Red flare

Ping Panther · 10-12-07, 01:32 PM

I had read somewhere that ships in convoy often preferred to launch a red flare at the first sighting of a U-Boat, torpedo path or attack. These red flares (snowflake rockets?) would be used both in daylight and night by the closest or most available ship to the sighting as a way to universally alert the merchants and escorts to take action.

I'll try to verify my info. from my reading with a quote, if needed.
With all the momentum of the GWX team, I am just trying to provide all th e bits of info. a new-ish guy can figure to add to this effort.

Have a super weekend! Cheers!

PLEASE! TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LINK!
It has all the convoy signals by code! (Red rockets are mentioned, horn blasts, pendants, EVERYTHING!)
http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/extras/index.html
Click into 'CONVOY SIGNALS' Flag info. at top of page & Rocket flare/horn blasts at bottom of page!

Sailor Steve · 10-12-07, 03:55 PM

SH2 had them, except they had them white. They were called 'Distress Rockets'. Their use in Titanic was one of that movie's best scenes.

SH3 dumped them for searchlights. They would be kind of cool, but I doubt they could be done. That said, lots of things are being done now that everybody said was impossible a year ago. Who knows?

Jimbuna · 10-12-07, 04:22 PM

Red flares :hmm:

3Jane · 10-12-07, 05:14 PM

I would prefere them to the searchlights. I can't see a convoy lighting up like that and making it's self visible to all the u-boats in the are which might not have a fix on it.

Jimbuna · 10-12-07, 05:43 PM

You don't like the sight of all those searchlights during a night air raid then on a port ? :hmm:

Venatore · 10-13-07, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Red flares :hmm:

Agreed Jimbuna, this may have potential, I wonder. Seeing reds flares at night including the ship white spot lights would be a really good combination. :hmm:

papa_smurf · 10-13-07, 05:54 AM

Sounds like a good idea to add to to SH3/GWX.

Jimbuna · 10-13-07, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venatore

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Red flares :hmm:

Agreed Jimbuna, this may have potential, I wonder. Seeing reds flares at night including the ship white spot lights would be a really good combination. :hmm:

Something akin to the control room lighting are you thinking ? :hmm:

Dowly · 10-13-07, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

SH2 had them, except they had them white. They were called 'Distress Rockets'. Their use in Titanic was one of that movie's best scenes.

SH3 dumped them for searchlights. They would be kind of cool, but I doubt they could be done. That said, lots of things are being done now that everybody said was impossible a year ago. Who knows?

No, SHIII has them too.

Ping Panther · 10-13-07, 08:36 AM

I'm checking on that written reference I had from a while ago to the full context of the red flare signals. It would be for a first occurence of sighting and response, even in daylight. Then whatever illumination, if at night, would be used by escorts... searchlights, starshells. Red flare is just the help alert.

Sailor Steve · 10-13-07, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

No, SHIII has them too.

Where? What? When? I don't recall seeing them. Starshells, sure; but distress rockets from stricken ships?

Dowly · 10-13-07, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

No, SHIII has them too.

Where? What? When? I don't recall seeing them. Starshells, sure; but distress rockets from stricken ships?

Yeh, white star shells. I dont recall seeing RED star shells in SHII. Both SHII & SHIII have white. Right? :hmm:

iambecomelife · 10-13-07, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

No, SHIII has them too.

Where? What? When? I don't recall seeing them. Starshells, sure; but distress rockets from stricken ships?

Racerboy added distress flares a few weeks ago. Right now they are only available for the NKSQ but they will be added to the other ships eventually.

I agree that merchant ships shouldn't have searchlights since the AI automatically turns them on & illuminates the whole convoy. Historically any sailor who left even one light on could be in serious trouble. I remember reading in one book that a Coast Guard vessel once threatened to machine gun a tanker if they didn't screen their portholes.

Sailor Steve · 10-13-07, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

No, SHIII has them too.

Where? What? When? I don't recall seeing them. Starshells, sure; but distress rockets from stricken ships?

