GWX Team - convoy screen thoughts

MarkShot · 03-13-08, 01:45 PM

Dear GWX Team,

As always, thanks for your wonderful mod.

I don't know how much control modders have over the convoy screen formation and the screen's behavior.

An now my feedback ...

It is my impression that the convoy defense is too heavily weighted to the flanks and rear.

I can consistently slip by the screen at 25M when that screen contains 6-9 escorts. Typically, there will be two escorts positioned forward. However, one of two will be considerably more forward than the other.

Generally, screens are not that hard to penetrated if you have an accurate course for the convoy and then can key in on the single most forward escort. You side step that escort with three key techniques:

(1) Silent running at 1-2kts.

(2) Time (you arrive way in advance ... thus, despite your low speed) the long lead distance gives you time to position.

(3) Depth. At 25M you have enough slack to drift upwards while making 1kts.

Once you clear that single escort, the convoy is open to you.

Okay, how could this approach be made harder:

(1) More escorts leading.

(2) More forward area in front of the covered by escort motion.

(3) Randomness in escort searching as opposed to predictable swings back and forth.

Now, I am not sure that anything can be tweaked, but for #1. However, I would think #1 might be promising. I would assume that the convoy's greatest vulnerability submerged is from the front. Your sub is constrained on close approach to only 1-2kts. There is limited opportunity to thrust in from the flanks; and none from the rear. Even if a flank attack is feasible, it requires much more skill than a forward attack. Why? The forward attack is highly passive based on letting the convoy come to you. The flank attack requires substantial repositioning of your U-boat both in a relative and absolute sense.

So, I would tend to think that the convoy would put up a strongest defense if 50% of the escorts were allocated to sweep ahead of the convoy. Of course, this configuration might not be historic, but I think it would increase the challenge of attacking GWX convoys.

The vulnerability I see to such approach is the pop-up attack. I have heard that despite moving very slowly and deep that the u-boat can blow ballast and rise rapidly to attack without alerting the escorts. I personally have not used this technique. A less uniform screen might make this style of attack easier.

Comments?

03-13-08, 01:45 PM	#1
MarkShot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,134 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	GWX Team - convoy screen thoughts Dear GWX Team, As always, thanks for your wonderful mod. I don't know how much control modders have over the convoy screen formation and the screen's behavior. An now my feedback ... It is my impression that the convoy defense is too heavily weighted to the flanks and rear. I can consistently slip by the screen at 25M when that screen contains 6-9 escorts. Typically, there will be two escorts positioned forward. However, one of two will be considerably more forward than the other. Generally, screens are not that hard to penetrated if you have an accurate course for the convoy and then can key in on the single most forward escort. You side step that escort with three key techniques: (1) Silent running at 1-2kts. (2) Time (you arrive way in advance ... thus, despite your low speed) the long lead distance gives you time to position. (3) Depth. At 25M you have enough slack to drift upwards while making 1kts. Once you clear that single escort, the convoy is open to you. Okay, how could this approach be made harder: (1) More escorts leading. (2) More forward area in front of the covered by escort motion. (3) Randomness in escort searching as opposed to predictable swings back and forth. Now, I am not sure that anything can be tweaked, but for #1. However, I would think #1 might be promising. I would assume that the convoy's greatest vulnerability submerged is from the front. Your sub is constrained on close approach to only 1-2kts. There is limited opportunity to thrust in from the flanks; and none from the rear. Even if a flank attack is feasible, it requires much more skill than a forward attack. Why? The forward attack is highly passive based on letting the convoy come to you. The flank attack requires substantial repositioning of your U-boat both in a relative and absolute sense. So, I would tend to think that the convoy would put up a strongest defense if 50% of the escorts were allocated to sweep ahead of the convoy. Of course, this configuration might not be historic, but I think it would increase the challenge of attacking GWX convoys. The vulnerability I see to such approach is the pop-up attack. I have heard that despite moving very slowly and deep that the u-boat can blow ballast and rise rapidly to attack without alerting the escorts. I personally have not used this technique. A less uniform screen might make this style of attack easier. Comments? __________________ War games, not wars! --- Only a small few profit from war (that should not stand)!