Radio Command Question

[foster]

Noob here. I need some help with radio commands. I searched the forum and saw it stated several times that you needed to have eyes on at least three hostile ships to use the "report contact" command to call in air support.

However, I disabled a C-2 using my last torpedo in either BF-13/15 or thereabouts. Since the weather was too rough for gunnery I called in a contact report and not long after 2 German planes bombed the disabled C-2 (missing badly). So is the three boat minimum for calling in air support by contact report false or did I just witness an incredible fluke? Also do you receive any renown if a German pilot sinks a boat you sent a contact report on?

My second question is to the nature of the patrol report? Does it serve any function at all? Do you need to phone home to HQ every once in a while so they know what area you are in or will they provide periodic ship contacts regardless?

Thanks,
Red Casey