At what point do the escorts get down right nasty?

MarkShot · 02-15-08, 09:11 PM

So, then would you say that the main difference as time progress will be in the individual performance of a single escort? So, is the highest expression of team work basically the summoning of other close escorts? Beyond that it is each escort for itself?

Thanks.

GoldenRivet · 02-15-08, 09:21 PM

by 1943 - 44 the escorts almost always travel in packs of at least 2 or 3... if escorting a convoy i have seen 6 or 8 of them.

they will take turns listening for you on hydrophones while the others ping you and do depth charge and hedgehog runs against you.

you stand a 90% chance of death at their hands after 1943 no matter what you do.

the war is over for the u-boats after 1943 fades into 1944.

you should no longer hunt convoys and instead turn your sights on targets of opportunity (ie. single merchants)

the highest expression of their team work is one will set silent and listen to where you are going, while the others use asdic to attack you with depth charges and hedgehogs... they will also call in PT boats, planes and other area assets to assist in your sinking.

if they lose contact with you, the planes will patrol with radar and watch for periscopes, snorkels or for you to surface at which point they all turn around and start the attack again.

this is especially sickening if you get pinned down by a hunter killer group

KeptinCranky · 02-16-08, 06:12 AM

ah yes, Teamwork, notice how there's no U in "team"

They do cooperate as Goldenrivet has already described, usually it's three, with two circling and droppinf DCs while one pings or listens to fix your position, they also switch roles often, with one stopping and another starting to make DC runs

they definitely don't behave as if they were all individual destroyers, that would cause a lot more collision-avoidance behaviour than actually occurs in game

the best way to find out would be to start a career in 1944 and see how long you survive

MarkShot · 02-20-08, 10:37 PM

Okay, I have made it to 1942. GWX 2.00

Since first getting my commission, I have been doing most of my hunting in the AM/AN sectors (about 500km East of England).

I have noticed two things during this patrol (#7) so far which may just be my imagination or may be the difficulty level increasing. So, let me ask you vets who have seen the war a few times already.

(1) I've run across what seem to be three ASW patrols. Well, they looked that way to me and I avoided them. Each had just three warships and no merchants. I heard them while hunting and just quietly avoided them. Didn't seem anything in it for me to challenge patrols. A task force might contain a prize like a battleship or a cruiser, but a patrol would be well fitted to kill me and be relatively low value ships.

(2) I've had a few convoy contacts, but they were too far to intercept. I am now intercepting my first convoy. Most convoys up to now have seemed to have 5 escorts (one in the lead and four on the points). This is my first convoy encounter where I am counting 8-9 escorts.

So, are the above observations random chance or my own imagination? Or is it now 1942 and the British have increased their efforts to battle the hunt me down and/or protect their convoys?

Thanks.

-----

Here is another question. I have mastered approaching a 5 escort convoy. Basically offset the center line by about 2km or so and let the lead escort go by and then cut in diagonally towards the center convoy going through the gap between the lead and point escorts.

Now, I am now facing 8-9 escorts. I am not sure how to get past the screen. It looks to be like there may now be multiple lead escorts, four point escorts, and multiple trailer escorts. I am not sure how I should make my approach. Any suggestions?

irish1958 · 02-21-08, 10:47 AM

"Now, I am now facing 8-9 escorts. I am not sure how to get past the screen. It looks to be like there may now be multiple lead escorts, four point escorts, and multiple trailer escorts. I am not sure how I should make my approach. Any suggestions?"

NO. This is the reason the U-Boat war was lost. Wolf packs helped for a brief time, but the escorts and air cover doomed the U-Boats.
The type XXI could have helped if it were available in '43.

NealT · 02-21-08, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkShot

Now, I am now facing 8-9 escorts. I am not sure how to get past the screen. It looks to be like there may now be multiple lead escorts, four point escorts, and multiple trailer escorts. I am not sure how I should make my approach. Any suggestions?

Yes. RUN AWAY. That way, you can live to fight another day.

However, IF you want to try...I personally would go deep, go to flank...go to PD, stick my scope up...fire at whatever I can see...go deep again...and turn 90 degrees about in the middle of the convoy and go silent. I would also pray a lot.

But 8-9 escorts? time to run...IMHO...

Jimbuna · 02-21-08, 01:04 PM

43 onwards.......escort crews attain almost universal veteran then elite status on top of the improved asw measures (radar, hedgehog etc.)

Learn one lesson above all others. Learn how to bend over and kiss yer sweet ass goodbye

MarkShot · 02-21-08, 01:42 PM

Well, I know I should run away, but I have yet to be challenged by this game. So, I think I will test the limits. Also, it is only by facing hard situations do we develop the skills needed to play games at the most challenging levels. Of course, sometimes, the best choice is simply avoidance. But, I'll try first.

