[TMO + RSRDC] Where and when do you find big fat convoys???

rosentorf · 09-13-09, 06:33 AM

Hello fellow captains,

I searched the forum on several occasions to get an answer...never found anything specific to this question. I would like to know when and where you find big merchant convoys that you can track for days and weeks to get lots and lots of tonnage. Usually I find only two-merchant-convoys with one or two escorts...ME WANTS FAT UGLY CONVOYS WITH MEAN ESCORTS!!!

Please tell me what year and general area I can find those beaches!

The mods I use are the current versions of TMO + RSRDC with all the fixes and patches !

Armistead · 09-13-09, 01:02 PM

You can find them about anywhere, but best stick to the shipping lanes. If you want specifics, just open the ME. I would rather find them.

RSRD is more historically correct. If you study some books and maps, you can almost always find the large battles.

Most large convoys are invasion forces. Takes some study, but if you know what date they're going to invade a certain island, just search online and get the path. The Java Invasion force is huge.

They get as large as 50 ships and often two groups will come together and you can have 80 or more ships.

Large battles, again just search. Here is one map I use http://combinedfleet.com/battles/
For earlier invasions, map..
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...1-42_-_Map.jpg
...

Distortion · 09-13-09, 01:41 PM

Also, be sure to check te messages you receive about convoys and task forces.

rosentorf · 09-13-09, 03:03 PM

So... no nice and slow merchant convoys?

I have only encountered some Task Forces with up to 8 ships... what you show me here is much larger. I have never seen anything like that in my careers in SH4. And I try to stick to the shipping lanes. I guess I learn when big battles are happening and try to go there. But as you said...I'd rather just find them too.

rosentorf · 09-13-09, 03:05 PM

@Distortion:

Most messages about Task Forces reported them over 1000 nm away from my position. How can I intercept some thing like that?

Armistead · 09-13-09, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosentorf

So... no nice and slow merchant convoys?

I have only encountered some Task Forces with up to 8 ships... what you show me here is much larger. I have never seen anything like that in my careers in SH4. And I try to stick to the shipping lanes. I guess I learn when big battles are happening and try to go there. But as you said...I'd rather just find them too.

Most of those we're convoys. Here's how I learned. Do a search on Japanese convoy routes. You'll get hit's like this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Ichi_convoy. You can get lot's of hits on most large convoys or invasion forces if you will search them and get detailed map routes. Lurker did a great job and most are fairly close.

Again, most large convoys are invasion forces. Use the map at the beginning of the war. Look at all the places Japan invaded and try to be on the path the map showed at the right date.

Also, most patrol zones are places where convoys will be coming. Problem is you miss many of them. Make sure you take time to listen on sonar yourself as you can hear targets twice as far as any crew member. If you see planes, when you dive do a sonar scan. Anytime your PC starts slowing down in game, something is near, but often you miss it. If you get a slowdown, take sonar.

Here's a SS of the Java Invasion Force.

Here's a easy target, Kurita's Center force.

http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/t...877#5811074877

rosentorf · 09-13-09, 03:44 PM

numnumnumnumnum

I'll definitely try to find some information about some troop movement and routes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

Problem is you miss many of them. Make sure you take time to listen on sonar yourself as you can hear targets twice as far as any crew member.

Okay I did not know that...I will give that a try too!

Thanks Armistead!

I'm goin' down · 09-13-09, 09:35 PM

I don't know where the ugly ones are, but try Jenny Craig for the fat ones.

gAiNiAc · 09-13-09, 11:28 PM

My latest campaign has been out of Freemantle. I've been reading "Silent Victory" as I play the game. So far everything pertinent to my ops area has showed up on time! Quite fun to be in the middle of some of these battles.

Armistead · 09-13-09, 11:32 PM

Yep, you time it right you can see some great surface battles between ships. Nothin like a night surface battle with two TF's fighting it out. The sounds are awesome. Just save some torps as you can pick off a lot of wounded stragglers.

Distortion · 09-14-09, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosentorf

@Distortion:

Most messages about Task Forces reported them over 1000 nm away from my position. How can I intercept some thing like that?

That`s ok, most of the time you get a 2 or 3 day warning before the task force enters a specified zone. Then plot you course heading that direction, and prepare the intercept.

rosentorf · 09-14-09, 03:54 PM

I wonder, if something is very far away but still in reach of the manual hydrophone (you know when you man it yourself), will a contact appear as very, very faint sound, or will the green light turn on and you hear it no problem?

I believe in silent hunter III a contact always started out as being very faint...had some great moments back then finding something out there

Somehow I got to believe SH4 was different and I stopped doing it...but maybe I was a bit lazy too

Armistead · 09-14-09, 04:58 PM

We just discussed this some where. SH4 sonarman will not give a contact on an unknown target, it has to be warship or merchant. That being the case a crewman will not report an unknown target that you can hear yourself...

magic452 · 09-15-09, 01:07 AM

The green light will turn on but the sound will be faint.
Also you can get a bearing line on the map if you go to the box in the upper left and select a ship type and than hit the red arrow. You must guess what type of ship but if you use the sonar a lot you can often guess right.

