Question: How do you nail a zig zagger ?

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

I would assume that adopting a zigzagging course at any speed was considered safer than just doing a hard turn and taking off in another straight line in some other direction. I mean, if an eel's in the water and they see it coming, hard over to avoid if possible... but I'm thinking the zigzagging was meant to make it that much harder for a uboat to set up a really good shot in the first place and thus increase the likelihood of the calculations being off if they tried it.

Agreed. And as this thread shows, the zig-zagging (or helming, which is right), makes life harder.

But imagine yourself on the bridge of that merchant. Are you going to simply start weaving on the same course at the same speed? Or are you going to punch that ship to 12-15 knots and heel to port, starboard unpredictably?

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

Agreed. And as this thread shows, the zig-zagging (or helming, which is right), makes life harder.

But imagine yourself on the bridge of that merchant. Are you going to simply start weaving on the same course at the same speed? Or are you going to punch that ship to 12-15 knots and heel to port, starboard unpredictably?

I dunno. Did they do that in real life? I haven't a clue.

Maybe that kind of randomness in their reaction is something that can't be programmed into the game.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

I dunno. Did they do that in real life? I haven't a clue.

Maybe that kind of randomness in their reaction is something that can't be programmed into the game.

When a plane or V&W class spots me, I hit the throttles. go deep, randomly zig/zag. Only because I have the third dimension of depth can I afford to go to 2knts when deep.

But if I were restricted to surface, I would have those engines cranked and even I wouldn't be able to predict my next turn.

Wouldn't you?

Pretty sure it wasn't programmed.