Ideas for escort implementation
 

1. Player position of "convoy commander" onboard a destroyer. Able to set the convoy on any given course, able to set a base course with zig-zags plus or minus up to 45 degrees. Able to vector all or some escorts to a particular area, or to a given u-boat target.

2. Players able to jump into an AI escort on the fly, or into unmanned positions within a player operated escort. Players able to set the course of their own escort in the absence of order from the convoy commander.

3. Limited depth-charge magazines, presenting the player with the need for some economy when dropping DC's.

4. Open bridges with audible asdic repeater whilst on bridge.

5. Use of British and/or Canadian, and US voices, with procedures appropriate to each navy.

6. Randomly applied "Hunter Killer" - essentially a much stronger compliment of destroyers to some games, allowing for more players operating more ships.

7. A better damage-model for U-boats allowing repairs to mitigate flooding rates, electrical or motor problems as a consequence of DC attacks, essentially giving the crewing players much more to do whilst under, and after, DC attacks, assuming they survive. Review of Physics-model, so abrupt changes of position vertically, especially by DC's exploding beneath the u-boat. Difficulties in holding vertical position whilst under DC attack, presenting the U-boat crew with the need to economise on compressed air whilst also having to make crude changes to bouyancy.

8. Rolling, yawing and pitching of escorts, to make, according the sea-state, difficulty in prosecuting accurate DC attack.

EDIT: I'll add to these over time.

Love it

Cheers, I should add:

9. Hedgehogs

10. 1st person view Flooding inside U-boat

11. Ability for convoy commander to set sequence of attacks by surface craft on u-boats, so that a player is notified of when it's "his turn" to attack, applying to AI crewed escorts, as well as player controlled ones.

12. star-shells

13. In some games shallower water depth than max crush depth. U-boat can determine with depth-finder

14. Introduction of weapons and equipment, eg different torpedoes, Albericht, Hedgehogs, radar, naxos etc with dates of introduction for both escorts and u-boats. Game's starting player sets date, starting player may be an escort player or a U-boat commander.

Slightly off topic , but IMO something to bear in mind is appreciating the immersive realism of human opponents in sims. I'm referencing what was for me the highlight period of sub simming when Silent Hunter II interfaced with Destroyer Command.
Nothing has come close to the sense of dread and utter helplessness that sitting under a human controlled destroyer ( or three ) knowing that they are intent on hunting you down no matter how long it takes... ping ping,every tactic, trick, deception and bluff .... a real game of minds and character.

Hours and hours of deep immersion trying to get a sub into the Med through the Gibraltar straits ... to get passed several player operated destroyers. A real test of nerve.

Would definitely like to see this happen with Wolfpack.
Would be happy to pay top dollar and contribute where I could

PS: On re-reading this I guess what i'm trying to say is the relationship between the Silent Hunter and the Hunter Destroyer is more important, thrilling and immersive, than the fairly pedestrian and repetitive process of accumulating tonnage. Cooperative Multi Player on both sides of the surface would be mind blowing. Fingers crossed.

:Kaleun_Salute:

Welcome aboard!
 

Agreed, I think he fairly hit the nail on the head there. Fighting v AI is one thing, fighting against human-controlled surface craft is quite another, for both sides.

I'd like to add acoustic torpedoes, and, the "Foxer" acoustic countermeasure (for destroyers) as a late-war possibility. The Lut programmable run torpedoes would be another possibility. I believe these were available in both electric and steam-driven versions, although the former was very short ranged by comparison?