View Single Post
Old 12-04-19, 04:05 PM   #1
Fidd
XO
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Blighty!
Posts: 430
Downloads: 10
Uploads: 0


Default Possible Enigma application

Suppose there was a configurable mission setting which placed you not merely outside of visual range with the convoy, but also out of hydrophone range. On entering the game, an encrypted Bdu message would need to be decrypted, citing a known position and rough heading for the convoy. The navigation officer can chart the position of the convoy at the time stated, and estimate the current location based on the reported speed and course, and then plot a course to intercept. If by then developed, this closing to visual contact portion of the mission might be the period where a slight risk might exist of air-attack. Self-evidently, the convoy course and speed would need to be correct to (say) +/- 15%, so that it cannot be taken as correct figures to enter into the TDC, and doesn't make hydrophone checks nearing the intercept position redundant.

As the configuration requiring this proper use of Enigma and Navigating skills would likely be an unchecked box by default, it wouldn't affect most players, however "hard-core" simmers might enjoy it. One of the benefits of these necessarily longer missions would be an increased likelihood of more players than usual joining boats, and indeed more boats, whilst not increasing the likelihood of all your firing solutions being rendered incorrect because someone attacks the convoy as your torpedoes are running.

A useful facility to go hand in hand with this, is for the ability of the radio officer on a boat being able to annotate the radio log with the clear-text of received or sent messages...
Fidd is offline   Reply With Quote