Literally pulling my hair out

WernherVonTrapp · 02-24-12, 01:37 PM

Are you running any mods? Also, when you say a convoy was reportedly heading into your path: How far away were you? I generally pay no attention to contact reports unless they're rather close (i.e., within a few hundred nm). The convoys don't usually follow a true path and often change course. Sitting still and waiting for a reported convoy to cross your path is like waiting for life to hand you your destiny on a silver platter. It just ain't gonna happen.

You have to plot a predicted path for the convoy and try to intercept it. Convoys like to maintain some semblence of cover and protection. Look around for any nearby ports, bases friendly to the convoy or already established convoy routes and try to estimate the convoy's possible path. Then plot an intercept course that'll account for some margin of error on your part. Even then, there's no guarantee that you'll intercept the convoy. While heading SE toward Wewak, I received a contact report of a large convoy heading north from there. I noticed that there was no air cover for the convoy on that route, unless it headed for Peleliu. It was just a guess, but I literally drew a line from the convoy's last contact, all the way to Peleliu. I then plotted and followed a path (based on the convoy's reported speed) that would lead me slightly ahead of it's estimated location over a certain period of time. In this case, the convoy proceeded NW instead of "north" as the contact report cited. I was successful this time but have failed on others. It's a hit or miss proposition and not worth getting frustrated over. We all have to deal with the same thing.

There's really no need for a guide or manual since some common sense is all you'll ever need. Just think of what may happen in real life and apply it to your intercept attempt. The Pacific is a vast ocean and convoys, as in real life, change course.
As previously mentioned, I usually just go to my assigned patrol sector and complete my objectives (by not sitting still).

Oh yeah, welcome aborad.

dannyo666 · 02-25-12, 10:36 AM

@Schwartzritter:Yeah i think number 1 in your list is more probable for me to be honest.I always took course estimate as 100% accurate.I am not running any mods because i find if im just grasping the game as it is then why install a mod-Good/bad idea?

@WernherVonTrapp:I was 110nm from contact report and used legions noob intercept guide video to mark a 10nm around contact and then projected the most likely "avenue" of contact using parralell lines with the centre one through the tail of contact.I then used a search pattern within that "avenue".My heart was pounding as this was my first ever potential convey attack

Anyway i saved the game then so im gonna try again and this time seek instead of waiting,if those planes will just leave me alone..god i hate them

Thanks everyone

Deephunter · 02-26-12, 02:20 PM

A contact report is more like a "there's something out there", than a "cast-in-stone" bit of information. It's just a starting point, and you'll have to track the contact's "true" path and plot it on your Nav map. Several readings and updates are required to get a good course. I'll probably update (depending on initial distance from the contact) its course 5-7 times before I have a good idea of what the best intercept point is. I've been known to update its position, and mine, just a few minutes before firing. Frequent updates will also allow you to detect major changes in course before you find yourself in an empty ocean because your target changed course and you were never aware of it...

WernherVonTrapp · 02-26-12, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyo666

@WernherVonTrapp:I was 110nm from contact report and used legions noob intercept guide video to mark a 10nm around contact and then projected the most likely "avenue" of contact using parralell lines with the centre one through the tail of contact.I then used a search pattern within that "avenue".My heart was pounding as this was my first ever potential convey attack

I neglected to mention that I'm currently running TMO/RSRDC. If you're playing the Stock version, locating a contact report is a roll of the dice, unless you're already right on top of them. I find, running TMO+RSRDC, the contacts appear to behave more realistically, or (i.e.) more closely follow historical routes. TMO adds more changes to the (contact/convoy) course which I've encountered despite the addition of RSRDC.

Armistead · 02-26-12, 05:26 PM

If you're playing stock you'll get a lot more reports than mods, but mods are more realistic. Traffic in stock can spawn and despawn anywhere, including the open ocean, mods like RSRD traffic will spawn and despawn in ports.

They're settings in the ME that decide if a group renders a contact report, in stock probably 50% of the do, when TMO less, RSRD even less.

Try to stay near shipping lanes, you'll run into traffic, those contact reports can drive you crazy unless the group is near.

02-24-12, 01:37 PM	#1
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Are you running any mods? Also, when you say a convoy was reportedly heading into your path: How far away were you? I generally pay no attention to contact reports unless they're rather close (i.e., within a few hundred nm). The convoys don't usually follow a true path and often change course. Sitting still and waiting for a reported convoy to cross your path is like waiting for life to hand you your destiny on a silver platter. It just ain't gonna happen. You have to plot a predicted path for the convoy and try to intercept it. Convoys like to maintain some semblence of cover and protection. Look around for any nearby ports, bases friendly to the convoy or already established convoy routes and try to estimate the convoy's possible path. Then plot an intercept course that'll account for some margin of error on your part. Even then, there's no guarantee that you'll intercept the convoy. While heading SE toward Wewak, I received a contact report of a large convoy heading north from there. I noticed that there was no air cover for the convoy on that route, unless it headed for Peleliu. It was just a guess, but I literally drew a line from the convoy's last contact, all the way to Peleliu. I then plotted and followed a path (based on the convoy's reported speed) that would lead me slightly ahead of it's estimated location over a certain period of time. In this case, the convoy proceeded NW instead of "north" as the contact report cited. I was successful this time but have failed on others. It's a hit or miss proposition and not worth getting frustrated over. We all have to deal with the same thing. There's really no need for a guide or manual since some common sense is all you'll ever need. Just think of what may happen in real life and apply it to your intercept attempt. The Pacific is a vast ocean and convoys, as in real life, change course. As previously mentioned, I usually just go to my assigned patrol sector and complete my objectives (by not sitting still). Oh yeah, welcome aborad. __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

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02-25-12, 10:36 AM	#2
dannyo666 Swabbie Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 13 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	@Schwartzritter:Yeah i think number 1 in your list is more probable for me to be honest.I always took course estimate as 100% accurate.I am not running any mods because i find if im just grasping the game as it is then why install a mod-Good/bad idea? @WernherVonTrapp:I was 110nm from contact report and used legions noob intercept guide video to mark a 10nm around contact and then projected the most likely "avenue" of contact using parralell lines with the centre one through the tail of contact.I then used a search pattern within that "avenue".My heart was pounding as this was my first ever potential convey attack Anyway i saved the game then so im gonna try again and this time seek instead of waiting,if those planes will just leave me alone..god i hate them Thanks everyone

02-26-12, 02:20 PM	#3
Deephunter A-ganger Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 79 Downloads: 102 Uploads: 0	A contact report is more like a "there's something out there", than a "cast-in-stone" bit of information. It's just a starting point, and you'll have to track the contact's "true" path and plot it on your Nav map. Several readings and updates are required to get a good course. I'll probably update (depending on initial distance from the contact) its course 5-7 times before I have a good idea of what the best intercept point is. I've been known to update its position, and mine, just a few minutes before firing. Frequent updates will also allow you to detect major changes in course before you find yourself in an empty ocean because your target changed course and you were never aware of it...

02-26-12, 05:26 PM	#5
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	If you're playing stock you'll get a lot more reports than mods, but mods are more realistic. Traffic in stock can spawn and despawn anywhere, including the open ocean, mods like RSRD traffic will spawn and despawn in ports. They're settings in the ME that decide if a group renders a contact report, in stock probably 50% of the do, when TMO less, RSRD even less. Try to stay near shipping lanes, you'll run into traffic, those contact reports can drive you crazy unless the group is near.