AI U-boat behavior

[GoldenRivet]

AI U-Boat essential capabilities

The AI U-boats, if included in final release, should be able to complete the following tasks IMHO.

A. Basic Operations
1. Must be able to cruise on the surface at historically accurate speed

2. Must be able to submerge to at least theoretical crush depth.

3. Must be able to maneuver while submerged at least as fast as the player u-boat, and remain submerged for at least as long as the player u-boat given consideration to limitations of Air and Batteries.

4. Must be able to crash dive in a time comparable to the player u-boat's crash dive time.

B. Combat maneuvers
1. Must be capable of surface zig zagging

2. Must be capable of "knuckle port" or "knuckle starboard"

3. must be capable of "double knuckle" port or starboard

4. must be capable of silent running

C. Weapon usage
1. Must be capable of firing the deck gun

2. Must be capable of firing the flak gun

3. Must be capable of firing torpedoes while surfaced

4. Must be capable of firing torpedoes while submerged @ PD

D. Evasive Maneuvers While Surfaced
1. If detected by any armed enemy unit - I sub will dive to the deepest depth possible but not deeper than theoretical crush depth and not deeper than 10 meters above the sea floor.

2. If detected by an unarmed enemy unit - AI sub will attack with the deck gun until such time that it is detected by an armed enemy unit or the target is destroyed.

E. Evasive Maneuvers While Submerged
1. If detected by any armed enemy unit - AI sub will dive to the deepest depth possible but not deeper than theoretical crush depth and not deeper than 10 meters above the sea floor.

2. Upon reaching the desired depth, the AI U-Boat should use a speed setting of ahead slow with silent running enabled.

3. If depth charges are dropped, the AI U-boat should immediately commence any of the 4 basic "knuckle" turns via a roll dice logic.

4. Upon completion of the knuckle turn, ahead slow is resumed and - if equipped - a decoy is released.

in my personal and humble opinion.. if AI U-boats were coded with the above operating parameters... we would have some friends out there who at least pose a fighting chance