Reading Flags

trongey · 01-08-08, 01:13 PM

Is it just me (and my R/G colorblindness) or does everyone else have a terrible time telling what kind of flag a target is flying? I have to be almost close enough to board before I can read the flag. Kinda ruins the attack when I have to back up to get out to arming range for the torpedo. Am I missing some tool, or trick?

Tony

Tool · 01-08-08, 02:13 PM

External view is what i use.. might be cheating, but in real life you could see much better than the optics on the PC can.

Tool.

melnibonian · 01-08-08, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trongey

Is it just me (and my R/G colorblindness) or does everyone else have a terrible time telling what kind of flag a target is flying? I have to be almost close enough to board before I can read the flag. Kinda ruins the attack when I have to back up to get out to arming range for the torpedo. Am I missing some tool, or trick?

Tony

Usually I check with the UZO or the binoculars on the bridge. If I cannot make the flag (especially at night and in bad weather conditions) and the ship is not lighted I fire. This is a common problem real U-Boat Captains had during the war. The whole idea is Fire First Ask Questions Later (within reason obviously

)

Abd_von_Mumit · 01-08-08, 03:15 PM

I know I should read the flags, but I also know that darkened ship travelling to/from GB close to the British Islands cannot be neutral or Axis ship.

The problem arises in daylight as no ships are darkened

, but then I usually do my best to read the flag before launching the torpedo. And yes, I find it extremely hard sometimes, but that's nothing strange, as IRL I have that problem too.

dmlavan · 01-08-08, 03:51 PM

Let me echo what Melnibonian said. There have been times during the day when I've seen neutrals traveling w/ their lights on. When you get past December 1941 and the US enters the war, you'll find there are fewer neutrals. As a rule I'll fire at a contact that is not illuminated (in the Atlantic... in the Med there are plenty of Italian/Axis ships). One place to be careful is around the Azores and Canary Islands - you can find a lot of Portuguese and Spanish ships transiting those waters.

BulSoldier · 01-08-08, 03:52 PM

Dont forget the small Irish convoy.I almost cried when i saw their flag when closed enough.

trongey · 01-08-08, 04:07 PM

I guess I'll have to watch for the lights/no lights thing. I've seen plenty of neutrals in the Channel, but never noticed the lights. It's 1939 and most of the ships I saw along the British coast during my last patrol were Norwegian. I thought I saw a Jack on the last one so I sent my final torpedo up his bow - oops . Fortunately, it didn't sink him even though it detonated under his bow. I guess you can shoot a neutral all you want without a renown hit as long as he doesn't sink. I would think in RL the owners of the ship and the supplier of torpedos would both be just a bit miffed about that.

I'm no expert on WWII equipment, but I would have expected any sort of warship to have some honkin' powerful binoculars for ship ID.

Tony

TomcatMVD · 01-08-08, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trongey

I'm no expert on WWII equipment, but I would have expected any sort of warship to have some honkin' powerful binoculars for ship ID.
Tony

That's the UZO... you just need to get within range

Jimbuna · 01-08-08, 04:42 PM

In the most 'generalised' of terms, the boat being lit or otherwise is usually a fair indication :hmm:

trongey · 01-08-08, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomcatMVD

Quote:

Originally Posted by trongey

I'm no expert on WWII equipment, but I would have expected any sort of warship to have some honkin' powerful binoculars for ship ID.
Tony

That's the UZO... you just need to get within range

Well, yes, in theory. I've noticed though, that the attack scope actually seems to give the largest and clearest image, expecially in poor conditions. I've also noticed that the targets seem to be good as spotting me when I'm within 600m on the surface.:hmm:

Tony

danlisa · 01-09-08, 03:36 AM

This is exactly why you have 10x zoom on the persicope.

With it, you should be able to ID a flag from about 2km out.

papa_smurf · 01-09-08, 11:39 AM

Quote:

This is exactly why you have 10x zoom on the persicope.

With it, you should be able to ID a flag from about 2km out

This is how I ID ships, and I always manage to correctly identify the nationality of the ship im targetting. Saying that, I have on a several occasions got things wrong and sunk a neutral

trongey · 01-09-08, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danlisa

This is exactly why you have 10x zoom on the persicope.

With it, you should be able to ID a flag from about 2km out.

That would be true if I were running GWX (which I plan to do after I finish my current camapaign). Well, the 10x part would be true. The combined performance of my old eyes and my old computer remains to be determined.

Jimbuna · 01-09-08, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trongey

Quote:

Originally Posted by danlisa

This is exactly why you have 10x zoom on the persicope.

With it, you should be able to ID a flag from about 2km out.

