Can't Find the Convoys

[sharkbit]

Late December 1939
I'm on my 4th patrol. The first 2 were in a IIA. I upgraded to a VIIB after my second patrol.
My patrol area on this patrol was north-west of England, where I sank one large freighter travelling alone. After my 24 hours on station, I moved over to about grid AM18 where I sank 4 other ships travelling alone.
I then get a report of a large convoy travelling east at 6 knots. I set up a intercept course, using what I've learned from this forum and used very sucessfully against single ships, and I reach the intercept point about 8 hours later. No convoy shows up. I dive and listen for them-nothing. Pop back up and back track down their projected course-nothing.
I figured they probably changed course. I pick off another single and cruise around the western portion of square AM for a while.

So I get another convoy contact report of a large convoy heading east. This time, I think maybe they will change course to the ESE or SE, so I plot an intercept on that possibility. Same result. I swan about the area looking and listening but still nothing. I manage to find and sink another lone ship however.

I know convoys probably aren't easy to find(if they were, the war would be over very quickly), but I'm on a convoy route and am getting contact reports, but I just cant' find them.

I think one or more of 4 things may be happening:
1.) I'm patrolling at a point where they may be turning from an easterly course to a SE course to port and I may just need to search further west.

2.) The convoys are making a sharp evasive turn immediately after the contact report-maybe picking up the signal and turning. I dont' know if the AI is that smart though.

3.) I'm heading too slow for the intercept point. I need to plot a faster speed for the intercept and try to intercept them sooner.

4.) I'm just screwing up the intercept course. Doubtful though-I use the same process for the single ships and have only missed finding one so far.

I think I may try 1 and 3 and see what happens. I have just under 50% of my fuel left and plenty of torpedoes left to keep looking. I'm still pretty pleased with the results of the patrol so far-6 ships for over 20000 tons(and I saved the game last night on an intercept of another, to be hopefully finished off today after work, however it is pretty stormy and the seas are bad), but I definitely want more and I want a crack at a convoy.

So, does anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks.

[danlisa]

Such was Real Life.
This is (you may not think so) an awesome report from ingame which mirrors the frustrations of the real crews.

Convoys (ingame) do change course fairly frequetly but it's not impossible to plan an intercept. Not having the SH3 map infront of me, I would assume the convoy you reported as being in AM18 was travelling to AM52 and into the Irish Sea. If they were reported as travelling East, they would have either zigged/zagged to a NE or a SE direction, so you weren't far. In that situation, it was probably best to set up an ambush nearer AM52 and wait.

Trial & Error is the only way to learn this.

[Able72]

Good, let us know how it goes. I have a real problem locating convoys and task forces myself. Although a good portion of that could have to do with when in the War it is.

[mcf1]

Hi there Kaleun.
I think something like number 3 or 4 happens
In order to find them here's what I do. When I get a report, I estimate it's heading and draw a straight line on the nav map the direction it's heading and then I plot my course on that line and I follow it, and after a while I find the convoi.

[Brag]

Guessing the probable destination helps, especially for inbound convoys. But the surest bet is to intercept the convoy ASAP.

Keep in mind, convoys tend to change course at sunrise and sunset.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Brag

Guessing the probable destination helps, especially for inbound convoys. But the surest bet is to intercept the convoy ASAP.

Keep in mind, convoys tend to change course at sunrise and sunset.

Do they do that in game

[KeptinCranky]

Dunno Jim, not that I'm aware of, I HAVE however found out that intercepting a convoy at 50 or 100 km from it's initial contact report tends to give bad results, trying for 60km or 110 works better...

They tend to zig or zag every 50km or so... it's not set in stone yet but I've noticed that trend....

[Tessa]

Originally Posted by KeptinCranky

Dunno Jim, not that I'm aware of, I HAVE however found out that intercepting a convoy at 50 or 100 km from it's initial contact report tends to give bad results, trying for 60km or 110 works better...

They tend to zig or zag every 50km or so... it's not set in stone yet but I've noticed that trend....

Also need to keep in mind your initial position relative to the convoy. Generally if they're 8 hours away or more you'll burn too much fuel in order to intercept them, let alone get ahead of them. If you look at the map there's a few major intersection points of several convoy routes that you can just cruise around wait for an inbound one to finally show up. Other way is to travel the route backwards slowly and hope that it is in front of you.

Chasing after a convoy is tough and usually burns a lot of fuel; though tougher its ideal to be in front of the convoy when its reported which gives you plenty of time to plot out its probable course and lie in wait. Convoys do zigzag, but pay close attention to the map, its your best tool as most convoy routes are not linear.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by KeptinCranky

Dunno Jim, not that I'm aware of, I HAVE however found out that intercepting a convoy at 50 or 100 km from it's initial contact report tends to give bad results, trying for 60km or 110 works better...

They tend to zig or zag every 50km or so... it's not set in stone yet but I've noticed that trend....

That's how I understand it too

[Kitzbuell]

Originally Posted by mcf1

Hi there Kaleun.
I think something like number 3 or 4 happens
In order to find them here's what I do. When I get a report, I estimate it's heading and draw a straight line on the nav map the direction it's heading and then I plot my course on that line and I follow it, and after a while I find the convoi.

Yasas, mcf1

My favorite vacation locale when not hunting tommies...

[/IMG]

[flag4]

i have played the sea's for 4 years now and i have never encountered a convoy except in single missions.

i have seen them though, travelling along on the nav map hundreds of miles away from my position...

i have recieved messages as to where they are, but im too far away....

i have never lost heart, let them be i say, for when i am ready, they will come to me.