Creating a Submarine Patrol Zone

[Don Bowen]

Patrol zones can be created for both submarine and surface task forces. Patrol zones are created in one of two ways:

1. Clicking on the map to designate the patrol zone boundaries, or
2. Using a short cut to click a single base or sea hex and having the AI assign patrol boundaries around that hex.

Option #1 is illustrated below.

First - Submarine Triton, on station south of Wake. It is December 7th and the sub does not have a patrol zone set.

[Don Bowen]

A patrol zone is set south of Wake. This was done by clicking on hexes for Patrol Boundaries 1 and 2. A third is available but was not used.

[Don Bowen]

The patrol zones are set and Triton is moving toward her patrol area. The patrol zone boundaries are outlined in green.

[Don Bowen]

A day has passed and Triton has reached the first patrol zone boundary. Since the linger option was set (at one day) she will remain here until the 9th, then move toward the next patrol zone boundary.

Triton will continue to patrol this zone until her orders are changed, she runs low on fuel or ammo, or is damaged. If she has to leave her patrol zone to refuel, she will automatically return once refueled.

[Mike Solli]

That's great, Don. 
 
What's the definition of "damaged"?

[Don Bowen]

A good level of damage - not just a systems damage point or two. But subs won't hang around once they get too much damage - it's a long way home.

[GaryChildress]

Beyond cool! [&o]

[JWE]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
That's great, Don. 

What's the definition of "damaged"?

Same as it ever was. Sys, Eng, Flot Damage.

The patrol option is available for other TFs as well. You can have a replenishment TF patrol in a BIG circle (or back & forth along a line) a couple hundred nm or so from a CV TF that's patrolling in a circle (or along a line) for sushi. Or maybe a Surface TF patrolling on a screen line in front of a CV TF, ... you get the idea.

[niceguy2005]

That will be a fantastic feature.  Now everyone can be as good as Speedy with subs. [:D]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: JWE

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
That's great, Don. 

What's the definition of "damaged"?

Same as it ever was. Sys, Eng, Flot Damage.

The patrol option is available for other TFs as well. You can have a replenishment TF patrol in a BIG circle (or back & forth along a line) a couple hundred nm or so from a CV TF that's patrolling in a circle (or along a line) for sushi. Or maybe a Surface TF patrolling on a screen line in front of a CV TF, ... you get the idea.

I guess I was unclear. I was referring to Don's comment about subs automatically heading home when they are damaged. I was curious if there was a threshold for the amount of damage they need to automatically head for home.

[Sardaukar]

I throw a wild guess that they head home when their damage gets "orange"..aka 10 sys dmg or more.

[Shark7]

What I like is being able to set a range of zones, instead of just 1...plus the fact that it refuels and returns on its own. You can get away with micromanaging just 1 turn instead of every turn. BIG improvement.

[mark24]

Hi Don,

Is it possible to create a patrol zone, then assign multiple subs to it?

Will subs refuel then return to the patrol zone?

If so, this would really make sub management easy. Zones could be set for the entire war, & all it takes a player to do is assign new subs to them as they become available.

Mark

[Akos Gergely]

Extremely cool!!! This will take off a lot of MM every turn and will make subs much more effective.

AE looks to be the real dream game

[Don Bowen]

ORIGINAL: mark24

Hi Don,

Is it possible to create a patrol zone, then assign multiple subs to it?

Will subs refuel then return to the patrol zone?

If so, this would really make sub management easy. Zones could be set for the entire war, & all it takes a player to do is assign new subs to them as they become available.

Mark

No, each TF has a patrol zone. You could turn on auto-sub ops and let the computer due it for you. And, yes, computer generated sub patrols use patrol zones.

[Monter_Trismegistos]

Is it possible for subs to automatically cancel patrol zone when returned to port? As I understand submarine by default will return to previous patrol zone (which I want to avoid).

[John Lansford]

Being able to set patrol zones and then leave the sub to do its thing without having to constantly check each and every one of them will greatly speed up a turn.  This is excellent news!  I'm probably spending half my time per turn right now checking subs for damage/out of ammo, moving them a few hexes, and routing them to new spots.
 
BTW niceguy2005, I like your artwork a LOT.  Who is the lovely young lady?

[Don Bowen]

ORIGINAL: Monter_Trismegistos

Is it possible for subs to automatically cancel patrol zone when returned to port? As I understand submarine by default will return to previous patrol zone (which I want to avoid).

No, unless damaged, a sub will refuel and return to patrol zone.

[pad152]

This looks good and very useful for Anti_sub TF ops too.

Question, can mine layer use this, to go to way point drop mines, reload and return?

[rockmedic109]

Subs will return to base, refuel and then return to patrol area?  Nice featue, but what about normal operational Sys Damage?  Will they return when Sys damage is repaired?  Will they continue to return to patrol area till Sys damage reaches a certain level?