Patrol technique

doctrine · 08-13-10, 09:11 AM

Hey guys,

I was wondering if someone could help me some good technique for patrolling and searching ships.

Usually I just sail to the area where I have to be and start to zig-zag through that area, switching between surfaced and pericope depth with a TC around 128-512. Using waypoints of around 50km long. Sometimes a convoy or a single ship appears on my map but mostly they're like 200 km far so I don't respond.

When I'm lucky my watchcrew or sonar dude detects a convoy near me within a range I can attack. But usually I'm watching my nav-map for like 30 to 60 minutes real time before something appears to attack.

Maybe this is just how the game works, or am I doing something wrong?

Any suggestions and help is appreciated!

happycynic · 08-13-10, 01:50 PM

A couple things that have worked for me.

1. Use the beginning (fixed) hydrophone until you get the second upgrade (i.e. skip the first upgrade offered). This one works while surfaced as well so you don't have to stop and submerge to listen to it. I'm on my second play-through and this has really helped. The "disadvantage" of the starting hydrophone is that it isn't as effective directly fore or aft, but this is easily compensated for as you are going to be plotting an intercept course anyways (and thus moving at an angle to the target).

2. Learn convoy routes. AI seems to generally take a relatively straight line from port to port. So if you can guess that they are coming from, say, NYC to Scotland you can guess their general path. Also, mark all contacts on your map. Eventually you'll see the high traffic routes. The "area of operations" is often misleading. Usually there are a few corridors that are frequently used and the rest is empty.

3. Use the relevant upgrades. There are a few crew upgrades that increase the ability to find map contacts (radio) and increase the range of the hydrophone.

Takeda Shingen · 08-13-10, 01:52 PM

I would add that you might consider limiting your use of time compression. You'll miss a lot a high speed.

09-03-10, 10:02 AM

Code:

I was wondering if someone could help me some good technique for patrolling and searching ships.

I survive by being the coward I am, I hang around a port where water is deep (100m) Attack the helpless and weak, stab in the back etc etc. Playing SH is like going fishing, take a book put ya feet up and wait.

hope this helps

doctrine · 09-03-10, 10:36 AM

Hey!

Sorry for the late reply, was away for a while. But thanks for all the suggestions. Just launched the game again, so I will give it a try.

I'll post the results!

Akula20342 · 01-09-11, 12:08 PM

What if you traveled at "3"speed and set TC To 512. Would that be ok to trip the TC back down to 32 and give you time to react?

08-13-10, 09:11 AM	#1
doctrine Mate Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Near the port of Rotterdam Posts: 59 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	Patrol technique Hey guys, I was wondering if someone could help me some good technique for patrolling and searching ships. Usually I just sail to the area where I have to be and start to zig-zag through that area, switching between surfaced and pericope depth with a TC around 128-512. Using waypoints of around 50km long. Sometimes a convoy or a single ship appears on my map but mostly they're like 200 km far so I don't respond. When I'm lucky my watchcrew or sonar dude detects a convoy near me within a range I can attack. But usually I'm watching my nav-map for like 30 to 60 minutes real time before something appears to attack. Maybe this is just how the game works, or am I doing something wrong? Any suggestions and help is appreciated!

09-03-10, 10:02 AM	#4
sidslotm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	sid survives Code: I was wondering if someone could help me some good technique for patrolling and searching ships. I survive by being the coward I am, I hang around a port where water is deep (100m) Attack the helpless and weak, stab in the back etc etc. Playing SH is like going fishing, take a book put ya feet up and wait. hope this helps

08-13-10, 01:50 PM	#2
happycynic Swabbie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 6 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	A couple things that have worked for me. 1. Use the beginning (fixed) hydrophone until you get the second upgrade (i.e. skip the first upgrade offered). This one works while surfaced as well so you don't have to stop and submerge to listen to it. I'm on my second play-through and this has really helped. The "disadvantage" of the starting hydrophone is that it isn't as effective directly fore or aft, but this is easily compensated for as you are going to be plotting an intercept course anyways (and thus moving at an angle to the target). 2. Learn convoy routes. AI seems to generally take a relatively straight line from port to port. So if you can guess that they are coming from, say, NYC to Scotland you can guess their general path. Also, mark all contacts on your map. Eventually you'll see the high traffic routes. The "area of operations" is often misleading. Usually there are a few corridors that are frequently used and the rest is empty. 3. Use the relevant upgrades. There are a few crew upgrades that increase the ability to find map contacts (radio) and increase the range of the hydrophone.

08-13-10, 01:52 PM	#3
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	I would add that you might consider limiting your use of time compression. You'll miss a lot a high speed.

09-03-10, 10:36 AM	#5
doctrine Mate Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Near the port of Rotterdam Posts: 59 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	Hey! Sorry for the late reply, was away for a while. But thanks for all the suggestions. Just launched the game again, so I will give it a try. I'll post the results!

01-09-11, 12:08 PM	#6
Akula20342 Watch Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 25 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	What if you traveled at "3"speed and set TC To 512. Would that be ok to trip the TC back down to 32 and give you time to react?