Using Radar to Search for Submarines

[SeaQueen]

I've been playing with the P-3 lately. I created a scenario where I was the pouncer for 3 CVOAs located in the Philippine Sea, and I had to make sure a CVN didn't get sunk. Interestingly, my most effective search sensor wasn't the sonobuoys at all. I used them mostly for prosecution. It was the radar!

Up at 2000ft, the radar horizon is pretty long so I could search large portions of the ocean relatively quickly. When I saw a radar contact vanish from my screen, I knew it was a submarine submerging. I'd fly to the last location and just drop a torpedo on the MAD hit. I'd get 'em every time.

[Molon Labe]

A little surprising. I know there's a hardcode that makes D-E subs run their diesels on occasion, but I think they usually do it snorkeling. Did you set up the mission to force them to surface on some interval?

[SeaQueen]

Originally Posted by Molon Labe

A little surprising. I know there's a hardcode that makes D-E subs run their diesels on occasion, but I think they usually do it snorkeling. Did you set up the mission to force them to surface on some interval?

I know, that's why I posted it! :-)

I just let the AI do it's thing. There was no coding at all in it. Something I've noticed, and this goes back to my usual axe to grind, is that people don't make missions with the correct distance and time scales in mind. Out of 24 submarines in the whole scenario, I only saw 2 pop up in 3 hours. Part of that was due to the limitations of my radar horizon at 2000ft too. There might have been more and I just didn't see them.

None the less, if you throw enough submarines in there, eventually, you'll see them surface. Another thing I've noticed is that submarines at periscope depth will go deep when a helo goes near them. I guess they're trying to avoid the MAD. There's actually a lot of interesting behaviors built into the stock AI, but they're realistic ones, which means that yeah, the submarines won't pop up a whole lot, but they do pop up.

[LoBlo]

Care to share the scenarios? I played your RIMPAC scenario. It was challenging. You should make more and share them.

[SeaQueen]

Originally Posted by LoBlo

Care to share the scenarios? I played your RIMPAC scenario. It was challenging. You should make more and share them.

I'm glad you liked RIMPAC. NATO EXWAR exercise is pretty similar but with an ESG instead of a CSG. I sent in a scenario called NATO ISR exercise to Bill Nichols but it seems to have vanished into the void. He doesn't seem to be updating his site like he used to be. I guess with the Democrats in power he has things to do again.

The mission I'm playing with now is still in the works, but it is definitely promising as one to send in. I actually want to make a campaign some time. I just can't figure out how to make that part of the scenario editor work.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by SeaQueen

I'm glad you liked RIMPAC. NATO EXWAR exercise is pretty similar but with an ESG instead of a CSG. I sent in a scenario called NATO ISR exercise to Bill Nichols but it seems to have vanished into the void. He doesn't seem to be updating his site like he used to be. I guess with the Democrats in power he has things to do again.

The mission I'm playing with now is still in the works, but it is definitely promising as one to send in. I actually want to make a campaign some time. I just can't figure out how to make that part of the scenario editor work.

Just played ISR and liked it although it was a little long, returning to the ESG area there wasn't much to see (no shipping or biologics).

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by SeaQueen

I know, that's why I posted it! :-)

I just let the AI do it's thing. There was no coding at all in it. Something I've noticed, and this goes back to my usual axe to grind, is that people don't make missions with the correct distance and time scales in mind. Out of 24 submarines in the whole scenario, I only saw 2 pop up in 3 hours. Part of that was due to the limitations of my radar horizon at 2000ft too. There might have been more and I just didn't see them.

None the less, if you throw enough submarines in there, eventually, you'll see them surface. Another thing I've noticed is that submarines at periscope depth will go deep when a helo goes near them. I guess they're trying to avoid the MAD. There's actually a lot of interesting behaviors built into the stock AI, but they're realistic ones, which means that yeah, the submarines won't pop up a whole lot, but they do pop up.

I can assure you, helos going deep with air contacts in the vicinity is not hardcoded, but controlled by doctrine.

EDIT: it turns out I'm wrong about the snorkeling; that is also doctrine.

I'm glad you liked RIMPAC. NATO EXWAR exercise is pretty similar but with an ESG instead of a CSG. I sent in a scenario called NATO ISR exercise to Bill Nichols but it seems to have vanished into the void. He doesn't seem to be updating his site like he used to be. I guess with the Democrats in power he has things to do again.

Well at least I know he's not just pissed at me.

[LoBlo]

Maybe a a PM to him would be in order to check that everything is cool?

Of course... subguru.com is the only repository for DW scenarios... if the site ever went down all the scenarios would be lost... hmm..

[SeaQueen]

Originally Posted by LoBlo

Of course... subguru.com is the only repository for DW scenarios... if the site ever went down all the scenarios would be lost... hmm..

That's not true. Now there's CADC too. I just put NATO ISR exercise up on that one. Hopefully someone enjoys it. It's a little bit different from the usual scenario.