Will convoys zig zag?

[tedhealy]

I'm talking about Japanese marus. Escorted Japanese shipping in a small convoy zig zagged on a base course as an asw effort. Sometimes they even constatntly adjusted their course by a few degrees to make wide sweeps off a base course to keep subs from having an easy time setting up torpedo shots.

Will this be in shIV? Or will it be like sh3 where every merchant ship out there plods straight along unaware and uncaring of the submarine threat?

[Morts]

errm convoys DO zigzag in SH3
i dont know about stock because i never attacked a convoy in stock but in GWX they sure do

[tedhealy]

Originally Posted by Morts

errm convoys DO zigzag in SH3
i dont know about stock because i never attacked a convoy in stock but in GWX they sure do

I never downloaded GWX

But if the devs didn't do it in sh3, will they do it in sh4? I'm guessing even if they don't, if it was moddable into sh3 it will be moddable into sh4 then, so I'm a happy camper

[bookworm_020]

They do zig zag in stock SH3. The Japanese did create convoys from around 1944 onward, but there was little orgaization and few escorts untill it was too late. Earlier convoys were just pairs of ships steaming together for mutual protection.

[Onkel Neal]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, after intense discussions with the dev team, they admit that the convoys will zig, but there is no code to zag

[Morts]

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Torplexed]

Depends on whether the Japanes like to roll their own...depth charges that is.

[hyperion2206]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, after intense discussions with the dev team, they admit that the convoys will zig, but there is no code to zag

So the ships will alter their course but won't get back to their original course or what does that mean?

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by hyperion2206

So the ships will alter their course but won't get back to their original course or what does that mean?

Well, of course they can get back to their original course! They will merely have to execute eight regulation zigs, each zig being 45 degrees, to return to their previous heading. Are you sure you passed basic training, sailor?

[nattydread]

lol. I think military convoys were a tad bit more cohesive, but still, stragglers seem to be common place in the convoys

[rocco]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, after intense discussions with the dev team, they admit that the convoys will zig, but there is no code to zag

Oh, that's it, I'm not buying this game if convoys don't both zig AND zag.
What a waste of money.

Rocco

PS I'm being sarcastic, I've seen so many people complain that this or that
wasn't implemented and how they don't know if they want to buy the game
now.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, now I'm offended. All my extensive research indicates that convoys zagged much more than they zigged. If they can't get that one little detail right, why should I bother playing it?

[tedhealy]

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

They do zig zag in stock SH3. The Japanese did create convoys from around 1944 onward, but there was little orgaization and few escorts untill it was too late. Earlier convoys were just pairs of ships steaming together for mutual protection.

I'm reading James Calvert's book, Silent Running, about his time aboard the USS Jack as the TDC operator and he writes about zig zagging Japanese merchants. His first patrol was in mid 43. Perhaps he only encountered the better Japanese merchantmen and navymen, but nearly every encounter involved them having to plot their prey's base course off a zig zag and try to time their closing on the enemy so as to be in the right position after a course change.

When I say convoys describing the Japanese system, I'm considering groups of as little as 4 or 5 ships considering they never really put together huge merchant convoys. Maybe I'm too deep into Calvert's book, but that's the way he describes these groups of 2 or 3 merchantmen and a couple minesweepers or DE's as escorts, as convoys.

But back to the original point, is this in sh4 or not? If it was in sh3, I never saw it. Ships went in straight lines between waypoints and you never had to be wary of a target zigging out of your fiiring position at the last moment. Just get out in front of their course drawn out in a straight line and you'll be fine.

[JSF]

Originally Posted by tedhealy

I'm reading James Calvert's book, Silent Running, about his time aboard the USS Jack as the TDC operator and he writes about zig zagging Japanese merchants.

Brother James also writes about a little zig zagging of his own when he breaks down in quasi true confession time about an affair he has with a young lady from the islands. While he doesn't come out-right and admit it.....take it from an old salt...he did the dirty deed..........I wonder if he was looking for absolution all these years later. Maybe he should have run it past the chaplain first. Couple of hail Mary's and a little extra in offering plate....should have filled the bill.

[tedhealy]

Originally Posted by JSF

dirty deed..........I wonder if he was looking for absolution all these years later. Maybe he should have run it past the chaplain first. Couple of hail Mary's and a little extra in offering plate....should have filled the bill.

Yeah, his little beer trade for "time at the country club" worked out pretty well for him