a no brainer though. Allied merchant does not travel in such a way as to be outbound from biscay bay. Nor does allied shipping enter biscay bay proper, nor hold a course within biscay bay that would lead to the french ports. About the only time that IDing them is an issue is say your west of spain and pick up a south bound column of ships. But then they are always a single column of ships with 1 escort. That repitition makes them easy to ID. No other shipping behaves like that in that location.

My Way of Identifying:

''If it moves, Shoot it'' :smug:

''If it isnt moving, First poke it''

''If it isnt moving and you see its unarmed''
''Get next to her and Ask 'Sprechen sie Deutsch?''
No response? Sink it :yep:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Depends on the time. I`m careful before the Invasion of Norway as there are quite many Norvegian vessels. Same for Greece and other countries.
After December 1941 I recognize that at least 95% of the vessels there are enemy, so I don`t care any longer, no matter if it `s a lone merchant or in convoy. One of few exceptions is the Brazillian coast - I avoid attacking their ships before the country enters the war.

Now, I play a D2 campaign and in the Indian Ocean - Cape of Good Hope area there can be, actually, only enemy units.