Just how effective IS allied radar? - 1st Nov 1942

Paul Riley · 05-10-09, 11:57 AM

A few things i'm finding a bit odd at the moment in my campaign (I did a similar post a few days ago on the absence of allied aircraft) is the sporadic and sometimes total absence of aircraft.As some of you may have read some of my reports in the 'tell us what you are upto in your current campaign' post I was molested about 6 or 7 times trying to break out of the bay of Biscay,and now there has been a total absence of aircraft altogether for 2 days or so now.My natural asumption is that at this point in the war (check date above in post title) allied radar appears very weak,if not totally ineffectual at longer ranges.I am currently about 1000km west of the French coast.

Can someone enlighten me exactly what is happening here,or is it just plain old luck that I have'nt been spotted yet,even at night on the surface?.I understand the difficulty for bombers as the range increases significantly,but 48hrs without even a single bomber at this range seems a bit too weird.I would have thought being surfaced,and on a clear day they would'nt have much trouble acquiring me.

Thanks.

Bronzewing · 05-10-09, 01:37 PM

The earlier ASV (air to surface vessel) radars 41-42, had a blind spot in that once they got within the last few km of their target they lost it. This meant that in overcast conditions, or moonless nights, they often lost targets they'd followed in on radar because they lost radar lock before they could spot it visually. If the weather is overcast then maybe they have been detecting you, they've just been losing you on final approach. That's be the real life explination of course, why it's happening in game may be something else entirely, I don't know if it models ASV II radar that accurately.

Paul Riley · 05-10-09, 01:51 PM

To be honest i've had very clear and calm days since leaving port.Seems that once I got to about 1000km west of France the air attacks stopped completely.
Thanks for the reply in any case.

PappyCain · 05-10-09, 02:03 PM

http://www.usaaf.net/ww2/uboats/uboatspg4.htm

Paul Riley · 05-10-09, 04:24 PM

Cheers pap.

Bronzewing · 05-11-09, 01:25 PM

Oh, just thought of something. What time compressiona are you using? Anything above 256 and aircraft show up a lot less often for some reason.

05-10-09, 11:57 AM	#1
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	Just how effective IS allied radar? - 1st Nov 1942 A few things i'm finding a bit odd at the moment in my campaign (I did a similar post a few days ago on the absence of allied aircraft) is the sporadic and sometimes total absence of aircraft.As some of you may have read some of my reports in the 'tell us what you are upto in your current campaign' post I was molested about 6 or 7 times trying to break out of the bay of Biscay,and now there has been a total absence of aircraft altogether for 2 days or so now.My natural asumption is that at this point in the war (check date above in post title) allied radar appears very weak,if not totally ineffectual at longer ranges.I am currently about 1000km west of the French coast. Can someone enlighten me exactly what is happening here,or is it just plain old luck that I have'nt been spotted yet,even at night on the surface?.I understand the difficulty for bombers as the range increases significantly,but 48hrs without even a single bomber at this range seems a bit too weird.I would have thought being surfaced,and on a clear day they would'nt have much trouble acquiring me. Thanks. __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

05-10-09, 01:37 PM	#2
Bronzewing Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Leicester Posts: 104 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	The earlier ASV (air to surface vessel) radars 41-42, had a blind spot in that once they got within the last few km of their target they lost it. This meant that in overcast conditions, or moonless nights, they often lost targets they'd followed in on radar because they lost radar lock before they could spot it visually. If the weather is overcast then maybe they have been detecting you, they've just been losing you on final approach. That's be the real life explination of course, why it's happening in game may be something else entirely, I don't know if it models ASV II radar that accurately. __________________ "I say Number one, my end is diving. What the hell is your end doing?"

05-10-09, 01:51 PM	#3
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	To be honest i've had very clear and calm days since leaving port.Seems that once I got to about 1000km west of France the air attacks stopped completely. Thanks for the reply in any case. __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

05-10-09, 04:24 PM	#5
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	Cheers pap. __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

05-11-09, 01:25 PM	#6
Bronzewing Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Leicester Posts: 104 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	Oh, just thought of something. What time compressiona are you using? Anything above 256 and aircraft show up a lot less often for some reason. __________________ "I say Number one, my end is diving. What the hell is your end doing?"

05-10-09, 02:03 PM	#4
PappyCain Samurai Navy Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: on the Atlantic Ocean Posts: 559 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	http://www.usaaf.net/ww2/uboats/uboatspg4.htm