Yeh, white star shells. I dont recall seeing RED star shells in SHII. Both SHII & SHIII have white. Right? :hmm:

Right; but in SH3 I think only destroyers fire them. SH2 had every ship fire one straight up when one got torpedoed at night. It was pretty cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iambecomelife

Racerboy added distress flares a few weeks ago. Right now they are only available for the NKSQ but they will be added to the other ships eventually.

COOL! Even if only the stricken ship fires one, it's an awesome thing. Actually, having only the stricken ship fire one makes a lot more sense; that way the escorts know who was hit.

I also agree with your assessment of merchant searchlights. While it looks good in the game, I'm sure the Convoy Commodore doesn't want all of his precious merchants suddenly saying "Here I am! Over here! Shoot me first!"

mrbeast · 10-13-07, 06:41 PM

I seem to recall a convoy tactic that involved the convoy totally illuminating itself once it had been attacked, I'm talking ship hit here not just false alarm. Basically all the escorts would perform a manover that cut off all the likely escape routes for a sub. I think the rationale was that by illuminating the convoy it prevented the U boat from hiding among the ships and escaping so it was either on the surface and in sight or it was forced to dive. Forget where I read it. :hmm:

10-12-07, 01:32 PM	#1
Ping Panther Lieutenant Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: the armpit of the Mid-Atlantic / Quadrant CA42 Posts: 262 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Red flare I had read somewhere that ships in convoy often preferred to launch a red flare at the first sighting of a U-Boat, torpedo path or attack. These red flares (snowflake rockets?) would be used both in daylight and night by the closest or most available ship to the sighting as a way to universally alert the merchants and escorts to take action. I'll try to verify my info. from my reading with a quote, if needed. With all the momentum of the GWX team, I am just trying to provide all th e bits of info. a new-ish guy can figure to add to this effort. Have a super weekend! Cheers! PLEASE! TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LINK! It has all the convoy signals by code! (Red rockets are mentioned, horn blasts, pendants, EVERYTHING!) http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/extras/index.html Click into 'CONVOY SIGNALS' Flag info. at top of page & Rocket flare/horn blasts at bottom of page! Last edited by Ping Panther; 10-14-07 at 06:43 PM.

10-12-07, 03:55 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	SH2 had them, except they had them white. They were called 'Distress Rockets'. Their use in Titanic was one of that movie's best scenes. SH3 dumped them for searchlights. They would be kind of cool, but I doubt they could be done. That said, lots of things are being done now that everybody said was impossible a year ago. Who knows? __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

10-12-07, 04:22 PM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Red flares :hmm: __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-12-07, 05:14 PM	#4
3Jane Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: York. Northern England. Posts: 1,004 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I would prefere them to the searchlights. I can't see a convoy lighting up like that and making it's self visible to all the u-boats in the are which might not have a fix on it. __________________ Fate opposes me in vitality and morality, forced ever onward, burdened, always in shackles. So this very moment, without tarrying, pluck the quivering strings. Because fate punishes the one who plays, all lament with me. (http://hosted.filefront.com/KatherineRowan)

10-12-07, 05:43 PM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	You don't like the sight of all those searchlights during a night air raid then on a port ? :hmm: __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-13-07, 05:54 AM	#7
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Sounds like a good idea to add to to SH3/GWX.

10-13-07, 08:36 AM	#10
Ping Panther Lieutenant Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: the armpit of the Mid-Atlantic / Quadrant CA42 Posts: 262 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	I'm checking on that written reference I had from a while ago to the full context of the red flare signals. It would be for a first occurence of sighting and response, even in daylight. Then whatever illumination, if at night, would be used by escorts... searchlights, starshells. Red flare is just the help alert.

10-13-07, 06:41 PM	#15
mrbeast Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bolton, UK Posts: 1,236 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I seem to recall a convoy tactic that involved the convoy totally illuminating itself once it had been attacked, I'm talking ship hit here not just false alarm. Basically all the escorts would perform a manover that cut off all the likely escape routes for a sub. I think the rationale was that by illuminating the convoy it prevented the U boat from hiding among the ships and escaping so it was either on the surface and in sight or it was forced to dive. Forget where I read it. :hmm: __________________