Couple of questions about the AI | Forums

[LouLewis1967]

Do sampans, fishing boats etc really communicate with enemy ships in the area? A recent set of events makes me think they do. I was to photo recon the anchorage at Rabaul, and was making my approach on the surface when I noticed I was passing a sampan just a couple thousand yards away. Two ships eventually converged in an area directly behind me and commenced depth charging. They did not rush there at full speed or anything, but definitely diverted to get there. In the end it worked out pretty well to have them behind me though.

Second, does the AI sonar only detect your sub when it is submerged? I was sneaking around a patrolling unit just SW of Peleliu on an extremely dark night. Overcast with 7knot winds and no moon. It was creeping along at 5 kts roughly westward, and I could not even hear it on sonar (although my sonar guy would report its bearings). I got right in front of him and slowed to about 3kts, slowly letting it close range so I could at least see it. The watch spotted it at about 4300yds, although I could see nothing through the TBT. Anyway, ID'd it as a Mutsuki DD, and slowly started to angle off it's course to open up some distance. I did not want to go too fast and create much of a bow wave, and I realized I was in a bit of a pickle, too close to get away, I was going to be run down. So I ordered a dive. As soon as I got below, the DD sped up and went right over top of me. He did not ping or drop any DC's, but he definitely seemed spooked about something in my area. It seemed to me that diving was what got me noticed.

[fireftr18]

If you (your watch crew) can see them, they can see you.

[paulhager]

Regarding your sonar question, yes, the sonar only detects your sub when submerged. Night surface attacks are (with TMO 2.5) effective because enemy sonar can't pick up your sub. In fact, a night surface attack under conditions of 0 wind may be the safest way to attack a convoy, particularly late war.

[nohunt1]

Speaking of night surface attacks....Where should one position the sub when there's considerable moonlight..?? I would think with the moon behind the sub, but not sure...

[MWolfe1963]

Sampams, etc., are like all ships, nation specific and mods differ, simply they must be japanee to radio. The issue is mods like RSRD include traffic for many nations and you can't tell t be which nation a Sampan may belong, but most near japan Formosa, etc..you know are enemy. Also know some around enemy ports are set enemy.Again, with all groups factors decide range contacts will respond.

As stated sonar can only detect you when your electrics cut on and u are submerged, some do night surface attacks, but go deep enough that electrics cut on, but they can man the bridge, in this case u are a sonar target

[MWolfe1963]

realistically you would want the moon behind he enemy, but i've never seen a value for that, only moon phase matters, more light, higher values.....

[nohunt1]

realistically you would want the moon behind he enemy, but i've never seen a value for that, only moon phase matters, more light, higher values.....

I was thinking that with the moon behind the sub, the target ship would see your silhouette only, whereas with the moon behind the target the sub would be fully illuminated....

Seems like I always have to put up with a full moon...

[MWolfe1963]

You would want the moon in your front behind the enemy, where there is no factor for this in game it still will help your attack as you can see silhouettes, really helps with
the dark horizons of some versions of TMO. The moonlight that may reflect off your sub front is less dangerous than you sub outline with light behind you, but again in game it doesn't matter. More dangerous is your bow wake which is determined by speed, simply exceed a certain speed and the enemy gets higher visual values. The game doesn't really see light on the water,it has values for your bow wake, moon phase, wind speed, etc. It's very dangerous to attack night surface in calm water with a full moon.