[REL] Open Horizons II

[gap]

Originally Posted by Trevally.

That red line is very long. I wonder how long that will take

The red line is about 12,300 nm long. Sailing at constant speed of 7.5 Kn, to travel from Lorient to Penang without stops or diversions would take about 70 days of navigation!

Im currently taking into account these times (multiplied by a 1.5 factor) in order to finetune objectives timing. Including the time needed for accomplishing at least one of the two side missions, the first objective should take up to a maximum of 5 months. Of course players can decide to accept (or not to accept at all) only one secondary mission. In this case they will get extra time for carrying out the next objectives.

Another factor to be taken into consideration is fuel consumption. A speed of 7.5 Kn should give us an autonomy of about 9,000 nm. So, if during the passage we manage to succesfully refuel when expected (i.e. twice, according to historical datas), fuel shouldn't be a big issue. Of course accidents should be around the corner, and things could get more complicated than expected.

Finally, given the time limits between the two campaigns "Distant Waters" and "The Final Years", and the long time spent during oceanic passages, we will be short on time for the whole duration of Monsun Campaign. Time will be a key factor, and both accidents and player's decisions will have a big effect on how the campaign will evolve.
Corollary of the former statement is that, though being theoretically possible, to accomplish all of the side missions offered by BdU during the campaign should be a task for experienced captains with their luck on turn!

Originally Posted by Trevally.

I hope my crew don't start asking "are we there yet - are we there yet"

The usual defeatists... send them all to Court-martial!

Originally Posted by quink99

gap, What is that neat looking program that you used to plot the various Monsun routes on the globe?

Tahnks, Quink

Easy answer: it is Google Earth.
Indeed a very neat and useful program in our profession of U-boat Kaulens and, the icing on the cake, it is completely for free!

[gap]

Originally Posted by LemonA

Cape Verde/mid Africa to milk cow/south of Madagaskar are ca. 1 month (25 days) travel time at a speed of 9 ktn.
5323nm distance

yep, in my calculations ca. 5,800 nm (I had to plot a slighly longer course, for avoiding enemy coasts) and 32 days of navigation at a SH5 fuel efficient speed of 7.5 knt.

[gap]

Originally Posted by volodya61

Hi Trevally!

I must give you some information received from my comrades from Sukhoi, just for reference..
Our comrade Nosulia (her name is Alex or Sasha (as she likes)) made this archive to KSDII-team (SHIII modmakers from Russia)..
And she has kindly agreed to provide it to you for a better solution convoys problem..
It's the actual information on convoys passing in the 43-45 years from all over the world (maybe I'm wrong)

PS: Sorry for my English again, but I think it might come in handy to you

archive - http://www.gamefront.com/files/21669...s+1939-1945.7z

doc.-files in Russian (sorry, we can translate it for you, if Google is not help)

A woman playing SH5?
Please thank her for the very good information she is sharing with us!

[quink99]

Originally Posted by gap

The usual defeatists... send them all to Court-martial!

Easy answer: it is Google Earth.
Indeed a very neat and useful program in our profession of U-boat Kaulens and, the icing on the cake, it is completely for free!

Better yet, to the Russian Front!

.........and thanks for the GOOGLE Earth tip.

[Stuka1000]

Installed open horizons 1.8 full last after my other mods using JSGME but when starting a new campaign I only get the option of total germany, what am I doing wrong?

Same result if I install open horizons on it's own, still no option of the coastal waters campaign

[gap]

Originally Posted by quink99

Better yet, to the Russian Front!

Originally Posted by quink99

.........and thanks for the GOOGLE Earth tip.

you're welcome

[Trevally.]

Originally Posted by volodya61

Hi Trevally!

I must give you some information received from my comrades from Sukhoi, just for reference..
Our comrade Nosulia (her name is Alex or Sasha (as she likes)) made this archive to KSDII-team (SHIII modmakers from Russia)..
And she has kindly agreed to provide it to you for a better solution convoys problem..
It's the actual information on convoys passing in the 43-45 years from all over the world (maybe I'm wrong)

PS: Sorry for my English again, but I think it might come in handy to you

archive - http://www.gamefront.com/files/21669...s+1939-1945.7z

doc.-files in Russian (sorry, we can translate it for you, if Google is not help)

Thanks Volodya and Sasha - I shall look at this

[Trevally.]

Originally Posted by gap

The red line is about 12,300 nm long. Sailing at constant speed of 7.5 Kn, to travel from Lorient to Penang without stops or diversions would take about 70 days of navigation!

Im currently taking into account these times (multiplied by a 1.5 factor) in order to finetune objectives timing. Including the time needed for accomplishing at least one of the two side missions, the first objective should take up to a maximum of 5 months. Of course players can decide to accept (or not to accept at all) only one secondary mission. In this case they will get extra time for carrying out the next objectives.

Another factor to be taken into consideration is fuel consumption. A speed of 7.5 Kn should give us an autonomy of about 9,000 nm. So, if during the passage we manage to succesfully refuel when expected (i.e. twice, according to historical datas), fuel shouldn't be a big issue. Of course accidents should be around the corner, and things could get more complicated than expected.

Thanks Gap

For refueling - I can set the milkcows in two ways. First is by campaign layer (with threat zone) and the second in by mission trigger.

