another noob question

[nappy]

All relevant questions.

Here is what i did in one of the cases:

convoy otw from truk to rabaul. it was reported to be at spot X in the bismark sea at datetime Y. I reached the correct spot (checked the location twice) about 2 days before the convoy was supposed to be there and saved.

first try: about 6 hours before reported time i started zig zagging towards truk. Nothing

Second try: about 6 hours before the reported time i submerged and ran in sircle around the spot trying to find em with my hydrophones. Nothing.

Third try: about 12 hours before the reported time. more agressive zig zagging at flank speed towards truk. Nothing.

Fourth try: moved my boat to just outside rabaul to try and catch them as they came close. Zig zagged at high speed just north of rabaul.. nothing.

fifth time: (almost forgot). about 6 hours before the reported time i started zig zagging towards rabaul. thinking that relevant speed between my boat and the convoy would be smaller and as such i would have more time close to the convoy when they passed me. Did this at about 6 knots, 1/2 speed. Nothing came of it.

In all cases i stayed at my search for at least 1 day more than what i thought was required.

if any of you have any ideas please let me know

nappy

Originally Posted by raymond6751

As in real life, the radio report was a guess on the destination of the task force.

You were right to get to the projected spot, as HQ would expect you to. After that, using best estimate of speed from their departure point, how far could they get in your direction?

What port would be their likely destination, if not the one mentioned in the message? What mission might they have? Should we abandon search?

Realistic problems.

You say "6 hours before expected time" and "12 hours before...". How long after the expected time do you stay then?

And a general question - are the radio reports times in the spots local time or is it PEARL base time ? - can be quite different on the other side of the dateline.

[cptroyce]

Originally Posted by Keelbuster

Well, based on a radio report you only usually have information on an area where they are expected to be. If they are travelling SSW, that defines a large cone covering the area from S to SW. This can be a very large area, especially if the intercept point is far away. Secondly, I find that in SH4 (with TMO), convoys and TFs zig very often. They change course constantly, and while they might have their overall destination constant, the way they get there can be very complicated. It takes a lot of luck to actually detect and close with them. Radar can _really_ help with this. Finally, I would never just sit and wait for the intercept, rather, patrol a grid over where you expect them to be, and do so at ahead full, so that you cover the search grid as fast as possible and increase the chance of an intercept.

KB- As a noobie also, I found your post helpfull as well..it seems logical and obvious..but only after it's pointed out.

Royce

[nappy]

for each try i generally stayed 1-2 days longer than then reported time.

maybe it was not enough?

For the reported times...that is a good question. i always compared them to my ingame time, you know, the clock in the lower right corner of the screen. If the times in the radio message was not the same, then i was way off . Ill pay particular attention to that next time such a message comes.

nappy

Originally Posted by Mav87th

You say "6 hours before expected time" and "12 hours before...". How long after the expected time do you stay then?

And a general question - are the radio reports times in the spots local time or is it PEARL base time ? - can be quite different on the other side of the dateline.

[rein1705]

Shoot fellas thats a good question on the time of contacts... i think its base time.