ASW Sub Searching

[digitalman]

Hi guys, new to the forum and a returner to Harpoon. I have a question regarding searching for subs, red or blue in the game.

 

Is there a method of allocating a search aircraft to conduct a long range search for a sub where it will automatically move round an area and drop sonar buoys?

 

At the moment I am using the formation editor for relatively close searches, and the plane drops buoys in the area allocated, but when i want to send an aircraft beyond the range of the formation editor the plane just moves to the point and stops. I have been manually setting search patterns and relying on MAD contacts, but it would be good to know if I have missed something and the aircraft will drop buoys while conducting the search patterns.

 

Also, kind of related to this, is the AI better at searching for subs better than the human, as whenever I play a sub based scenario I find it frustrating that I find it very hard to find subs with my air assets, but when trying the other side my subs get found very easily. I try to use all the good techniques like creep and depth, but it still seems my subs are towing a lot of rattling cans behind.

 

 

[CV32]

Hi guys, new to the forum and a returner to Harpoon. I have a question regarding searching for subs, red or blue in the game.

Is there a method of allocating a search aircraft to conduct a long range search for a sub where it will automatically move round an area and drop sonar buoys? At the moment I am using the formation editor for relatively close searches, and the plane drops buoys in the area allocated, but when i want to send an aircraft beyond the range of the formation editor the plane just moves to the point and stops. I have been manually setting search patterns and relying on MAD contacts, but it would be good to know if I have missed something and the aircraft will drop buoys while conducting the search patterns.

Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately there is no current method to assigning an ASW aircraft to perform a cold search in an automated fashion (as it would do in a formation patrol). You have to manually set the course and speed, and although tedious, it is really your only option. You have probably noticed that if you have a faint contact (with a resulting polygonal area of uncertainty), your search is much more automated.

 

 

Also, kind of related to this, is the AI better at searching for subs better than the human, as whenever I play a sub based scenario I find it frustrating that I find it very hard to find subs with my air assets, but when trying the other side my subs get found very easily. I try to use all the good techniques like creep and depth, but it still seems my subs are towing a lot of rattling cans behind.

If you offer a sniff of your presence to the AI, it offers the AI an area of uncertainty in which to intensify its search (as described above).

[digitalman]

Many thanks for the answer, well at least I know there is something that I havn't missed.

[CV32]

Some discussion of the issue in the HC beta testing forum here. Your comments/thoughts would be welcome.

[Tony]

I do not know if I did not notice this before while playing but it seems in the latest version the spacing of sonar buoys seems to be a lot closer together the before. I had a osprey drop 30 sonar buoys operating in a formation segment drop all in a 10 kilometer line and was wondering is that normal.

[CV32]

I do not know if I did not notice this before while playing but it seems in the latest version the spacing of sonar buoys seems to be a lot closer together the before. I had a osprey drop 30 sonar buoys operating in a formation segment drop all in a 10 kilometer line and was wondering is that normal.

 

A bug that I expect is related to the formation station keeping bug.