Real-Life ship recognition

MRV · 03-14-11, 04:00 PM

Hi there,

having really a hard time with the SH5 TDC brought a question to my mind: how were ships identified in real life? I mean, it makes sense to have a recognition manual on board for intelligence-based info on hostile warships.

But what about merchants? You obviously need that info (mast height, draft.....) to sucessfully torpedo them, but IMHO there are (and were) hundreds of different civilian ship types, often not built from a certain class but special-built for the requirements of the future owner.

How did they got this right on u-boats?

03-14-11, 04:00 PM	#1
MRV Frogman Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 296 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 0	Real-Life ship recognition Hi there, having really a hard time with the SH5 TDC brought a question to my mind: how were ships identified in real life? I mean, it makes sense to have a recognition manual on board for intelligence-based info on hostile warships. But what about merchants? You obviously need that info (mast height, draft.....) to sucessfully torpedo them, but IMHO there are (and were) hundreds of different civilian ship types, often not built from a certain class but special-built for the requirements of the future owner. How did they got this right on u-boats?