SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - How to play with "No map contacts update"?

Chock · 05-26-07, 03:37 PM

With no map contact updates things can be difficult, although for me it's been such a long time since I've ever played with this on (probably since SH1 days!).

Anyway, here's a screengrab of the kind of thing I do in lieu of not having the sim give me all the easy info:

What is happening on this screenshot is an end-around is in progress on a previously attacked convoy. Having escaped the destroyers following my first attack, I need to stay out of range of the convoy and track parallel to it, monitoring its position by sound alone. I determined its heading upon surfacing and then went about 10 miles to the left of it before turning on a parallel course. Positions 1,2 and 3, are points along my parallel course where I submerged (approximately every ten miles) and listened on hydrophones for the spread of sound of the convoy. I then drew 2 lines from my sub, one for each 'outside edge' of the bearings of the sound. From this I could determine the position of the convoy, and based on the fact that I knew the convoy was doing ten knots, and I was doing flank speed, I was able to 'guesstimate' the range of the convoy from its position changes relative to my hydrophone sweeps at ten mile intervals. You can go off historical figures for range, most hydrophones could pick stuff up at about ten miles, but on occasion they could detect a big convoy fifty miles away, in any case, you get used to guessing ranges from sound levels after a while of doing this kind of thing, so it's actually quite good fun.

Eventually, after having done this about ten more times, the convoy's sound placed it at between about 140 degrees and 180 degrees, meaning I knew I was well ahead of it, at this point I could track across to the line of the convoy's approximate track then sit at about 1500 yards off their predicted track. Then it is just a case of listening for them on about a bearing of 085 degrees from your sub, and waiting for them to sail right by. Some adjustment is usually needed to take account of destroyers ranging back and forth in front of the convoy, but that's all part of the fun.

I'm sure you know most of this stuff, but it's way more fun doing it all manually, as the rewards of getting it right are just that much more engrossing and enjoyable.

Chock

05-26-07, 03:37 PM	#4
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	With no map contact updates things can be difficult, although for me it's been such a long time since I've ever played with this on (probably since SH1 days!). Anyway, here's a screengrab of the kind of thing I do in lieu of not having the sim give me all the easy info: What is happening on this screenshot is an end-around is in progress on a previously attacked convoy. Having escaped the destroyers following my first attack, I need to stay out of range of the convoy and track parallel to it, monitoring its position by sound alone. I determined its heading upon surfacing and then went about 10 miles to the left of it before turning on a parallel course. Positions 1,2 and 3, are points along my parallel course where I submerged (approximately every ten miles) and listened on hydrophones for the spread of sound of the convoy. I then drew 2 lines from my sub, one for each 'outside edge' of the bearings of the sound. From this I could determine the position of the convoy, and based on the fact that I knew the convoy was doing ten knots, and I was doing flank speed, I was able to 'guesstimate' the range of the convoy from its position changes relative to my hydrophone sweeps at ten mile intervals. You can go off historical figures for range, most hydrophones could pick stuff up at about ten miles, but on occasion they could detect a big convoy fifty miles away, in any case, you get used to guessing ranges from sound levels after a while of doing this kind of thing, so it's actually quite good fun. Eventually, after having done this about ten more times, the convoy's sound placed it at between about 140 degrees and 180 degrees, meaning I knew I was well ahead of it, at this point I could track across to the line of the convoy's approximate track then sit at about 1500 yards off their predicted track. Then it is just a case of listening for them on about a bearing of 085 degrees from your sub, and waiting for them to sail right by. Some adjustment is usually needed to take account of destroyers ranging back and forth in front of the convoy, but that's all part of the fun. I'm sure you know most of this stuff, but it's way more fun doing it all manually, as the rewards of getting it right are just that much more engrossing and enjoyable. Chock