An elusive task force

ppk · 12-19-09, 12:16 AM

I get contact reports for a particular task force so often that I can't be the only one. It leaves the Blackpool-Liverpool area and transits through the Sea of the Hebrides (''Hebriden'' on the in-game map) and to Scapa. I've tried to catch it twice so far - in November 1939, and again in March 1940 - without any luck whatsoever.

Both times I slipped in through the pass between the two Hebrides islands at night some hours before the TF would be there according to it's position/speed I get from the frequent position updates. And both times there was no task force to be found. I was lying at 25 meters in a spot where I could not possibly miss it - or so I thought - as there's shore within 20k's on both sides.

Has anyone ever caught it? Is it worth the trouble? I was hoping to find some big juicy capital ships. There's a lot of traffic through that pass though so it wasn't a complete waste of time. I found targets for all my torpedoes within 3-4 days of hunting there. Short patrol, lots of action!

RoaldLarsen · 12-19-09, 08:26 AM

How are you getting these "contact reports"? Are they radio messages in GWX (as opposed to symbols appearing on your map)? If so, unless you have a mod enabled that reduces radio traffic to scripted events, you need to be aware that many of the radio messages you get are "for immersion purposes only" and bear no relation to what is actually happening in the game engine. IOW, most of the messages talk about things which, as far as the game is concerned, aren't really happening. If that is the case here, you will never find that task force.

Coyote88 · 12-19-09, 08:27 AM

Is there a task force icon (gray diamond) appearing on the navigation map, or just a radio message? Most of the radio messages are just 'chrome' and don't really reflect anything happening in the game except in a vague, here's-what-was-going-on-in-the-war sort of way.

Weiss Pinguin · 12-19-09, 12:25 PM

Well, it could also be the game reporting a group of PT boats. I seem to recall reading that there were groups of them scripted to patrol the coast, and possibly they disappear before you see them.

ppk · 12-19-09, 03:08 PM

No I know the random radio messages are just for immersion, in fact I have WB's 'light' radio messages mod because I just find them annoying. I meant the BdU reports that put diamonds on the map. These are supposed to be real, right?

Funny you would mention patrol boats though, as both times I found a group of Elco's on the scene (although the task force, from the reports, was reported to travel at 10 knots). Might it be that I'm getting all these reports for torpedo boats?

Draka · 12-19-09, 03:50 PM

Task Force = warships
Elco boats are warships
Ayup, you found 'em

ppk · 12-19-09, 04:36 PM

Bummer. Thought task forces were big warships!

Jimbuna · 12-19-09, 04:37 PM

Access the Campaign_SCR through the mission editor and you'll see precisely what it is

Task Force · 12-19-09, 04:38 PM

yes, im here. oah... the other kind. LOL

Gaijin · 12-19-09, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppk

Funny you would mention patrol boats though, as both times I found a group of Elco's on the scene (although the task force, from the reports, was reported to travel at 10 knots). Might it be that I'm getting all these reports for torpedo boats?

Yup. Those torp boats have broken my heart many a time. Any regular task force reports going clockwise around the British coast...are probably* not worth going after IMO.

*I say probably, but with GWX, one never knows...

Task Force · 12-20-09, 12:12 AM

yea, lol, that one that goes around the top of britian, dosent exist, ive tryed to intercept... no ships to slip a torp into...

ppk · 12-20-09, 01:46 AM

Found a nice place to vent my torpedo boat frustrations. Vacations in Norway.

Ran into this guy on my way to Narvik. What's up Bismarck?

Ooooh, Mr. Nelson... Didn't I sink you in November already?

British destroyers have a disco party. The ash cans never came close.

She wouldn't sink but for some reason they left a single destroyer as protection... And an immobile one at that.

Unfortunately I never found the Warspite... Whatever.

Weiss Pinguin · 12-20-09, 09:05 AM

I once caught the Warspite escorting a convoy.

Out of a snapshot spread of 3, my last eel caught it right under the middle... Unfortunately during another attack my game crashed, no saves.

BrewerAlpha · 12-20-09, 09:11 AM

Great photo-journal, ppk.

BillCar · 12-21-09, 09:36 AM

I caught a task force just out of the Hebrides last night, actually, but could not close distance. Four or five destroyers, HMS Hood, HMS Nelson, and HMS Rodney. Pretty big show, but there was no way I could catch them. It was ver disappointing. That would be late October, 1939.

