Wierd AI Behavior

[UnterseeBoogeyMan]

This is February 1940,Western Approaches. Someone tell me if they have seen this and why they think it is.

The convoy is going ENE from Western Approaches to British Isles. I make an early morning attack before sun-up. Nail a Southampton, Large Cargo and a Large Merchant. Survive the hour long depth charging, race ahead to the convoy. Now,they are heading NNE. But this is where it gets bizarre.

I'm setup for an attack at periscope for an attack on the southern flank of the convoy. 10 minutes later, I see ships going due West, some due North, most at top speed. They convoy looks like it's scattering! I thought the game engine didnt support that! In any case, if that's what's going on I think it's way cool! Is this one of the enhancements to GWX3? I didnt read in the manual about this, but if so,good job! I did save 4k from the nearest ship,when surfaced, maybe a bug?

[UnterseeBoogeyMan]

Ok, convoy didnt scatter. Looks like they reformed,headed South East then due South SouthEast. Threw me off when I saw a Large Cargo chugging West at 16 knots. Must have setup an ambush in the middle of a course change.

[onelifecrisis]

Originally Posted by UnterseeBoogeyMan

Nail a Southampton, Large Cargo and a Large Merchant.

Originally Posted by UnterseeBoogeyMan

I'm setup for an attack at periscope for an attack on the southern flank of the convoy. 10 minutes later, I see ships going due West, some due North, most at top speed. They convoy looks like it's scattering! I thought the game engine didnt support that! In any case, if that's what's going on I think it's way cool! Is this one of the enhancements to GWX3?

The convoy is changing course. When they change course they also change formation, so that juicy tanker that used to be in the middle might now be somewhere at the back, for example. In changing formation they tend to go all over the place a bit before they sort themselves out, which is probably quite realistic I guess! I think it's a stock behaviour.

Oops, cross-posted.

[UnterseeBoogeyMan]

That's what it's lookin like, Crisis. And wouldnt you know 2 Ore Carriers conveniently found themselves in range. One blew to pieces,the other on fire.

I imagine there will be another course change due ENE soon. Getting to be daylight.

One more good attack and we can break out the champaign

[Bronzewing]

Once had this happen to me, was lining up on a strange dwarf convoy (one medium merchant and 7 small and coastal types, escorts one Flower class and two trawlers!) heading SSW at 4 knots. Anyhow, just lining up for a shot at the one decent size target in this collection of small fry, drop my scope for a few minutes, put it back up. Ships weaving all over the place, the flower is listing dead in the water having been in colision with a coastal merchant whis is now moving away due west at 2 knots with a fire on deck! and the rest of the convoy has prety near done a 180 and is headed NE towards the Bristol channel! :P
They can't have been attacked as no one's lit up their search lights and the ships that had completed their turns weren't zig-zagging, but steaming calmly away at 4 knots as before.
Oddest convoy I have ever seen....

[BulSoldier]

Now i understand why the last convoy i saw seems to look like random ships in random directions.

[nikbear]

Must admit I've only ever seen them do this as they get closer to there destination,and since its where you are mostly going to be lurking it does look very cool and authentic....
Except when your at PD in the middle of the convoy lining up your shots and they decide to zag instead of zigBeing run over by a tanker is not a good experience,especially being rendered useless by the damage to my turm meant all I could do was slowly slink away back to port with nearly a full compliment of eels