Weather reports

Lost At Sea · 08-11-05, 05:44 PM

I just wished the navigator would not be able to give such a detailed weather report while sitting 100m below for hours...
Sea condition, maybe... He could be making a wild guess as it should not change too quickly.
But the wind speed / direction and general visibility?

I just wished I could get back to periscope depth, raise my obs scope and discover the actual weather by myself and get real irritated when all is fog.

Could weather reports be greyed out when below?
I suspect a smart @ss gonna say don't hit the weather report key... but I'm curious by nature and can't help hitting that particular key.

Mud · 08-11-05, 05:49 PM

Don't hit the weather report key

Letum · 08-11-05, 05:50 PM

cut your fingers off

Lost At Sea · 08-11-05, 06:10 PM

and so we've got 2 smart @sses LOL

Ula Jolly · 08-11-05, 06:18 PM

Hahahaaa!

Well... to make it more realistic, make it a rule for yourself to go to periscope depth and raise the periscope (at least!) before asking for the weather.

August · 08-11-05, 07:21 PM

I can guess the current weather for myself what i'd rather have is a weather forecast button.

Sawdust · 08-11-05, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

I can guess the current weather for myself what i'd rather have is a weather forecast button.

Interesting idea. It got me thinking about meteorology during the war:
1. How good was weather forecasting in the 1930's/1940's in general?
2. How did the war affect this? (weather station data might've been less available, especially in enemy territory)
I suppose other U-boats could radio in their observations, like modern-day aircraft.
:hmm:

I was a bit surprised when I saw this option:

(Don't worry, it's just an incorrect "tool tip" in the game that, apparently,
shows up when your radio antenna is destroyed.

)

August · 08-11-05, 08:38 PM

The extent of my knowledge on that subject is limited to bad hollywood movies:

"Report from Spitsbergen, weather clearing"

Heffalump · 08-12-05, 01:36 AM

Strangely, I always wished he would tell me the temperature.

blueparrott · 08-12-05, 02:20 AM

I don't know the standards or quality of the weather forecasting in the 30's and 40's but getting weather information was very important during the war.

The germans had special weather ships stationed in the northern atlantic since that is where most european weather systems originates. These ships had special significance for the allies since they became a source for cryptomaterial to help the cryptanalytical efforts to break into enigma. The gremans also used u-boats for weather reporting...not very popular with the crews...and also a benefit for allied DF'ing.

One interesting fact also is the effort the allied made to break the weather key used by the germans. This was partly to get access to german forecast and weather data to be able to forecast weather for the allied bomber offensive but also since these messages could also provide "cribs", plain text give aways which were essential to break enigma.

I think the weather war is an interesting "side-show" rthat warrants more and better treatment that it has been given.

Nopileo · 08-12-05, 03:49 AM

Wouldn't it be possible for some clever modders to edit the game so that weather reports are only possible while surfaced?

SmokinTep · 08-12-05, 06:30 AM

I limit myself to only asking at periscope depth or on the surface.

Nopileo · 08-12-05, 08:07 AM

If it's possible at all, I think surface only would be the easiest, since the game switches 'mode' on the surface compared to submerged - regardless of depth.

Laughing Swordfish · 08-12-05, 10:28 AM

When I need to check the weather I put my souwester on and go up to the bridge.
It'd be more useful if it was a forecast rather than a report of what you can already see for yourself
The other thing I've noticed is that the weather often looks a lot calmer through the periscope, than it does from the bridge, and I've been frustrated more than once when ordering action staions on the guns, only to be told they can't be manned during a storm, when the sea looks like a mill pond. Has anyone else had this?

Bunny, U-46

Shadow9216 · 08-12-05, 10:58 AM

The Germans used to station one or two boats in the middle of the north atlantic to do weather reporting for the benefit of the Luftwaffe planners...although they provided little to no help to the u-boats!

Crews hated it since they were stuck at sea with nothing to show for it. Often, damaged boats and/or boats without torpedoes would be tasked with reporting.

Perhaps the command was part of the scripted campaign that never was? Or maybe part of the dynamic campaign, responding to a directive from BdU?

