Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Riley
Your high speed patrolling sounds more effective,but wouldnt this sap fuel much quicker?,which could be better saved for extended patrols that could go into weeks?.
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Yes. So while it may maximize contacts gained per unit of time, it may not maximize total contacts, because the amount of available time will be reduced.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Riley
I am confident I may be on the AK48 route,according to the game map that is,but we shall see.
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In the game, convoys follow a scripted set of waypoints from their start to finish ponts. However, the locations of the intermediate waypoints for a given convoy are randomized within a scripted radius. Because convoys randomize their routes, being perhaps hundreds of kilometres from a given waypoint, one can never be confident that one is on the path of a given convoy unless one has a recent sighting report.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Riley
I just wish there was some info on the web,i'd like to know more about patrol tactics.
Well,thanks again for the reply.
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I have run across descriptions of wolfpack search techniques and search patterns used by surface vessels after losing contact with a u-boat, but I have never read anything that described search patterns used by single u-boats.
What the wolfpacks would try to do was form a line on the surface, perpendicular to the expected path of a convoy, and spaced so that the distance between boats was equal to the diameter of the circle of visual range of a boat. The line would then move towards the expected convoy, maintaining spacing, until a contact was made. Often the spacing had to be greater than optimal, due to a shortage of boats.
The best approximation of this that a single boat can make is to patrol in a line perpendicular to the path of the convoy. I am not sure what the optimal length of that line should be, but I would guess that a large fraction of the total possible displacement from the convoy's nominal course would be better than a small fraction. I tend to use lines about 100km long.
In AK48, I'd start in the SE corner and run 100km or so on a course of 330, then go about 20km on 240, 100km on 150, then complete the box and repeat. Speed and portion spent submerged would be dictated mostly by fuel state and expectation of aircraft.