Intercepting enemy radio transmits.

[Lt.Fillipidis]

I found this sound file while sniffing around the game files.
RaM_S_Enemy_radio_message_intercepted
So, is it possible to intercept enemy radio messages?

[Mittelwaechter]

Yes and no!

The feature is not completely implemented - you can't receive any transmissions from regular enemy contacts. Whenever you ask your radio operator for any contact reports you'll get a negative answer.

But if you manage to sink a freighter in shallow waters and some parts of it stay surfaced you'll get a positive transmission report from this freighter.
The radio operator tells you direction and estimated range of radio source.

We learned the map contacts are reports of axis allied units locating an enemy.
The half sunken freighters appear on the map too and they stay active as long as you are in range.

There seem to be a 'hidden' trigger for 'under attack/damage/help/SSS' transmissions the modders didn't find. The trigger may be calibrated to a wrong setting as it starts to work after the freighter is half sunk.

[Sag75]

Hi, I tried it with a test mission, sinking a large tanker in 16-17m of water.

but it didn't work to me !

can you provide me more conditions? Must the half sunk ship be "alive" ?

Thx!

[Mittelwaechter]

The freighters are listed in my report as sunken, but they still show parts of the ship above the watersurface.



"Next radio contact bearing 80 - distance 14 km!"



"Next radio contact bearing 001 - distance 2 km!"

It's a very dark screenshot but I couldn't find a better one right now.
I only modified the contrast to make it visible.

[Sag75]

Thanks, I did it in that way the first time! I sank the tanker, she hit the bottom and was half visible.. but nothing..

Edit:
It doesn't work for me! I tried also to change the language in german as your screens.. no way.

Could be linked to the kind of ship ?

[MezzA205]

hi all im new to these forums just wanna add my comments to this, i've recently upgraded to vista 64bit.. so i had to get GWX gold.

i've noticed a big change to the game including messages from my radio man(1939)
that distress calls from frighters i assume that have been sunk by other u-boats heres an example.

SS Boatname
sinking need asistance at 54.18N 00.37E

and this is new to me so im trying to figure out where this is.. in the hope that another ship will come along to rescue (so i can sink them).
also i have noticed that as i surface upon sinking something in shallow waters my stealth boat icon turns red like in the above ScreenShot
its resting on the bottom so....
i think that the enemy ship thats resting on the bottom but is 'Active' may radio for assistance be it rescue warship or maybe air cover.
i'm still new to the GWX mod so my comments maybe well off the mark
but im enjoying the mod i noticed that ur U51. im U52

[Mittelwaechter]

@ Sag75

It happens with different ships! I prefer to hunt under the british east coast this time in war. Between Hull and Hartlepool in the little triangle quadrant close to the coastline.
There are plenty of convois travelling from north to south and vice versa.

I remember an ore carrier showing only the bow out of the water but sending signals.


@ MezzA205

The radio chatter added by GWX is for atmospheric immersion. You don't find the correct coordinates and there is no ship sinking. Sorry mate!

The half sunk ships do call for help and british DDs and aircrafts do appear - as german Ju 88s - hehe...

[Sag75]

ok! thanks for your clarification,

so, last question of mine.. in your opinion, is the "secret" inside particular ship's files?

[Mittelwaechter]

I guess it is a general behaviour - maybe hardcoded.
It's probably not in the ships files. Maybe it works only in range of air- and naval bases?

All I can assume is the trigger is not working properly. I didn't investigate when the radio signals start. I guess after the ship being stated sunk but still showing some parts above the waterline. The trigger should start after being hit - not being sunk. This would make sense as damaged ships (by aircraft maybe) would call for help and the player would get the chance to finish the job.

I stumbled upon the whole thing after running for an obviously static map contact just to find my yesterday bait still visible. After leaving the scene again I asked my operator for any radio contacts and he reported the half sunken ship again with correct bearing and range.

[Sag75]

thanks, I added some air bases and a naval base in my test scenario. I sank different ships put there as targets. Unluckly I didn't get any message again.. but RAF went to hunt for me!! So.. probably the SOS started, but I haven't got it? I was surfaced, anyway.

I don't think it's related to language used.. (I use english)

[Mittelwaechter]

Hhm?

Allied wachdogs show up everytime I sink a ship off the british coastline.
They show up after damaging a ship too. The trigger "send units" works without doubt. Already patroling units appear to investigate.

But the receivable radio transmissions seem to start only after the ship has been sunk. If it really sinks the trigger seems to be switched off.

Do you ask actively for contact reports? Did you try to run a career mission to reproduce the event? Maybe it doesn't work in setup single player missions?