GWX2 convoy course changes!

[MarkShot]

Well, I have been tracking the same slow moving convoy for a couple of days now during the Winter.

I think I have actually seen some zig-zags as opposed to simple base course changes. After periods of about 8 hours or so I have seen course changes of 20-30 degrees.

Very nice! I hope this is not just wishful thinking on my part.

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Kpt. Lehmann,

Care to elaborate on this?

Do all convoys make non-base course changes? At random times? Random number of degrees? Random speed changes?

I do have a comment about the frequency. To frustrate sub attacks the zig-zags should happen on the average with a period of less than the necessary submerge attack lead distance.

For example, if a submerged attack requires a lead distance of 30km in order for the sub to submerge unseen and awaiting the convoy. And if the convoy is making 5 knots. Then if the frequency of zig-zags on the average happens less than every three hours. The convoy will be extremely hard to hit.

If the frequency is beyond three hours, then the convoy becomes more challenging to track and intercept. The sub cannot afford to lead the convoy by too much and not maintain some form of regular contact with the convoy. Otherwise, the sub risks losing the convoy. However, the attack once set up has a low probability of being frustrated. More frequent zigs would greatly frustrated the sub in trying to set up the attack.

Thanks.

[Sailor Steve]

Oh, yeah. Where the stock convoys were fairly predictable, the GWX convoys zig-zag all over the place.

Open up the RND layer in the mission editor, zoom in on Halifax, click on any convoy and zoom back out. Watch the waypoints, especially when they get close to Britain.

Don't worry, you won't gather any intelligence - there are hundreds of the things!

It's an awesome accomplishment.

[MarkShot]

Definitely a big improvement, but I am going to use the verboten three letters: AOD.

Zig-zags took place at least every three hours and sometimes in just 30 minutes if the Sun happened to set right after a zig. There is nothing more frustrating, then to spend five hours to overhaul a convoy and then another two hours positioning as a convoy approaches; when your targets are still 10km away, they all start to zig and begin to move away from your prepared ambush. It really can be very frustrating.

Of course, the problem with AOD's implementation is that the base course quickly becomes obvious and the zig-zags are symmetric of about 30-45 degrees. So, you learn in overhauling to anticipating the zig. Thus, you position yourself on the surface in anticipation of the zig. When it does happen, the convoy zigs right into you. This gives adequate time to hit the convoy despite its evasive maneuvers.

[Sailor Steve]

Nothing verboten about AOD; a lot of us still consider it the best submarine attack simulator ever.

My problem is I'm more sailor than attacker - I like looking at the scenery.

[harzfeld]

Image how much fuel & time convoy consumed when they kept changing courses, including zigzags. Also how much fuel consumed when so many destroyers always patrolled just at ports or in every grid nearby lands? I stopped engine and watched them, asking myself question, "What are they doing? do they have ants in their pants?" like they were acting neurotic or high strung, always keep moving back forth. Sometimes I just fire torpedoes at them to end their misery and insanity in order to keep myself sane to continue my missions.

[3Jane]

I was overtaking a convoy a while ago, when it changed course it turned straight at me. All I had to do was dive and wait.