How do you make dipping sonar stop at each waypoint?

[Flunkie]

I used to play one of the original Harpoons, then Admirals Edition, then ANW.

When manually launching a helo with dipping sonar there was a way to make the helo stop at each waypoint and use it's sonar. Then it would go on to the next waypoint, pause with sonar, etc.

I don't remember how this was done and haven't been able to find it on the net.

Anyone know how to do this?

Harry

[TimOusley]

Once your waypoints are set, select one of them and enter instructions in the order that you want them to occur. Then use the Edit Wpt Orders in the Settings drop-down window to check them. I have found this to be kind of clunky so I didn't use it a lot, other than to delete a waypoint action. With helos and S3 Vikings, you might be able to mimic your desired behavior using the Mission and/or Formation Editors. In Mission, set up a patrol ASW mission and configure your reference points along either side of your desired patrol path (along where you would otherwise place your waypoints for the aircraft). You can't designate individual dipping points, but this should work pretty well. In the Formation Editor you might even be able to manually set up waypoints within a patrol zone, although it's been awhile since I've used the Formation Editor. You have to remember to go to the pre-game settings and disable the auto-formation editor or the game settings will override anything you do there. I also check it in Game Preferences soon as I load the scenario to make sure--sometimes you have to uncheck it there as well. Good luck.

[Flunkie]

Thanks Tim. Do you remember a way to make the helo pause at each waypoint?

[TimOusley]

A helo with an ASW loadout will automatically dip once it hits 0 knots and hover altitude. The calc is done instantly, invisible to you but you can confirm with AA reports enabled. It will immediately move on to the next command in the Wpt Edit script (a pause would be superfluous) unless the sonar detects a contact, in which case the helo will attempt to prosecute, dropping sonobuoys and trying to localize the contact. I had frequent trouble getting it to move on if the first waypoint had no contacts. You'll probably need to test it a few times, maybe use the scenario editor to keep it simple.