How do I effectively patrol an area?

theglenlivet12 · 03-25-10, 03:27 PM

I restarted my campaign last night now that I understand how the progression should work. I am now on the second mission where I need to sink 100K tons of cargo, but I generally end up meandering about the sea hoping to get lucky. I have no clue what the game wants you to do when it tells you to patrol an area. Its not described in the manual or the tutorial. If theres a youtube tutorial on this or a written tutorial somewhere or if youd like to add your two cents below, Im all ears. Thanks!

kylania · 03-25-10, 03:59 PM

Do this: M or this: * or this: @ or this: #

Basically there's no right or wrong way to "patrol". I basically do a pattern like this: /\/\/\/\/ across a grid and submerge at each end of a leg to check the hydrophones. If the pattern is large enough I'll submerge in the middle of each leg as well. Other times I'll do a spiral search. If I hear something on the hydrophones I'll move to intercept, if not, surface and continue on. Sometimes if I see a radio contact near me I'll abandon the pattern and move to intercept that.

One "cheaty" thing to help is not upgrading your hydrophone. The GHG one you start work works on the surface, so you'll catch a lot of contacts you'd otherwise miss due to distance or weather. Your call of ease of finding contacts vs realism.

SteamWake · 03-25-10, 04:21 PM

Yes taking a dip for 10 to 20 minutes occassionally might reveal distant contacts you would otherwise miss.

Believe it or not you can hear them alot further than you can see them.

What I do is dip to or below periscope depth, If I pick up a sound contact I will mark it on the map, surface and sail in the general direction of the contact for an hour or so then dip again and make a second mark. With the two marks you can determine course and approximate speed making it easier to intercept them.

Here is a question. If you play without map contacts do the ... uh... sound lines still show up?

theglenlivet12 · 03-25-10, 04:29 PM

I was entertaining the idea of submerging near a trade lane and camping there until Im told to go elsewhere. I suppose that would work too.

But, to complete the patrol mission you basically have to search around the marked area until they tell you to go somewhere else or come home?

kylania · 03-25-10, 05:06 PM

Yeah, it's like 72 hours 'in the area', the area being 70km or 200km in the open sea.

alexradu89 · 03-25-10, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Believe it or not you can hear them alot further than you can see them.

I did not know that!

03-25-10, 03:27 PM	#1
theglenlivet12 Mate Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 54 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	How do I effectively patrol an area? I restarted my campaign last night now that I understand how the progression should work. I am now on the second mission where I need to sink 100K tons of cargo, but I generally end up meandering about the sea hoping to get lucky. I have no clue what the game wants you to do when it tells you to patrol an area. Its not described in the manual or the tutorial. If theres a youtube tutorial on this or a written tutorial somewhere or if youd like to add your two cents below, Im all ears. Thanks!

03-25-10, 03:59 PM	#2
kylania Silent Hunter Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,528 Downloads: 118 Uploads: 0	Do this: M or this: * or this: @ or this: # Basically there's no right or wrong way to "patrol". I basically do a pattern like this: /\/\/\/\/ across a grid and submerge at each end of a leg to check the hydrophones. If the pattern is large enough I'll submerge in the middle of each leg as well. Other times I'll do a spiral search. If I hear something on the hydrophones I'll move to intercept, if not, surface and continue on. Sometimes if I see a radio contact near me I'll abandon the pattern and move to intercept that. One "cheaty" thing to help is not upgrading your hydrophone. The GHG one you start work works on the surface, so you'll catch a lot of contacts you'd otherwise miss due to distance or weather. Your call of ease of finding contacts vs realism. __________________

03-25-10, 04:21 PM	#3
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Yes taking a dip for 10 to 20 minutes occassionally might reveal distant contacts you would otherwise miss. Believe it or not you can hear them alot further than you can see them. What I do is dip to or below periscope depth, If I pick up a sound contact I will mark it on the map, surface and sail in the general direction of the contact for an hour or so then dip again and make a second mark. With the two marks you can determine course and approximate speed making it easier to intercept them. Here is a question. If you play without map contacts do the ... uh... sound lines still show up? __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

03-25-10, 05:06 PM	#5
kylania Silent Hunter Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,528 Downloads: 118 Uploads: 0	Yeah, it's like 72 hours 'in the area', the area being 70km or 200km in the open sea. __________________

03-25-10, 04:29 PM	#4
theglenlivet12 Mate Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 54 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	I was entertaining the idea of submerging near a trade lane and camping there until Im told to go elsewhere. I suppose that would work too. But, to complete the patrol mission you basically have to search around the marked area until they tell you to go somewhere else or come home?