The line will not update but will fade eventually but it can give you a starting point.

Magic

rosentorf · 09-15-09, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magic452

The green light will turn on but the sound will be faint

That's what I meant...so you'll see for sure if there is something out there.

It's kinda lame as there is never an uncertainty if you have found a contact or not, but on the other hand I have no problems finding contacts when I am playing the sim and my lady is watching her shows. Problem there is that there is always background noise which makes it hard to listen to a hydrophone...oddly it doesn't mess with my feeling of immersion when there is one of those Top Model/Chef/Designer shows in the background. You know, my sub-crew is just a lil'gay!

09-13-09, 06:33 AM	#1
rosentorf A-ganger Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 76 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	[TMO + RSRDC] Where and when do you find big fat convoys??? Hello fellow captains, I searched the forum on several occasions to get an answer...never found anything specific to this question. I would like to know when and where you find big merchant convoys that you can track for days and weeks to get lots and lots of tonnage. Usually I find only two-merchant-convoys with one or two escorts...ME WANTS FAT UGLY CONVOYS WITH MEAN ESCORTS!!! Please tell me what year and general area I can find those beaches! The mods I use are the current versions of TMO + RSRDC with all the fixes and patches !

09-13-09, 01:02 PM	#2
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	You can find them about anywhere, but best stick to the shipping lanes. If you want specifics, just open the ME. I would rather find them. RSRD is more historically correct. If you study some books and maps, you can almost always find the large battles. Most large convoys are invasion forces. Takes some study, but if you know what date they're going to invade a certain island, just search online and get the path. The Java Invasion force is huge. They get as large as 50 ships and often two groups will come together and you can have 80 or more ships. Large battles, again just search. Here is one map I use http://combinedfleet.com/battles/ For earlier invasions, map.. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...1-42_-_Map.jpg ... Last edited by Armistead; 09-13-09 at 02:07 PM.

09-13-09, 01:41 PM	#3
Distortion Rosengarten. Center Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 89 Downloads: 225 Uploads: 0	Also, be sure to check te messages you receive about convoys and task forces. __________________ "Ashes to ashes, dust unto dust, it may not run, but shine it must, it may not work, but it will not rust."

09-13-09, 09:35 PM	#8
I'm goin' down Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Notify command we have entered the Grass Sea Posts: 2,822 Downloads: 813 Uploads: 0	I do not know I don't know where the ugly ones are, but try Jenny Craig for the fat ones.

09-13-09, 11:28 PM	#9
gAiNiAc Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 369 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	My latest campaign has been out of Freemantle. I've been reading "Silent Victory" as I play the game. So far everything pertinent to my ops area has showed up on time! Quite fun to be in the middle of some of these battles. __________________

09-13-09, 03:03 PM	#4
rosentorf A-ganger Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 76 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	So... no nice and slow merchant convoys? I have only encountered some Task Forces with up to 8 ships... what you show me here is much larger. I have never seen anything like that in my careers in SH4. And I try to stick to the shipping lanes. I guess I learn when big battles are happening and try to go there. But as you said...I'd rather just find them too.

09-13-09, 03:05 PM	#5
rosentorf A-ganger Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 76 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	@Distortion: Most messages about Task Forces reported them over 1000 nm away from my position. How can I intercept some thing like that?

09-13-09, 11:32 PM	#10
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Yep, you time it right you can see some great surface battles between ships. Nothin like a night surface battle with two TF's fighting it out. The sounds are awesome. Just save some torps as you can pick off a lot of wounded stragglers.

09-14-09, 03:54 PM	#12
rosentorf A-ganger Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 76 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	I wonder, if something is very far away but still in reach of the manual hydrophone (you know when you man it yourself), will a contact appear as very, very faint sound, or will the green light turn on and you hear it no problem? I believe in silent hunter III a contact always started out as being very faint...had some great moments back then finding something out there Somehow I got to believe SH4 was different and I stopped doing it...but maybe I was a bit lazy too

09-14-09, 04:58 PM	#13
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	We just discussed this some where. SH4 sonarman will not give a contact on an unknown target, it has to be warship or merchant. That being the case a crewman will not report an unknown target that you can hear yourself...

09-15-09, 01:07 AM	#14
magic452 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Reno Nevada USA Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	The green light will turn on but the sound will be faint. Also you can get a bearing line on the map if you go to the box in the upper left and select a ship type and than hit the red arrow. You must guess what type of ship but if you use the sonar a lot you can often guess right. The line will not update but will fade eventually but it can give you a starting point. Magic __________________ Reported lost 11 Feb. 1942 Signature by depthtok33l