AI strange escort behaviour

PL_Harpoon · 06-30-17, 06:34 AM

I just noticed something strange while playing through several amphibious strike missions.

Usually, if you fire a torpedo at a convoy outside their detection range they will turn and run as soon as they detect a torpedo. This is fine.

What's not fine is that after then get out of danger zone the escort ships seem to just turn around and converge on the datum at whatever speed they are (often at flank speed). This renders them totally blind so you can just stay in one place and pick them off one by one as they come close.

Instead I think they should first fire a snapshot torpedo and then converge as slowly as possible (or at least using sprint and drift) zig-zaging on the way.
Also, if there is a helicopter it should be send there ASAP. perhaps using dipping sonar in both active and passive mode.

So far I had problems with helicopter only if they were by accident close enough to hear my launch transient.

06-30-17, 08:37 AM

According to "Modern Submarine Warfare", this is pretty much authentic.
If a possub is detected, the ASW forces immediately leave formation and approach the last known position at high speed.

Ingame this seems to be the case, and I have witnessed surface ships launching helicopters that investigated my general area.

PL_Harpoon · 06-30-17, 03:27 PM

Interesting.
That makes sense if the possible sub pos is outside of detection range.
But surely this doesn't means they need to go right on top of that position.

I've had ships sailing past me by 4KYDS that couldn't detect me because they were running at 30-something knots.

Shouldn't there be a "close enough" distance at which they'll begin their search?

06-30-17, 03:43 PM

I would assume so, this isn't described further, I think. Will have a look later.
But it only makes sense. Why would you steam into knife-fight range with a submarine?

But approaching the general direction at high speed to close distance and "block" the sub from the convoy seems logical.

Julhelm · 06-30-17, 04:43 PM

One is a hunter, one is a killer. The killer who moves in for the attack does not need to hold contact with his own sensors - there is a datalink for them to share target information between them.

PL_Harpoon · 06-30-17, 04:53 PM

I admit it sounds great in theory.

So, instead of arguing I'll try to record an example to show what I mean

06-30-17, 06:34 AM	#1
PL_Harpoon Engineer Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 210 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 4	AI strange escort behaviour I just noticed something strange while playing through several amphibious strike missions. Usually, if you fire a torpedo at a convoy outside their detection range they will turn and run as soon as they detect a torpedo. This is fine. What's not fine is that after then get out of danger zone the escort ships seem to just turn around and converge on the datum at whatever speed they are (often at flank speed). This renders them totally blind so you can just stay in one place and pick them off one by one as they come close. Instead I think they should first fire a snapshot torpedo and then converge as slowly as possible (or at least using sprint and drift) zig-zaging on the way. Also, if there is a helicopter it should be send there ASAP. perhaps using dipping sonar in both active and passive mode. So far I had problems with helicopter only if they were by accident close enough to hear my launch transient.

06-30-17, 08:37 AM	#2
Nippelspanner Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	According to "Modern Submarine Warfare", this is pretty much authentic. If a possub is detected, the ASW forces immediately leave formation and approach the last known position at high speed. Ingame this seems to be the case, and I have witnessed surface ships launching helicopters that investigated my general area.

06-30-17, 03:27 PM	#3
PL_Harpoon Engineer Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 210 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 4	Interesting. That makes sense if the possible sub pos is outside of detection range. But surely this doesn't means they need to go right on top of that position. I've had ships sailing past me by 4KYDS that couldn't detect me because they were running at 30-something knots. Shouldn't there be a "close enough" distance at which they'll begin their search?

06-30-17, 03:43 PM	#4
Nippelspanner Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I would assume so, this isn't described further, I think. Will have a look later. But it only makes sense. Why would you steam into knife-fight range with a submarine? But approaching the general direction at high speed to close distance and "block" the sub from the convoy seems logical.

06-30-17, 04:43 PM	#5
Julhelm Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Icy North Posts: 690 Downloads: 189 Uploads: 0	One is a hunter, one is a killer. The killer who moves in for the attack does not need to hold contact with his own sensors - there is a datalink for them to share target information between them.

06-30-17, 04:53 PM	#6
PL_Harpoon Engineer Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 210 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 4	I admit it sounds great in theory. So, instead of arguing I'll try to record an example to show what I mean