First Wolfpack

[MantiBrutalis]

Somewhere I read that A) AI ships cannot change depth, making the subs be always on surface or always on periscope depth. I am also quite convinced that AI subs underwater use "the ship physics", just the model is placed few meters under the place where the sub "really" is. Detecting mechanism works for the sub's "real" position on surface, so the files are changed to make the sub "look small" for the escorts, making them hard to see, but not impossible to see.

But I could be horribly wrong, although I am pretty convinced that it works somehow like that. It is quite hard to describe.

Also B) it is impossible for AI ships to fire torpedoes or even estimate firing solutions. Actual attacking is done (in my solid belief) with spawning explosions (or barrels/rounds/whatever) on the target ship's hull. Never ever are there torpedoes which aren't yours.


All of these are speculations, even if I believe in my poor interpretation of what can be done in the game. Until recently I thought the surfaced wolfpack would just shell the convoy from a distance.

[sharkbit]

I can not say for certain myself but from what I've read about h.sie's wolfpacks in his hardcode realism fixes mod, and from what I've seen from the test mission included in the mod, the AI subs(five I believe) are on the surface and attack using their deck guns. The escorts and convoy will react to that-firing starshells, returning fire, zig-zagging, etc.

Key thing to remember is that it is a "design for effect", not a "realism effect". The AI wolfpack subs will disrupt he convoy, opening holes up in the escort screen for you, the human player, to exploit and to damage other ships in the convoy so that you may have an opportunity to finish off.

I would think that timing is everything. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, you may not be able to exploit it, just as in real life.

Like I said, I may be blowing sunshine out my butt and completely wrong though. I have the mod enabled and have not had the pleasure of seeing the wolfpack in action in a career. I've always been released to attack independently after an hour or two of shadowing the convoy. That alone makes the game more interesting. Now, instead of attacking the convoy whenever you feel like it, you have to at least gather information on the convoy, radio in a contact report hourly, and await an answer from BdU. I've expereinced that portion a few times in a career.

I'm jealous that you were able to see it in action in a career.

Even without wolfpacks enabled in the hardcode fixes by h.sie and Stiebler, the work they have done is incredible. It has breathed so much fresh air into SH3 that it makes it a joy to keep coming back to it time and time again.

They and all modders deserve a huge thank you for all the work that they do.

[sublynx]

A bit of an old thread here, but anyways I was so excited that I decided to dig this up from the grave.

I just got the order to act as a contact keeper This is the first time since Aces of the Deep was high tech out of the box that I get that kind of radio message. Now I'm just hoping that I can keep the contact for as long as is needed. The sun is just beginning to rise, the weather is perfect, it's March 1941.

BE57 353 degrees 6 knots. A large convoy with at least 2 Black Swans, a Flower corvette and a cruiser of some sorts. It would be just so sweet to have a wolfpack have a go at it

Can I keep the contact, when do I have the actual playing time to do the low TC shadowing, how many working save games made 16 km from a large convoy do I need before the pack is ready, how is this new-to-me NYGM different from GWX in a shadowing situation, how good a visual contact do I have to have to make the reports, even if I manage to send good reports, does the pack get there - many questions in my mind and no answers until I play the game and see how it goes.

Wish me luck! If I get to the point where the pack attacks I'll try to get some screenshots about it. (Even taking those is a bit of an unknown as I'm now playing SH3 in windowed mode and I guess that changes how screenshots need to be taken...)

Thanks to H.sie anyways, regardless if I manage to keep the contact or not

[Red Heat]

Outstanding report Tupolev!

[Bubblehead1980]

Who created the wolfpack mod for SH 3? I would like some advice on making one for SH 4.

[sublynx]

H.sie

[Tacokitty]

I realize this is an old thread, but I just wanted to say that these are some amazing stories! Shadowing a convoy must be hard and having to constantly report to HQ and wait on the wolfpack to get into position must test one's patience. But having two or three uboats attacking the same convoy must be a sight to see indeed. Very cool guys and I'll have to check out this mod for sure.

[sublynx]

Necro revival as last night I finally had a wolfpack attack. I didn't see and hear much, because when the order to attack came I was only 7 km from the convoy and I attacked immediately on the surface initially at a good speed. I was the probably there before the wolfpack. When I was making my escape I saw one explosion in the distance, no ships except two that were lit because they were burning, one from a hit, one damaged by the storm. After I got some 12 km away from the convoy I dove to load my last torpedo (sea too heavy for reloading while surfaced). In the hydrophone I could here a constant series of explosions. Maybe depth charges but it was hard to tell from the distance. As it was so dark I have no idea of the damage done by the wolfpack. I'll try to have a look at the convoy when the sun rises. Maybe I'll have a chance of sinking a straggler with my last torpedo.

Now I'm hoping for another convoy, another wolfpack, this time in good visibility. Maybe I'll even take the risk and attack from inside the convoy to observe the action up close and personal.

[jreid666]

Haven't had the chance to experience this yet. Hopefully persistence pays off and bdu decide to help me out some day

[sublynx]

The morning broke and revealed the consequences of the wolfpack attack. Most of the ships have been shot here and there. Many have sunk, or are sinking:

[UKönig]

It's ...beautiful...

[sublynx]

Originally Posted by UKönig

It's ...beautiful...

I just wish I had the torpedoes to finish the destruction...

[UKönig]

I recently completed an attack against Loch Ewe with the same thought. I had to let a few of them go for a lack of ammo....grr.