08-11-05, 05:44 PM	#1
Lost At Sea Soundman Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 144 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	Weather reports I just wished the navigator would not be able to give such a detailed weather report while sitting 100m below for hours... Sea condition, maybe... He could be making a wild guess as it should not change too quickly. But the wind speed / direction and general visibility? I just wished I could get back to periscope depth, raise my obs scope and discover the actual weather by myself and get real irritated when all is fog. Could weather reports be greyed out when below? I suspect a smart @ss gonna say don't hit the weather report key... but I'm curious by nature and can't help hitting that particular key.

08-11-05, 05:50 PM	#3
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	cut your fingers off __________________

08-11-05, 06:18 PM	#5
Ula Jolly Samurai Navy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Norway Posts: 567 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hahahaaa! Well... to make it more realistic, make it a rule for yourself to go to periscope depth and raise the periscope (at least!) before asking for the weather. __________________ I shall punish yee, landlubber! C'mere for spankings and popsicles!

08-11-05, 07:21 PM	#6
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I can guess the current weather for myself what i'd rather have is a weather forecast button. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

08-11-05, 08:38 PM	#8
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The extent of my knowledge on that subject is limited to bad hollywood movies: "Report from Spitsbergen, weather clearing" __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

08-11-05, 05:49 PM	#2
Mud Captain Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 541 Downloads: 50 Uploads: 0	Don't hit the weather report key

08-11-05, 06:10 PM	#4
Lost At Sea Soundman Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 144 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	and so we've got 2 smart @sses LOL

08-12-05, 01:36 AM	#9
Heffalump A-ganger Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 77 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Strangely, I always wished he would tell me the temperature.

08-12-05, 02:20 AM	#10
blueparrott Swabbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 11 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I don't know the standards or quality of the weather forecasting in the 30's and 40's but getting weather information was very important during the war. The germans had special weather ships stationed in the northern atlantic since that is where most european weather systems originates. These ships had special significance for the allies since they became a source for cryptomaterial to help the cryptanalytical efforts to break into enigma. The gremans also used u-boats for weather reporting...not very popular with the crews...and also a benefit for allied DF'ing. One interesting fact also is the effort the allied made to break the weather key used by the germans. This was partly to get access to german forecast and weather data to be able to forecast weather for the allied bomber offensive but also since these messages could also provide "cribs", plain text give aways which were essential to break enigma. I think the weather war is an interesting "side-show" rthat warrants more and better treatment that it has been given.

08-12-05, 03:49 AM	#11
Nopileo Watch Officer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norway Posts: 333 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Wouldn't it be possible for some clever modders to edit the game so that weather reports are only possible while surfaced?

08-12-05, 06:30 AM	#12
SmokinTep Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Suffolk, Virginia Posts: 1,027 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I limit myself to only asking at periscope depth or on the surface.

08-12-05, 08:07 AM	#13
Nopileo Watch Officer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norway Posts: 333 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	If it's possible at all, I think surface only would be the easiest, since the game switches 'mode' on the surface compared to submerged - regardless of depth.

08-12-05, 10:28 AM	#14
Laughing Swordfish Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 713 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	When I need to check the weather I put my souwester on and go up to the bridge. It'd be more useful if it was a forecast rather than a report of what you can already see for yourself The other thing I've noticed is that the weather often looks a lot calmer through the periscope, than it does from the bridge, and I've been frustrated more than once when ordering action staions on the guns, only to be told they can't be manned during a storm, when the sea looks like a mill pond. Has anyone else had this? Bunny, U-46

08-12-05, 10:58 AM	#15
Shadow9216 Frogman Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 296 Downloads: 91 Uploads: 0	The Germans used to station one or two boats in the middle of the north atlantic to do weather reporting for the benefit of the Luftwaffe planners...although they provided little to no help to the u-boats! Crews hated it since they were stuck at sea with nothing to show for it. Often, damaged boats and/or boats without torpedoes would be tasked with reporting. Perhaps the command was part of the scripted campaign that never was? Or maybe part of the dynamic campaign, responding to a directive from BdU?