Tac / Btac And Id Oddities

Hey Ladies and Gents, I?d like to mention just a few things I?ve been pondering here recently while doing some playing.

On the TAC/BTAC display during tactical patrols I?ve noticed that unknown contacts are only classified once they come within four NM of your vessel, even if they are in direct contact with one of your allied vessels. It doesn?t make much of a difference playing as anything DD or smaller, but with the Hood, Prince or Kaiser it makes a rather significant difference since they can reach out and touch someone at much greater range.

Along the same lines, I?ve noticed that when the deck guns are set to auto-engage they will track and engage targets that do not even appear in the TAC/BTAC. While this may be handy to the user, it can also be a hindrance because I?m pretty sure that the AI can do the same thing (knock off your PT boat at 16 NM with its 15? weapons).

Don?t know if this has been addressed yet or not, but the current hull number scheme is a little odd to me. I understand that designation on the TAC/BTAC might be different (DD 1, DD 2, etc.) but the actual numbers on the ships should just be the number. Different navies do use different standards, but the US has been that way for quite some time (DD 507 would just say 507, etc.). Apparently Britain?s Pennant Number functions in a similar fashion. I?m not too familiar with the ?letters superior? concept, but it looks like each class of combatant had different letters that preceded their pennant numbers. It gets pretty complex, but would be worth it since the current hull numbers look a little lacking (different font for the numbers would be nice too).

I?m sure I?ll come up with other things as time goes on. Of course I know this is a game (and a great one at that!) so I?m just kinda nitpicking at this point. If none of these things ever change then I?m sure I?ll have just as much fun playing it as I do now.

Oh, as for the US type designators during WWII:

CV - multipurpose aircraft carrier

CVL - light carrier

CVE - escort carrier

BB - battleship

CB - battle cruiser

CA - heavy cruiser

CL - light cruiser

CLAA - anti-aircraft cruiser

DD - destroyer

DE - escort destroyer

PG - patrol ship

PF - patrol ship

PY - patrol/training ship

PYc - same

SS - submarine

Good Lord there are plenty more. However I don't have the patience to copy them all down from DANFS ;-)

Cheers y?all! ;-)

Along the same lines, I?ve noticed that when the deck guns are set to auto-engage they will track and engage targets that do not even appear in the TAC/BTAC. While this may be handy to the user, it can also be a hindrance because I?m pretty sure that the AI can do the same thing (knock off your PT boat at 16 NM with its 15? weapons).

If you're right about the AI, that would really suck.

Just noticed something new. I was playing as the Prince Edward today on Patrol and about halfway through the mission my fuel bunkers took a hit and began to drain out. Normally this isn't too big an issue because by the time you're that badly damaged in any other ship, fuel is the least of your worries. I went through and managed to catch a breath only to notice that my fuel was continuing to leak out, dropping me further and further into the yellow zone. I slowed down considerably to conserve fuel when a task group of DEs and subs came at me. First hit I took and the fuel leak started again. The Battlecruiser managed to dump its entire supply of distillate into the ocean in about five minutes.

These things had massive networks of self-sealing tanks to prevent just this from happening. The submarines of the DE/sub group could well have had me, except they decided to surface for some strange reason.

So there I was, stuck floating in the middle of nowhere with no gas and nobody to come and refill the old tanks. Oh well, still managed to have a great old time ;-)

Cheers!

You know you can get tankers & oilers to resupply you, right?

/bux

You know you can get tankers & oilers to resupply you, right?
/bux

notify: Well I didnt

Theres a button in the B/Tac?

You know you can get tankers & oilers to resupply you, right?
/bux

I dunno. There aren't any in the mission at that time. I think I was playing Merchant interdiction at that point. ::Shrug:: Still kinda bummed about that, 'cause I haven't had a chance to get resupplied/repaired yet and I'd like to try it, sounds like fun.

it only works in the random patrols though...