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04-27-24, 03:44 PM | #1 |
XO
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I believe I read an account of this where there was a picture of the 8 markers around the periphery which were used to synchronise movements of individual ships. I cannot recall the precise source, but it's hard to think this isn't well documented?
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04-27-24, 05:04 PM | #2 |
Grey Wolf
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I know radio room clocks used on some surface ships have markings like that to denote key times during the radio watch or between them, but eight minutes is far too short for zigs. I only have heard a half hour to an hour or so. It’s a recipe for disaster to expect merchant mariners to execute this every eight minutes. Even a crew trained in station keeping would be exhausted having to do this that frequently.
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04-27-24, 06:23 PM | #3 |
XO
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I would suspect that it was only used when under fire, or when the "warnings of the numbers of u-boats in your area" warranted it. Once per half hour would provide little or no protection via ruining torpedo solutions, and would only serve to increase the track miles of the convoy.
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04-27-24, 08:38 PM | #4 | |
Grey Wolf
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Quote:
__________________
Ask me anything about the Type VII or IX! One-Stop Targeting Shop: https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...WwBt-1vjW28JbO My YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIJ...9FXbD3S2kgwdPQ Last edited by derstosstrupp; 04-27-24 at 08:48 PM. |
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04-28-24, 04:49 PM | #5 |
XO
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I don't doubt the veracity of what you're saying, but from what I've seen - an image of a merchantman clock with the periphery marked for when zigs should be made; it makes we wonder if we're both right, namely that there were short-interval zigs to make solutions more difficult when under fire, and longer interval ones designed to frustrate establishing the convoy's base course, as you describe.
In other words, we may both be right. |
04-29-24, 11:48 AM | #6 |
XO
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148. DF-ing using civilian radio-stations/DFing u-boats
This was a common technique, especially on long-wave, to establish the bearing to and from civilian transmitters known location, and therefore with a cross-cut bearing, to determine position deep into the Atlantic. If one assumes that the location of the u-boat was unknown to the crew initially, this might make for some interesting navigational use of DF's to fix their position. The more lines established, the more accurate the fix, and therefore the more accurate subsequent navigation to the convoy becomes. (assuming some form of time-compression to keep "time to target" roughly comparable to now) With the multi-national player-base, it ought to be possible to create plausible sounding radio transmissions of stations in the UK, Germany, France and the low-countries, to which a radio-officer can tune the DF equipment to start DFing. The allied counter to this is the use of DFing locations - spread from Iceland to the Azores, to fix the area of u-boats whenever they transmit. On a strategic level this has little bearing (if you'll excuse the pun) on the game, however, it could be used the more radio-traffic is sent between boats in game, to send detached escorts down a bearing to search for a surfaced or thence submerged u-boat. By counting the characters, or duration of morse signals sent, from a particular u-boat during the course of a game, a tipping-point might be reached causing such a detachment of an escort. Or aircraft. DFing therefore could be engineered in game to both assist u-boat crews in locating a convoy and establishing their own position - or the position of other u-boats, but ALSO via the brevity, or otherwise, of radio transmissions from it, to cause AI or PVP escorts to be able to detach from their usual positions..... Last edited by Fidd; 04-29-24 at 01:00 PM. |
04-29-24, 01:28 PM | #7 |
XO
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149. Refinement of AI escorts in determining likely position of an attacking u-boat from torpedo wakes.
If the attacked merchantman is sunk within a short period of being hit, all the escorts should be aware of is the 180 degree arc "side" that the torpedo has come from, and therefore those escorts on that side should turn outwards from that side, and commence asdic and hydrophone searches. However, as the distance from which the torpedo is fired is unknown, the distance outwards they travel is fairly short. If the merchantman is hit but does not sink quickly, it is assumed that the approximate track of a steam inbound torpedo is known to the crew, and this information is given to the escorts via short-wave radio or other signal, and the AI escort then proceeds along the reciprocal of that track, for a reasonable distance, likewise at asdic and hydrophone speed. Similarly, if the track of a steam torpedo is seen passing an un-hit merchantman, the same reasonable distance is covered by the outbound pinging/listening escort, however, with a less certain bearing, so there should be a random error in bearing to course travelled. If the u-boat is physically spotted, the AI escorts would travel directly at best speed to the area, for perhaps 90% of the distance, and only then conduct asdic and hydrophone searches, firing guns at the u-boat so long as it or the periscope is in view, possibly with star-shells. So, firing electrics, will result in poor ability by the escorts to locate a u-boat, provided it remains quiet and achieves sinking hits. On the other hand, if it fires and misses with steams, or hits but does not outright sink, a merchantment, then the ability of the escorts to determine the location of the u-boat improves. Finally, if the u-boat is visually seen, then it's in for a world of hurt, possibly with several escorts coming for it at up to 36 knots.... |
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