That would be true if I were running GWX (which I plan to do after I finish my current camapaign). Well, the 10x part would be true. The combined performance of my old eyes and my old computer remains to be determined.

You'll be fine matey....enjoy the GWXperience

TheBlackHand · 01-09-08, 01:08 PM

On my first patrol I pulverized a Portugese trawler with my deck gun. Oops!

I thought it odd that he didn't take any evasive action as I drew closer.

Now I'm very careful about checking the flags during the day, particularly if the targets don't zig. Also, as has been pointed out, blackout = torpedo los!

Yesterday I came across three or four neutral ships in a row. Very frustrating as this was happening at the tail end of a dissapointing patrol. I reallly, reallly wanted to sink something. The fattest target was a Japanese tanker!

Much as I would've liked to sink these ships, I got more enjoyment out of the fact that they were there at all. Makes the game much more immersive. Thanks GWX 2! (Now, if we could just solve those durn CTD's that occur every day.)

01-08-08, 01:13 PM	#1
trongey A-ganger Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oklahoma, USA Posts: 74 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Reading Flags Is it just me (and my R/G colorblindness) or does everyone else have a terrible time telling what kind of flag a target is flying? I have to be almost close enough to board before I can read the flag. Kinda ruins the attack when I have to back up to get out to arming range for the torpedo. Am I missing some tool, or trick? Tony

01-08-08, 02:13 PM	#2
Tool Planesman Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 189 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	External view is what i use.. might be cheating, but in real life you could see much better than the optics on the PC can. Tool. __________________ 309th Wild Ducks www.56thvfw.com

01-08-08, 03:15 PM	#4
Abd_von_Mumit The Old Man Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warszawa, Polska Posts: 1,453 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 4	I know I should read the flags, but I also know that darkened ship travelling to/from GB close to the British Islands cannot be neutral or Axis ship. The problem arises in daylight as no ships are darkened , but then I usually do my best to read the flag before launching the torpedo. And yes, I find it extremely hard sometimes, but that's nothing strange, as IRL I have that problem too. __________________ 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

01-08-08, 03:52 PM	#6
BulSoldier Samurai Navy Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Burgas/Bulgaria Posts: 550 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	Dont forget the small Irish convoy.I almost cried when i saw their flag when closed enough. __________________ By the hour !

01-08-08, 04:42 PM	#9
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,818 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	In the most 'generalised' of terms, the boat being lit or otherwise is usually a fair indication :hmm: __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

01-08-08, 03:51 PM	#5
dmlavan Weps Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 351 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Let me echo what Melnibonian said. There have been times during the day when I've seen neutrals traveling w/ their lights on. When you get past December 1941 and the US enters the war, you'll find there are fewer neutrals. As a rule I'll fire at a contact that is not illuminated (in the Atlantic... in the Med there are plenty of Italian/Axis ships). One place to be careful is around the Azores and Canary Islands - you can find a lot of Portuguese and Spanish ships transiting those waters.

01-08-08, 04:07 PM	#7
trongey A-ganger Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oklahoma, USA Posts: 74 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I guess I'll have to watch for the lights/no lights thing. I've seen plenty of neutrals in the Channel, but never noticed the lights. It's 1939 and most of the ships I saw along the British coast during my last patrol were Norwegian. I thought I saw a Jack on the last one so I sent my final torpedo up his bow - oops . Fortunately, it didn't sink him even though it detonated under his bow. I guess you can shoot a neutral all you want without a renown hit as long as he doesn't sink. I would think in RL the owners of the ship and the supplier of torpedos would both be just a bit miffed about that. I'm no expert on WWII equipment, but I would have expected any sort of warship to have some honkin' powerful binoculars for ship ID. Tony

01-09-08, 03:36 AM	#11
danlisa Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 5,499 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 1	This is exactly why you have 10x zoom on the persicope. With it, you should be able to ID a flag from about 2km out. __________________

01-09-08, 01:08 PM	#15
TheBlackHand Seaman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 37 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	On my first patrol I pulverized a Portugese trawler with my deck gun. Oops! I thought it odd that he didn't take any evasive action as I drew closer. Now I'm very careful about checking the flags during the day, particularly if the targets don't zig. Also, as has been pointed out, blackout = torpedo los! Yesterday I came across three or four neutral ships in a row. Very frustrating as this was happening at the tail end of a dissapointing patrol. I reallly, reallly wanted to sink something. The fattest target was a Japanese tanker! Much as I would've liked to sink these ships, I got more enjoyment out of the fact that they were there at all. Makes the game much more immersive. Thanks GWX 2! (Now, if we could just solve those durn CTD's that occur every day.)