02-15-08, 09:11 PM	#1
MarkShot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,134 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	So, then would you say that the main difference as time progress will be in the individual performance of a single escort? So, is the highest expression of team work basically the summoning of other close escorts? Beyond that it is each escort for itself? Thanks. __________________ War games, not wars! --- Only a small few profit from war (that should not stand)!

02-15-08, 09:21 PM	#2
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	by 1943 - 44 the escorts almost always travel in packs of at least 2 or 3... if escorting a convoy i have seen 6 or 8 of them. they will take turns listening for you on hydrophones while the others ping you and do depth charge and hedgehog runs against you. you stand a 90% chance of death at their hands after 1943 no matter what you do. the war is over for the u-boats after 1943 fades into 1944. you should no longer hunt convoys and instead turn your sights on targets of opportunity (ie. single merchants) the highest expression of their team work is one will set silent and listen to where you are going, while the others use asdic to attack you with depth charges and hedgehogs... they will also call in PT boats, planes and other area assets to assist in your sinking. if they lose contact with you, the planes will patrol with radar and watch for periscopes, snorkels or for you to surface at which point they all turn around and start the attack again. this is especially sickening if you get pinned down by a hunter killer group __________________

02-20-08, 10:37 PM	#4
MarkShot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,134 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	Okay, I have made it to 1942. GWX 2.00 Since first getting my commission, I have been doing most of my hunting in the AM/AN sectors (about 500km East of England). I have noticed two things during this patrol (#7) so far which may just be my imagination or may be the difficulty level increasing. So, let me ask you vets who have seen the war a few times already. (1) I've run across what seem to be three ASW patrols. Well, they looked that way to me and I avoided them. Each had just three warships and no merchants. I heard them while hunting and just quietly avoided them. Didn't seem anything in it for me to challenge patrols. A task force might contain a prize like a battleship or a cruiser, but a patrol would be well fitted to kill me and be relatively low value ships. (2) I've had a few convoy contacts, but they were too far to intercept. I am now intercepting my first convoy. Most convoys up to now have seemed to have 5 escorts (one in the lead and four on the points). This is my first convoy encounter where I am counting 8-9 escorts. So, are the above observations random chance or my own imagination? Or is it now 1942 and the British have increased their efforts to battle the hunt me down and/or protect their convoys? Thanks. ----- Here is another question. I have mastered approaching a 5 escort convoy. Basically offset the center line by about 2km or so and let the lead escort go by and then cut in diagonally towards the center convoy going through the gap between the lead and point escorts. Now, I am now facing 8-9 escorts. I am not sure how to get past the screen. It looks to be like there may now be multiple lead escorts, four point escorts, and multiple trailer escorts. I am not sure how I should make my approach. Any suggestions? __________________ War games, not wars! --- Only a small few profit from war (that should not stand)!

02-21-08, 10:47 AM	#5
irish1958 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 3,250 Downloads: 320 Uploads: 11	"Now, I am now facing 8-9 escorts. I am not sure how to get past the screen. It looks to be like there may now be multiple lead escorts, four point escorts, and multiple trailer escorts. I am not sure how I should make my approach. Any suggestions?" NO. This is the reason the U-Boat war was lost. Wolf packs helped for a brief time, but the escorts and air cover doomed the U-Boats. The type XXI could have helped if it were available in '43. __________________ Irish1958

02-21-08, 01:42 PM	#8
MarkShot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,134 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	Well, I know I should run away, but I have yet to be challenged by this game. So, I think I will test the limits. Also, it is only by facing hard situations do we develop the skills needed to play games at the most challenging levels. Of course, sometimes, the best choice is simply avoidance. But, I'll try first. __________________ War games, not wars! --- Only a small few profit from war (that should not stand)!

02-16-08, 06:12 AM	#3
KeptinCranky Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,050 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	ah yes, Teamwork, notice how there's no U in "team" They do cooperate as Goldenrivet has already described, usually it's three, with two circling and droppinf DCs while one pings or listens to fix your position, they also switch roles often, with one stopping and another starting to make DC runs they definitely don't behave as if they were all individual destroyers, that would cause a lot more collision-avoidance behaviour than actually occurs in game the best way to find out would be to start a career in 1944 and see how long you survive

02-21-08, 01:04 PM	#7
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	43 onwards.......escort crews attain almost universal veteran then elite status on top of the improved asw measures (radar, hedgehog etc.) Learn one lesson above all others. Learn how to bend over and kiss yer sweet ass goodbye __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!