12-19-09, 12:16 AM	#1
ppk Machinist's Mate Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 125 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	An elusive task force I get contact reports for a particular task force so often that I can't be the only one. It leaves the Blackpool-Liverpool area and transits through the Sea of the Hebrides (''Hebriden'' on the in-game map) and to Scapa. I've tried to catch it twice so far - in November 1939, and again in March 1940 - without any luck whatsoever. Both times I slipped in through the pass between the two Hebrides islands at night some hours before the TF would be there according to it's position/speed I get from the frequent position updates. And both times there was no task force to be found. I was lying at 25 meters in a spot where I could not possibly miss it - or so I thought - as there's shore within 20k's on both sides. Has anyone ever caught it? Is it worth the trouble? I was hoping to find some big juicy capital ships. There's a lot of traffic through that pass though so it wasn't a complete waste of time. I found targets for all my torpedoes within 3-4 days of hunting there. Short patrol, lots of action! __________________ When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you. Friedrich Nietzsche U-46 (VIIB) - 62 ships for 395,532 tons in Apr40 [DiD]

12-19-09, 12:25 PM	#4
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	Well, it could also be the game reporting a group of PT boats. I seem to recall reading that there were groups of them scripted to patrol the coast, and possibly they disappear before you see them. __________________

12-19-09, 03:08 PM	#5
ppk Machinist's Mate Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 125 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	No I know the random radio messages are just for immersion, in fact I have WB's 'light' radio messages mod because I just find them annoying. I meant the BdU reports that put diamonds on the map. These are supposed to be real, right? Funny you would mention patrol boats though, as both times I found a group of Elco's on the scene (although the task force, from the reports, was reported to travel at 10 knots). Might it be that I'm getting all these reports for torpedo boats? __________________ When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you. Friedrich Nietzsche U-46 (VIIB) - 62 ships for 395,532 tons in Apr40 [DiD]

12-19-09, 04:36 PM	#7
ppk Machinist's Mate Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 125 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Bummer. Thought task forces were big warships! __________________ When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you. Friedrich Nietzsche U-46 (VIIB) - 62 ships for 395,532 tons in Apr40 [DiD]

12-19-09, 04:37 PM	#8
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Access the Campaign_SCR through the mission editor and you'll see precisely what it is __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

12-19-09, 08:26 AM	#2
RoaldLarsen Weps Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Control Room Posts: 355 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	How are you getting these "contact reports"? Are they radio messages in GWX (as opposed to symbols appearing on your map)? If so, unless you have a mod enabled that reduces radio traffic to scripted events, you need to be aware that many of the radio messages you get are "for immersion purposes only" and bear no relation to what is actually happening in the game engine. IOW, most of the messages talk about things which, as far as the game is concerned, aren't really happening. If that is the case here, you will never find that task force.

12-19-09, 08:27 AM	#3
Coyote88 Seaman Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cruising the Norwegian coastline Posts: 39 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Is there a task force icon (gray diamond) appearing on the navigation map, or just a radio message? Most of the radio messages are just 'chrome' and don't really reflect anything happening in the game except in a vague, here's-what-was-going-on-in-the-war sort of way.

12-19-09, 03:50 PM	#6
Draka Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 256 Downloads: 322 Uploads: 0	Task Force = warships Elco boats are warships Ayup, you found 'em

12-19-09, 04:38 PM	#9
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	yes, im here. oah... the other kind. LOL __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

12-20-09, 12:12 AM	#11
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	yea, lol, that one that goes around the top of britian, dosent exist, ive tryed to intercept... no ships to slip a torp into... __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

12-20-09, 01:46 AM	#12
ppk Machinist's Mate Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 125 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Found a nice place to vent my torpedo boat frustrations. Vacations in Norway. Ran into this guy on my way to Narvik. What's up Bismarck? Ooooh, Mr. Nelson... Didn't I sink you in November already? British destroyers have a disco party. The ash cans never came close. She wouldn't sink but for some reason they left a single destroyer as protection... And an immobile one at that. Unfortunately I never found the Warspite... Whatever. __________________ When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you. Friedrich Nietzsche U-46 (VIIB) - 62 ships for 395,532 tons in Apr40 [DiD]

12-20-09, 09:05 AM	#13
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	I once caught the Warspite escorting a convoy. Out of a snapshot spread of 3, my last eel caught it right under the middle... Unfortunately during another attack my game crashed, no saves. __________________

12-20-09, 09:11 AM	#14
BrewerAlpha Watch Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 22 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Great photo-journal, ppk.

12-21-09, 09:36 AM	#15
BillCar Engineer Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 203 Downloads: 73 Uploads: 0	I caught a task force just out of the Hebrides last night, actually, but could not close distance. Four or five destroyers, HMS Hood, HMS Nelson, and HMS Rodney. Pretty big show, but there was no way I could catch them. It was ver disappointing. That would be late October, 1939. __________________ SH3: 100% Realism, DID, GWX 3.0 + SH3 Commander 3.2 + HITMAN'S BETA GUI FOR GWX 3.0 (in a word: AMAZING) + FM Interiors + SH5 Water + Thomsen's Sound Pack 3.2 + BillCar's Sonar Ping http://tinyurl.com/billcarpingmod SH4: 100% Realism, DID, RFB / TMO1.9+RSRDC / OM+OMEGU.