[jarlemag]

Many good suggestions here.


In addition to standard procedures for diving, etc. I'd like to encourage the use of standardized verbal communication procedures, and maintaining "radio" (voice) dicipline when appropriate.

For inspiration, an american handbook on Standard Submarine Phraseology can be found here: https://maritime.org/doc/subphrase/index.htm


I'll quote the beginning of the handbook, which describes the basic concepts:

VOICE PROCEDURES

1. Components of a message

The typical message on a submarine consists of call and text. The call is the name of the station being addressed. The text is the body of the message. For example:

After room, open the outer doors.
(call) (text)
In the rare cases when the source of a message is not obvious from the text, the identifying name of the sending station should be inserted following the call. For example: "Control, forward room, we heard a bumping noise along the hull."

The call is normally used because it serves the double purpose of alerting the correct listener and of helping to define the contents of the message. It should be omitted only when speed is essential and when the text of the message clearly indicates to whom it is addressed. For example: Rig for depth charge.-

2. Acknowledgments

Every message is acknowledged, but the method of acknowledgment varies with the type of message, as follows:

(a) Orders

Orders addressed to an individual or to a single compartment are acknowledged by repeating them back word for word. This repetition serves as a check on the accuracy of the reception of the order, and passes the word for action to other men in the compartment.

(Order) Forward room, set depth one ze-ro feet.
(Acknowledgment) Forward room, set depth one ze-ro feet.
Orders addressed to all compartments are acknowledged from forward aft by giving the name of the compartment and adding "aye".

(Order) All compartments, secure from depth charge.
(Acknowledgment) Forward room, aye.
Battery forward, aye. Etc.

2

(b) Reports
When the correct reception of its details is important, the report is repeated back word for word.

(Report) JP, contact, bearing two one ze-ro.
(Acknowledgment) JP, contact, bearing two one ze-ro.
When a report of a routine nature is heard directly by the person to whom it is addressed, "Very well" or "Aye, aye" is usually sufficient acknowledgment.

(c) Questions

When a question can be answered immediately, the answer in itself constitutes an acknowledgement. The answer should be worded so that it is clear that the question has been understood.

(Question) Forward room, how are your bilges?
(Answer) Control, forward room bilges are dry.
When a question cannot be answered immediately, the immediate acknowledgment is normally a repetition of the question and the word, "Wait". For questions of a routine nature, "Aye, aye," plus "Wait" is usually sufficient acknowledgment. In either case, the answer is given as soon as the information becomes available.

(Question) Forward room, how are your bilges?
(Acknowledgment) Forward room, how are your bilges? Wait.
(Answer) Control, six inches of water in forward room bilges.

3. Correction or change in a message

If the sender makes a mistake in giving a message, he says "Belay that" and gives the correct form.

Gyros forward, set gyros by hand ze-ro ze-ro fo-wer. Belay that.
Set gyros by hand ze-ro fo-wer fo-wer.
If the receiving station repeats a message incorrectly, the sender says "Belay that" and gives the correct message again.


3

4. Reports of execution
When an order has been carried out, this fact is reported to the station originating the order. Generally, the report of execution closely follows the wording of the order.

(Order) After room, open the outer doors.
(Acknowledgment) After room, open the outer doors.
(Report) Conning tower, the outer doors have been opened aft.
Other common forms in reports of execution involve the phrases "has the word" and "on his way."

(Order) Tell Mr. R. to check the gun access hatch.
(Report) Mr. R. has the word.
(Order) Gunner's mate to the bridge.
(Report) The gunner's mate is on his way.
Certain special forms are given later in this manual.

5. Request for a repeat

If the receiver fails to understand any part of a message, he says "Repeat". The sender then gives the entire message again.

(Message) JP, pick up target bearing wuh wuh nay.
(Reply) Repeat.
(Message) JP, pick up target bearing one one eight.

There is much more, much of which is not (currently) relevant to the game. But if everyone uses the basic concepts, it make for much more orderly communication. It may not be so important when cruising, but when under attack or in the final stages of making an attack, efficient communication can be essential.

To summarize basic "standard" voice message procedure:

• Basic message format: [person/station who is being addressed], [person/station who is talking]: [Message]
• Orders are repeated by the addressed station (may be followed by "Aye", to indicate it is an order being received, not given.)
• The station adressed reports when the order has been completed.
• "Very well", or "Aye, aye" is used to confirm receipt of reports.

A couple of questions quickly come up on how to translate real world procedures to Wolfpack the game. Firstly, how should each person be addressed? There are five player slots in each submarine, each with the name of a particular role, but in practice these roles can be fluid, with different persons operating the various stations. To meet these challenges, I propose the following:

• Each person is adressed by the name of their current station. Persons who have multiple roles, or switch roles, use the callsign of the station they are currently operating. For example, the person in the "Radio" slot (or anyone else operating that equipment) uses the callsign "Radio" when communicating about radio messages, and "Sonar" (shorter than "hydrophones") when communicating about use of the hydrophones.
  
  
• A related issue is that there is often confusion about who is in command of the boat. It should always be clear who is in charge of giving orders for the boat's maneuvers. As this might not be the person nominally in the Captain slot, it's useful to be able to always address the person currently in command consistently. This person can be called the "conning officer", or "conn" for short. Ideally, the person in the Captain slot should be the actual captain, and only he should be addressed as captain. However, if he sees fit or needs to (going AFK or leaving the game, for example.) he can "give the conn" to someone else as follows:
  
  Captain, or current conning officer: [station or name*], take the conn." or "[station or name], you may have the conn."
  The designated conning officer confirms this with "I have the conn.". The Captain can take the conn back by saying, "This is the captain. I have the conn."
  
  *Not sure what is best to use here.
  
  

The callsigns should be short and easy to say. With the above in mind, I propose the following callsigns:

• Captain: "Conn" (unless the conn has been transferred to someone else, in case he should be adressed as "Captain".)
  
• Navigator: "Navigation"
  
• Helmsman: "Helm"
  
• Radioman: "Radio"/"Sonar" (or "Hydro(phones)")
  
• Dive officer: "Dive"

A few examples:

Ordering a course change:

Captain/conning officer: "Helm, conn. Make course 380 (three eight zero)."

Helmsman: "Conn, helm. Make course 380, aye".

...

Helmsman: "Conn, helm. Course is 380." or "Conn, helm. Steady course."

Captain/conning officer: "(Helm, conn.) Very well.", or "Aye, aye".


Ordering a depth change:

Captain/conning officer: "Dive, conn. Make depth 50 [fifty, or five zero] meters."

Dive officer: "Conn, dive. Make depth 50 meters, aye." or "Make depth 50 meters, dive aye."

...

Dive officer: "Conn, dive. Depth is 50 meters and holding."

Captain/conning officer: "Very well."


Passing the conn:

Captain: "Helm, take the conn."

Helm: "This is helm, I have the conn."

(From now, the helmsman uses the callsign "Conn.")

(The Conn could now order someone else to take up the Helm position, who would then use that callsign, and so on.)