[REL] Real ASW Mod

[John Pancoast]

Wow ! Blocking vision too ?

[gap]

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

Wow ! Blocking vision too ?

Yes, it does for the player and it will really complicate U-boat attacks.

Unfortunately we couldn't make smoke screens to affect AI visual sensors as well as player's vision though.

The smoke floats will be ignited directly on the decks of the ship classes which historically carried them or, as you can see from Padi's screenshots, they will be dropped as actual floating smoke-generating devices. As the real HC floats they will emit smoke for ca 20 minutes and they will sink after ca. 40 minutes from when they were dumped. Not all the ships of a given class will carry them, but only a few selected vessels based on ship loadout.

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by gap

Yes, it does for the player and it will really complicate U-boat attacks.

Unfortunately we couldn't make smoke screens to affect AI visual sensors as well as player's vision though.

The smoke floats will be ignited directly on the decks of the ship classes which historically carried them or, as you can see from Padi's screenshots, they will be dropped as actual floating smoke-generating devices. As the real HC floats they will emit smoke for ca 20 minutes and they will sink after ca. 40 minutes from when they were dumped. Not all the ships of a given class will carry them, but only a few selected vessels based on ship loadout.

Outstanding ! Unfortunate about the AI sensors, but blocking player's is more the point I would think.

[gap]

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

Outstanding ! Unfortunate about the AI sensors, but blocking player's is more the point I would think.

Yes, indeed!

Another little shortcoming is that we couldn't find a way for triggering the smoke effect as soon as a submerged submarine is detected. For now, the destroyers equipped with smoke canisters will only use them against ships, surfaced submarines and raised periscopes at a maximum range equal to the range of their visual sensor. We could also make them to start laying smoke during depth-charge runs, when they are about on top of the estimated U-boat position, but I am not sure that such a tactic would make any sense.

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by gap

Yes, indeed!

Another little shortcoming is that we couldn't find a way for triggering the smoke effect as soon as a submerged submarine is detected. For now, the destroyers equipped with smoke canisters will only use them against ships, surfaced submarines and raised periscopes at a maximum range equal to the range of their visual sensor. We could also make them to start laying smoke during depth-charge runs, when they are about on top of the estimated U-boat position, but I am not sure that such a tactic would make any sense.

Even having them is great, anything else is a plus. I wouldn't consider no screen for a submerged sub a problem.
I know smoke was a common surface battle tactic. Any idea how often it was even used against subs ?

[gap]

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

Even having them is great, anything else is a plus. I wouldn't consider no screen for a submerged sub a problem.
I know smoke was a common surface battle tactic. Any idea how often it was even used against subs ?

I have not any document close by hand - Padi probably can be more detailed on this respect - but yes, there are a few accounts of smoke screens being used for convoy protection against submarines, though their main employment was indeed in surface engagements and during amphibious operations. Their usage was quite common during both World Wars, but it gradually rarefied with the progress of radar technology in mid-to-late WWII.

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by gap

I have not any document close by hand - Padi probably can be more detailed on this respect - but yes, there are a few accounts of smoke screens being used for convoy protection against submarines, though their main employment was indeed in surface engagements and during amphibious operations. Their usage was quite common during both World Wars, but it gradually rarefied with the progress of radar technology in mid-to-late WWII.