With mission trigger it could be set to force a new refueling point if the first refuel fails

[bigboywooly]

Originally Posted by volodya61

It's the actual information on convoys passing in the 43-45 years from all over the world (maybe I'm wrong)

Quite a comprehensive list for transatlantic and Northern convoys
However doesnt cover the whole globe

I guess Trevally has many bookmarks regarding convoys
Two I used a lot

http://www.warsailors.com/freefleet/index.html

http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ with this section - http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ports/in...ome.htm~armain providing invaluable information for lesser known convoy routes

Lists all convoy prefixes - and start/end points

http://www.shipwreckregistry.com//index4.htm

For warship movements

http://www.naval-history.net/index.htm

on which this section

http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-3900Intro.htm

provides day to day entries for movements of all British warships in depth till 42 and then not so till 45 as well as movements of allied warships.

Another great site

http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/chronik.htm

[Trevally.]

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

Another great site

http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/chronik.htm

I did not have that one

[gap]

Originally Posted by Trevally.

Thanks Gap

For refueling - I can set the milkcows in two ways. First is by campaign layer (with threat zone) and the second in by mission trigger.

With mission trigger it could be set to force a new refueling point if the first refuel fails

Thank you Trevally, in my proposal that's exactly the way refuellings were planned! If you look at the globe I've posted yesterday, refuelling points are grouped in two groups. For each group, the first pinpointed position is the approximate location for primary rendezvous, while the other one is for second chances, in case something goes wrong with the first appointment. Though I've few questions for you:

- Refuelling units should spawn several days before the estimated date of rendezvous; on unit spawning, we should be informed by BdU about dates and area within wich refuelling will be available. In addition, after appointments deadline, milkcows should despawn. In the meanwhile they should be sailing around the given area, being suscettible to enemy attacks. In case they get sunk, or if we are late on the appointment, would it be possible to get informed by BdU on the new refuelling coordinates, possibly with a delay of a few hours from the sinking/despawning of the unit previously assigned to our refuelling?

- sixtyfour thousand dollar question:
would it be possible to set a surface ship as refuelling unit? Refuelling in Indian Ocean was commonly provided by two German tankers: MV Brake and MV Charlotte Schliemann.

- one hundred twentyeight thousand dollar question:
would it be possible to set our U-boat as refuelling unit for other U-boats, or to be allowed to rescue survivors? Those were frequent tasks for common U-boats in Indian Ocean.

- at the beginning of a patrol, would it be possible to give our current base limited fuel/torpedoes? After sailling, our base would be moved to another port, that we would have to visit for resupplying our U-boat before keeping on with other tasks. I think you understand why I am asking so...

[Trevally.]

Originally Posted by gap

- Refuelling units should spawn several days before the estimated date of rendezvous; on unit spawning, we should be informed by BdU about dates and area within wich refuelling will be available.

Yes - this is ok, but dates are bad triggers for things like this.
There is a date bug that stops its use.
I can use zone triggers where distance away can spawn anything.
This could be set far enough away to give the effect you are after

In addition, after appointments deadline, milkcows should despawn.

This as above can not be done with dates - It can be done in the form of a hidden mission objective, setting a time limit and an update to despawn the tanker. (bit tricky that one) Easy to despawn - just have to find the correct trigger.

Triggers can be:

Pass mission
Fail mission
Enter area
Enter area for set time
Enter area for set time and stop timmer if area is left.

In the meanwhile they should be sailing around the given area, being suscettible to enemy attacks. In case they get sunk, or if we are late on the appointment, would it be possible to get informed by BdU on the new refuelling coordinates, possibly with a delay of a few hours from the sinking/despawning of the unit previously assigned to our refuelling?

Yes - this can work.
If mission is to meet tanker and it fails - this can be the trigger

- sixtyfour thousand dollar question:
would it be possible to set a surface ship as refuelling unit? Refuelling in Indian Ocean was commonly provided by two German tankers: MV Brake and MV Charlotte Schliemann.

Yes - I have so far used U-Boat and Tanker (only tested the tanker) but should work for any AI unit

- one hundred twentyeight thousand dollar question:
would it be possible to set our U-boat as refuelling unit for other U-boats, or to be allowed to rescue survivors? Those were frequent tasks for common U-boats in Indian Ocean.

We can supply drop - so yes, this could be to drop the supplies at a stopped AI unit.
Rescue survivors option is there, but I have yet to find a way to make it work.

- at the beginning of a patrol, would it be possible to give our current base limited fuel/torpedoes?

No - I do not thnk so

After sailling, our base would be moved to another port, that we would have to visit for resupplying our U-boat before keeping on with other tasks. I think you understand why I am asking so...

We can set base by date and fully refuel/re-arm at any port

[gap]

Have you ever heard of German Armed Merchant Raiders?

I've just found this website covering the subject:
http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/Maraud...a2GermanA.html

during the the time frame of Monsun Campaign at least one of them, MICHEL, was active in the Indian Ocean:
http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/MaraudersWW2/15Michel.html

[BIGREG]

Salutation
Wow! Trevally won one hundred ninety-two thousand dollars in one shot
I want to play as well

[gap]

Originally Posted by BIGREG

Salutation
Wow! Trevally won one hundred ninety-two thousand dollars in one shot
I want to play as well

I guess someone should pay the bill now!