Convoy Arrangement

gurudennis · 12-13-19, 11:57 PM

The convoy rows are arranged at a random predetermined angle to the center axis. Sometimes the nearest vessel is the furthest forward from your side, sometimes it's the furthest back, and sometimes the rows are neatly laid out on a rectangular grid. This arguably makes it more challenging to perform certain types of attacks and easier to perform others, so you have to situationally adjust your choice of tactics and targets.

tmoncmm · 12-14-19, 01:26 PM

Most of the convoys I encounter are indeed in an echelon type formation, but they apparently reverse it from time to time during the mission.

I was plotting a convoy the other day and noticed them in this formation with the close ship ahead of the rest. I thought this would be good for a fast 90 attack if I approached from the other side so I got ahead and crossed over to the port side, but by the time they got to me, they had reversed their order and I found myself with the close ship ahead again.

I've also noticed that sometimes they also change course close to the beginning of a mission.

Aktungbby · 12-14-19, 06:33 PM

tmoncmm!

after a seventeen year silent run!!

Fidd · 01-16-20, 12:16 PM

What I do is this: As I start overtaking the convoy the ships appear to open up, or close behind each other as the magnetic bearing to them changes. When the ships are agreeably open, I make a note of that bearing, and that becomes the bearing I turn onto having got well ahead of the convoy. After that, if you wait as the convoy passes, there will come a moment when the ships you want to attack are nicely opened out.

As part of the same routine, I determine the convoy course, and an "escape bearing" based on the presumption of a crash dive after firing, which is usually plus or minus 60 degrees of the convoy course, as a heading. So, if the convoy course is 245 degrees, then my heading out once submerged is 305 degrees (starboard side of convoy) or 185 degrees if attacking from the port side. After a 15 minute submerged run on this heading brings you outside of escort visual range (at night!) and outside of the escort screen.

There may be faster, better strategies for those who can fire without the TDC "from the hip" at wriggling targets, but I like to keep it simple!

12-14-19, 06:33 PM	#3
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 30,139 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Welcome aboard! tmoncmm!after a *seventeen* year silent run!! __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!!

12-13-19, 11:57 PM	#1
gurudennis Mate Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 55 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	The convoy rows are arranged at a random predetermined angle to the center axis. Sometimes the nearest vessel is the furthest forward from your side, sometimes it's the furthest back, and sometimes the rows are neatly laid out on a rectangular grid. This arguably makes it more challenging to perform certain types of attacks and easier to perform others, so you have to situationally adjust your choice of tactics and targets.

12-14-19, 01:26 PM	#2
tmoncmm Swabbie Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Covington, GA Posts: 5 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Most of the convoys I encounter are indeed in an echelon type formation, but they apparently reverse it from time to time during the mission. I was plotting a convoy the other day and noticed them in this formation with the close ship ahead of the rest. I thought this would be good for a fast 90 attack if I approached from the other side so I got ahead and crossed over to the port side, but by the time they got to me, they had reversed their order and I found myself with the close ship ahead again. I've also noticed that sometimes they also change course close to the beginning of a mission.

01-16-20, 12:16 PM	#4
Fidd Captain Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Blighty! Posts: 542 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	What I do is this: As I start overtaking the convoy the ships appear to open up, or close behind each other as the magnetic bearing to them changes. When the ships are agreeably open, I make a note of that bearing, and that becomes the bearing I turn onto having got well ahead of the convoy. After that, if you wait as the convoy passes, there will come a moment when the ships you want to attack are nicely opened out. As part of the same routine, I determine the convoy course, and an "escape bearing" based on the presumption of a crash dive after firing, which is usually plus or minus 60 degrees of the convoy course, as a heading. So, if the convoy course is 245 degrees, then my heading out once submerged is 305 degrees (starboard side of convoy) or 185 degrees if attacking from the port side. After a 15 minute submerged run on this heading brings you outside of escort visual range (at night!) and outside of the escort screen. There may be faster, better strategies for those who can fire without the TDC "from the hip" at wriggling targets, but I like to keep it simple!