BDU Control Centre

[ExFishermanBob]

I have searched here and via the web but can find no mention of something like a BDU control centre (messaging, Commander-management, etc). How are BDU's doing this for flotillas? (I've asked directly in the LoneWolf forum as well).

[rowi58]

Hi,

i've something for you. BdU Admiral Dönitz HQ was (after the surrender of France) in Lorient - Kernevel. Watch this small video and you wil get some nice impressions.





And search in google for "Maison de sardines". You will find many informations.
Greetings
rowi58

[ExFishermanBob]

Ah, thank you for that. Most interesting: you post has prompted me to look into the real-life methods that BDU used (I had not thought of that).

My original was not clear, really:
For those playing SH3 and acting as BDU for flotillas, how are you doing it? Via spreadsheets, pen and paper, solely through the forum? And so on...

I'm currently writing a quick tool for Kapitans to be able to generate messages in a standard format for submission to BDU (via forum posts) as I'm getting fed up with cut and paste and this led me to wonder about the other end of the process.

[areo16]

Originally Posted by ExFishermanBob

Ah, thank you for that. Most interesting: you post has prompted me to look into the real-life methods that BDU used (I had not thought of that).

My original was not clear, really:
For those playing SH3 and acting as BDU for flotillas, how are you doing it? Via spreadsheets, pen and paper, solely through the forum? And so on...

I'm currently writing a quick tool for Kapitans to be able to generate messages in a standard format for submission to BDU (via forum posts) as I'm getting fed up with cut and paste and this led me to wonder about the other end of the process.

You are writing a program to create a Kapitans message to BdU, so you can post that message here in the forums?

Interesting...

I can't wait to see your progress. Keep us posted. What format of message are you using? Background, etc.. Are you looking at historical sources?

[ExFishermanBob]

I'm currently submitting reports like the following, by cutting and pasting from either one of the example formats or from one of my previous messages. I then have to carefully hack and slash with the changes (naturally leading to errors). KTBs are longer of course.

=====
09 December 1939 1256 hrs
To: BDU Command
From: U55 / Leutnant z. S. Christian Möhlen
Enemy Vessel Contact Report
Position: AM3694
Fuel: 85%; Torps 8 T1 G7a; Ammo 20mm AP 1000 shells, 88mm HE 156 Shells
Weather: Clear, no precipitation, visibility moderate
Wind: 12 meters per second from direction 276


Comments:
1. Intelligence reported vessel 09 December 1939 0954 hrs AM3828 course NE speed Medium.
2. Changed course and speed to intercept within AM36
3. Encountered vessel at AM3694 1201 hrs
4. Fired 3 torpedoes. First and third detonated prematurely. Weather too rough to determine fate of second torpedo.
5. Dove to 40 m to reload.
6. Lost contact with vessel during torpedo reload.
7 Returned to previous search course.

Supplemental:
08 December 1939 1542 hrs intelligence report contact at AM3692 course NE speed Medium. Changed course to intercept.
1824 hrs AM3666 unable to approach due to weather conditions (stern chase). Returned to previous search course.

Signed
Leutnant z. S. Christian Möhlen
=====
There are Routine patrol reports, Enemy vessel sunk reports, contact reports for single shipping, convoy contact, etc.

I've been looking at the historical ones, but any pointers would be welcomed. R/L BdU might have wanted more or less information than an SH3 BdU Chief of course.

My current intention is a small program with the various report formats available, which prompts for the information and then creates (or copies to the clipboard) the text required that can be pasted on a forum, along with (possibly) placing the message in the in-game logs.

An additional tool will be to take a copied text from a forum message from BdU and convert it to SH3 Radio-log format, placing it in the relevant file (messages_en.txt). I've tested this by hand: current issue is that there is a limited space (like SMS) for display in-game of any radio text. I will have to split longer messages into 1/2, 2/2 etc. I have yet to discover a method for prompting SH3 to re-read the messages.txt file.
(In fact I discussed this with areo16:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210479
back in 2014. I have been experimenting at triggering since but to no avail)

Following that, I am looking at automating the messages (via, say, a Jabber server) between a Kapitan and the BdU, with the relevant messges from BdU also appearing in-game (via messages_en/de/fr.txt) with the correct date, etc.

Edit: Also, traffic to and from BdU and other UBoat players in the same flotilla, on the appropriate dates, of course (and if at radio reception depth!)

[ExFishermanBob]

There is an SH4 report generator:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...22&postcount=1

[GT182]

BL!TZ, if there is one for SH3 I'd like to see it. I've searched all thru the SH3 mods here and didn't see one. Do you know if there's one out there on the world wide web, or one I missed in the SubSim Downloads for SH3?

[ExFishermanBob]

Edit: ignore that - see below

[ExFishermanBob]

Ah - I didn't see you post him a reply with that. I've edited my post.