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Zosimus · 12-11-14, 03:14 PM

Here's how I work out how to get around a convoy to the front.

First I locate the convoy and determine the convoy's speed and direction. Once that's done, I want to get far enough away from the convoy to surface and move to the front.

I draw a line parallel to the convoy showing its course. In this case the convoy is moving at 81ºP or Heading: 279º

Next I pick a point where the line crosses a gridline and consider that ground zero. From there I measure along the line proportional to the speed of the convoy. In this case the convoy is moving at 8 knots, therefore I measure 2.4, which is 3x the speed of the convoy.

After that I draw a circle at 3 times my surface speed. In this weather I can easily make 11 knots on the surface, so I draw 3.3 radius circle.

Next I measure a 90º angle from the point on the line that represents the speed of the convoy and draw a line until it crosses the circle that represents my surface speed. A line passing through ground zero and the point where the circle and the perpendicular line cross represents a good course to take. It is a course that will keep me from falling farther behind the convoy while getting me farther from the convoy as quickly as possible. In this case the number is 38ºP or Heading: 322º although I actually set my course for 320º so I would catch up slightly.

Once I'm a bit away from the convoy I can surface and try to move around the convoy. I simply parallel the convoy until I spot a ship, like this corvette.

To make my way around the corvette, I draw a line in the direction of the convoy through the ship I've spotted and I draw a circle from a point slightly ahead of the ship. I set my course tangent to the circle formed. Ideally this should keep me far enough away from the ship to keep from being spotted. The right radius for the circle depends on factors such as weather, your speed, the ship's speed. In this case 9.0 was too aggressive. I was spotted.

I guess next time I'll try 9.5.

12-11-14, 03:14 PM	#7
Zosimus XO Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Chorrillos, Lima, Peru Posts: 401 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Here's how I work out how to get around a convoy to the front. First I locate the convoy and determine the convoy's speed and direction. Once that's done, I want to get far enough away from the convoy to surface and move to the front. I draw a line parallel to the convoy showing its course. In this case the convoy is moving at 81ºP or Heading: 279º Next I pick a point where the line crosses a gridline and consider that ground zero. From there I measure along the line proportional to the speed of the convoy. In this case the convoy is moving at 8 knots, therefore I measure 2.4, which is 3x the speed of the convoy. After that I draw a circle at 3 times my surface speed. In this weather I can easily make 11 knots on the surface, so I draw 3.3 radius circle. Next I measure a 90º angle from the point on the line that represents the speed of the convoy and draw a line until it crosses the circle that represents my surface speed. A line passing through ground zero and the point where the circle and the perpendicular line cross represents a good course to take. It is a course that will keep me from falling farther behind the convoy while getting me farther from the convoy as quickly as possible. In this case the number is 38ºP or Heading: 322º although I actually set my course for 320º so I would catch up slightly. Once I'm a bit away from the convoy I can surface and try to move around the convoy. I simply parallel the convoy until I spot a ship, like this corvette. To make my way around the corvette, I draw a line in the direction of the convoy through the ship I've spotted and I draw a circle from a point slightly ahead of the ship. I set my course tangent to the circle formed. Ideally this should keep me far enough away from the ship to keep from being spotted. The right radius for the circle depends on factors such as weather, your speed, the ship's speed. In this case 9.0 was too aggressive. I was spotted. I guess next time I'll try 9.5.