Tracking contacts at night?

Sigurd · 01-17-08, 03:58 PM

So I decided to give Manual Targeting a go after downloading OLC's GUI. When I was out patrolling, I saw a merchant ship out in the distance, but because it was so dark, I found it hard to calculate its range and AOB. Because of this, I had to stay out of visual range for about 2 or 3 hours until the sun came up.

Is there a better way? Such as just using the map tools to calculate everything? Or is it really best to gather data during the day, then attack at night?

Puster Bill · 01-17-08, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigurd

So I decided to give Manual Targeting a go after downloading OLC's GUI. When I was out patrolling, I saw a merchant ship out in the distance, but because it was so dark, I found it hard to calculate its range and AOB. Because of this, I had to stay out of visual range for about 2 or 3 hours until the sun came up.

Is there a better way? Such as just using the map tools to calculate everything? Or is it really best to gather data during the day, then attack at night?

Want to know what I do?

I ask the watch officer for the nearest contact. It's his job to do that.

Obviously that assumes you are surfaced.

Also, at night you can get pretty close without being spotted, provided you keep a narrow profile and don't go to fast.

Sigurd · 01-17-08, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puster Bill

Want to know what I do?

I ask the watch officer for the nearest contact. It's his job to do that.

Obviously that assumes you are surfaced.

Also, at night you can get pretty close without being spotted, provided you keep a narrow profile and don't go to fast.

Forgot about the damn watch officer.

In any case, it doesnt really help with the AoB (provided I cant get into a 90 degree intercept), as I still cant see the ship well enough to measure it.

BulSoldier · 01-17-08, 04:07 PM

In darker nights you can get really very close to the ships without beeing noticed even surfaced.Ive been 2km from the nearest convoy lane and havent been spoted till the aals began exploading.

For lone travelers you can attack in daylight.They arent that dangerous especilly if you are below the surface.

MY GOD WHAT IS THAT PICTURE !?!

Sigurd · 01-17-08, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulSoldier

In darker nights you can get really very close to the ships without beeing noticed even surfaced.Ive been 2km from the nearest convoy lane and havent been spoted till the aals began exploading.

For lone travelers you can attack in daylight.They arent that dangerous especilly if you are below the surface.

My problem isnt getting close, its being able to notice the ship clearly at night. The ship I was looking at blended into the sky, and even though I was able to get the range, I couldnt get the AOB using the Range/AOB finder because I couldnt see where the ship ended on the tick marks that are used in the calculation.

Abd_von_Mumit · 01-17-08, 04:49 PM

I don't know if my method would be historically correct, but in such a situation I'd just use "Wazoo's 3.15 minutes" method - tracking the ship for a period of time, plotting it's course on the map, getting the speed after 2 or more observations and then going to proper intercept course.

Heibges · 01-17-08, 06:34 PM

I moderate visibilty you should be able to get within 1200m of a target before being visually spotted at night.

Of course in 400m visibility you are pretty much buggered.

joegrundman · 01-17-08, 07:15 PM

Night time is different. The U-jagd tools, especially the AOB finder, are primarily for daytime attack.

At night, as already stated, use the watch officer, perform an overhaul maneuver and get really close.

High Voltage · 01-17-08, 11:27 PM

Okay, so on a related note, what is the closest you'll get for a nighttime surfaced attack on a) a convoy, and b) a single vessel?

Abd_von_Mumit · 01-18-08, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by High Voltage

Okay, so on a related note, what is the closest you'll get for a nighttime surfaced attack on a) a convoy, and b) a single vessel?

It really depends on weather, your stealth (speed, depth, RPMs) and the period of the war. I've successfully deployed convoy attacks surfaced, at night, in the MIDDLE of convoys, but other times I've also been detected before I even saw a merchant ship. So there is not a firm rule for that.

01-17-08, 03:58 PM	#1
Sigurd Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 140 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Tracking contacts at night? So I decided to give Manual Targeting a go after downloading OLC's GUI. When I was out patrolling, I saw a merchant ship out in the distance, but because it was so dark, I found it hard to calculate its range and AOB. Because of this, I had to stay out of visual range for about 2 or 3 hours until the sun came up. Is there a better way? Such as just using the map tools to calculate everything? Or is it really best to gather data during the day, then attack at night? __________________ GWX 2.0 w/ OLC GUI 1.2.3 for GWX 2.0 DiD, 79% realism (by the OLC GUI standards). Currently taking a break from the Atlantic to hone my flight-sim skills

01-17-08, 04:07 PM	#4
BulSoldier Samurai Navy Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Burgas/Bulgaria Posts: 550 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	In darker nights you can get really very close to the ships without beeing noticed even surfaced.Ive been 2km from the nearest convoy lane and havent been spoted till the aals began exploading. For lone travelers you can attack in daylight.They arent that dangerous especilly if you are below the surface. MY GOD WHAT IS THAT PICTURE !?! __________________ By the hour !

01-17-08, 04:49 PM	#6
Abd_von_Mumit The Old Man Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warszawa, Polska Posts: 1,453 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 4	I don't know if my method would be historically correct, but in such a situation I'd just use "Wazoo's 3.15 minutes" method - tracking the ship for a period of time, plotting it's course on the map, getting the speed after 2 or more observations and then going to proper intercept course. __________________ Long, hard, wet and full of seamen. My precious. SH3+GWX+OLC — sunk x4, retired x2; SH5+TDW — still exploring My SH5 mods: EQuaTool - Elite Quality Map Tools, Patrol Routine Scripts, No Logo Intro Menu_Animation, Less Annoying Stopwatch Links: SH5 mods I use, FileFront, Manual plotting how-to

01-17-08, 06:34 PM	#7
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I moderate visibilty you should be able to get within 1200m of a target before being visually spotted at night. Of course in 400m visibility you are pretty much buggered. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

01-17-08, 07:15 PM	#8
joegrundman Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,689 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	Night time is different. The U-jagd tools, especially the AOB finder, are primarily for daytime attack. At night, as already stated, use the watch officer, perform an overhaul maneuver and get really close. __________________ "Enemy submarines are to be called U-Boats. The term submarine is to be reserved for Allied under water vessels. U-Boats are those dastardly villains who sink our ships, while submarines are those gallant and noble craft which sink theirs." Winston Churchill

01-17-08, 11:27 PM	#9
High Voltage Chief Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: U-33. Depth Charges...sinking.. Posts: 325 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Okay, so on a related note, what is the closest you'll get for a nighttime surfaced attack on a) a convoy, and b) a single vessel? __________________ The new-moon night is black as ink. Off Hatteras the tankers sink. While sadly Roosevelt counts the score-- Some fifty thousand tons--by MOHR