Convoy scripts

[ralphnader23]

I know from reading on the forums that convoys are scripted to have starting and ending points. I was playing last night and was stalking a convoy near Gibraltar, having made one attack which sunk a large merchant. I had lined up a couple more times, only to have the convoy change directions when they were 8-10 km from my position.

I was setting up for another attack, when they turned again. However an unlucky frigate had swung out pretty far from the convoy, and decided to go in front of me at about 500m. I couldn't resist the opportunity, so I fired one torpedo and sank him, and dived before the other escorts could get close. I had been evading for a little bit, when the escorts above me, and the entire convoy vanished off sonar. I surfaced after doing a periscope peak, and drove around some, but the convoy was nowhere to be found. Obviously the convoy must have reached the end of their scripted path and disappeared. I was just surprised because we were still 430km from Gibraltar. I had guessed that I would be able to pursue the convoy for a couple hundred more km before it was gone.

Do convoys always disappear that far from port? Are the "high traffic areas" on the convoy route map on the navigation screen the starting and ending point for convoys? Do they start and end on the edges of these "high traffic areas" or do most convoys go further in?

[Jimbuna]

I can't answer your question definitevely because I would need to know the exact time, date and location before I'd be able to adequately interrogate the campaign layer.....convoys usually get much nearer to their destinations before deleting at their final waypoint though

[K-61]

This warrants some more investigation. I've lost contact with convoys after being held under for some time but have never seen one disappear, as I do not venture that closely to convoy spawn and despawn points. I don't like taking a U-boat into very shallow waters.

Did their sound fade gradually away or just poof! and then they were gone? I'd be surprised if the convoy had a despawn point that far out at sea. I've also been in that disappointing position where I am submerged and lining up for an attack at dawn, only to see the blighters change course when they are 7000 metres away. Aaaargghh! Mind you, I've also had the opposite happen, when I realized I was out of position and then they magically bring themselves across my tubes.

One player here was recently getting plastered by a convoy's escorts as he had followed it nearly into port. The convoy reached its termination point and everything disappeared at once. Last night I sank a troop transport from a convoy only to have a CTD while I was evading. It really sucks when that happens.

Once, while shadowing a convoy in The South Atlantic, after many hours, it made a u-turn, and began heading in a northward direction.
I went from chasing it south, to overshooting it, and eventualy chasing it north.

[Obersteuermann]

Originally Posted by Snestorm

Once, while shadowing a convoy in The South Atlantic, after many hours, it made a u-turn, and began heading in a northward direction.
I went from chasing it south, to overshooting it, and eventualy chasing it north.

I've had similar things to that happen more than once too. Did convoys actually make huge course changes in real life?

[Tessa]

How close were you to Gibraltor (the actual port)? Have had that happen to me too but was much closer to the destination point, too bad they don't turn into the harbor like warships do when they enter one.

Originally Posted by Tessa

How close were you to Gibraltor (the actual port)? Have had that happen to me too but was much closer to the destination point, too bad they don't turn into the harbor like warships do when they enter one.

In real life they usualy anchor outside the actual port.
The port and docking facilities aren't capable of handling that large volume of shipping at one time.

[ralphnader23]

First of all, sorry to dig up a dead thread, but it's been a busy week, and I hadn't had time to load up GWX for a few days.

Here's the story

The second numbers may not be 100% accurate, cause I'm not 100% sure I'm going the griding right

Convoy encountered in CG76 - 89
Bearing 120 degrees (with 0 as north)
Continued for 185 km

*Large Merchant Sunk!

Convoy turns to new bearing 65 degrees
Continued for 72.5 km

Conovy turns to new bearing 130 degrees
Continued for 45km

Convoy turns to 70 degress in CG88 - 55
I am 8 km away from it's previous course when it turns

* A&B destroyer sunk!

Convoy continues for 12.5 km at 70 degrees and then vanishes with no trace, including the escort that was within 2 km of me

Feb 23, 1941 sometime between 5-9 local time

Distance from Gibraltar to vanish point by the ruler - 518 km

[Jimbuna]

If your location details and co-ordinates are correct it would appear that the MKF44 Convoy has discovered the Gibraltar Triangle.