[Deleted]

[Anonymous]

[Deleted by Admins]

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: larrybush

Is it better to set the search arcs manually or do you just let them randomly arc?
I'm setting them to the threat direction manually, just wondering...

Larry

just my 2p (2c for you Amerikaner then).

The ASW/Naval Search for the (F)loat (P)planes I always leave on 60/40 Search/Rest and automatic. As for the SBD/TBD/TBF, depending on the threat axis, on 30% Search and manually.

Klink, Oberst

P.S.: How's Gatorland? No more lizards falling down the tress 'coz of the cold I take it?

[Theages]

I don't use manual settings.
I never found a case in which manually setting search arcs was noticeable better.

[Lecivius]

Agreed, me either.

[Dili]

Do not use search arcs in CV's and other ships. TF goes in another direction and you forget to change the search arc.

[Anonymous]

[Deleted by Admins]

[spence]

I don't use manual settings.
I never found a case in which manually setting search arcs was noticeable better.

It is silly but the area searched is probably the most important decision made by the OTC (Officer in Tactical Command). Ever hear of the Battle of Midway?

Really silly that it does not seem to make a difference in the game.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Theages

I don't use manual settings.
I never found a case in which manually setting search arcs was noticeable better.

+1000

search arcs are the most useless function in the game and complete time waste

trying to micromanage them for carriers in transit would be a nightmare best avoided.

[Anonymous]

[Deleted by Admins]

[HansBolter]

Not sure what you mean by random. By not setting restricted arcs my squadrons are searching 360 degrees.

Did you know that even when you set restricted arcs you are still searching 360 degrees out to something like 3 or 4 hexes (can't recall exact distance).

The so called benefit of more intense search in the limited arc has never been proven to be real.

[Anonymous]

[Deleted by Admins]

[Macclan5]

Admiral Hans has I believe explained the empirical evidence of search arcs.

That is despite manually set arcs i.e 270 - 90 degrees they still search 91 - 269 in a 4 (four) hex radius (??)

There are a number of long meaningful threads in the War room forum worthy of a read.

--

Even against the AI some attention to settings is merited in my opinion.

Something I learned through through games 1 (very rookie effort) 2 and 3 - certainly attention to details makes the game more entertaining.

Search Arcs:

On land based FPs such as Catalina etc I still set manual search arcs but only where "I think" its meaningful; though as Hans explains it may not be.

West Coast USA - westward, New Zealand (northward) West Coast India - westward).

Do not forget to set Nighttime searches - something I simply ignored in my rookie effort and learned through reading AARs etc.


Float Planes (BB CA CL)

I try to ensure I have an extra pilot and extra plane in storage. i.e Maxed out.

I try to mix day and night searches off BB CA CL within a Carrier Task Force. I am unsure if this is empirically proven but I feel I am getting better results. I learned from the veterans to Min Max settings.

Something like FP on:

CA1 will be set at: Day >> Search 80% Rest 10% Train 10% >> Alt = 5000 >> Range 6

CA2 will be set at: Night >> Search 90% Rest 10% (less options at night) >> Alt = 5000 >> Range 6

Next ship will be set for ASW : Day >> ASW 90% Rest 10% >> Alt = 1000 >> Range 4

Next ship Day search again

Next ship Night search again

Next ship ASW again...

etc

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Macclan5

Admiral Hans has I believe explained the empirical evidence of search arcs.

That is despite manually set arcs i.e 270 - 90 degrees they still search 91 - 269 in a 4 (four) hex radius (??)

There are a number of long meaningful threads in the War room forum worthy of a read.

--

Even against the AI some attention to settings is merited in my opinion.

Something I learned through through games 1 (very rookie effort) 2 and 3 - certainly attention to details makes the game more entertaining.

Search Arcs:

On land based FPs such as Catalina etc I still set manual search arcs but only where "I think" its meaningful; though as Hans explains it may not be.

West Coast USA - westward, New Zealand (northward) West Coast India - westward).

Do not forget to set Nighttime searches - something I simply ignored in my rookie effort and learned through reading AARs etc.


Float Planes (BB CA CL)

I try to ensure I have an extra pilot and extra plane in storage. i.e Maxed out.

I try to mix day and night searches off BB CA CL within a Carrier Task Force. I am unsure if this is empirically proven but I feel I am getting better results. I learned from the veterans to Min Max settings.

Something like FP on:

CA1 will be set at: Day >> Search 80% Rest 10% Train 10% >> Alt = 5000 >> Range 6

CA2 will be set at: Night >> Search 90% Rest 10% (less options at night) >> Alt = 5000 >> Range 6

Next ship will be set for ASW : Day >> ASW 90% Rest 10% >> Alt = 1000 >> Range 4

Next ship Day search again

Next ship Night search again

Next ship ASW again...

etc

Good points all. I tend not to use my carrier escorting CA/CL float planes for NAV search as their range is too short to be effective in that role.

I tend to set them all to ASW, realizing that dividing an already short range in half means they will only discover, and hopefully attack, subs in the immediate vicinity of the TF.

The immediate vicinity, is, after all, what really matters when it comes to subs and carriers.

[crsutton]

Agree with most here. Never use search arcs on carriers. I set all dive bomber and torpedo bombers to naval attack with 10% search and if there are enough set one unit to 80% search at drop tank range. Canoerebel has made a good case for a unit or two set on night search as that seems to make a higher DL the following day.

[rustysi]

As a Japanese player I always use search arcs for most LB aircraft. BTW, as said above all searches are 360 out to 4 hexes. I have found that they find what needs to be found. I don't use arcs for those aircraft with short legs to begin with, e.g., Pete's (NR=3), Alf's (NR=5).

I NEVER use acrs on anything at sea. BTW this has nothing to do with a TF changing direction. As far as I'm concerned if I tell you to search from 0-90 true that's what you search no matter what direction we're heading. I don't do it because I never feel like I have enough search elements to start with while at sea. Also I don't wish to be blindsided should my opponent come from an unsuspected direction.

I do use night search both from land and sea.

The above is just me and what I'VE observed. YMMV

[Barb]

LBA - search arcs usually set for longer ranged (H6K, H8K, G3M, G4M, P1Y, Catalina, PB4Y, PV-1/2, etc.) Short legged usually get just regular NavS (D3Y, B5N, D4Y, B6N, floatplanes, Seagul, Kingfisher, etc.)

CVs - sometimes, especially if operating only few carries - allies early 1942 with Saratoga, Lexington, Enterprise to cover the direction I am moving to.

CVEs - rarely, I usually use those TBM/TBF at ASW, general nearby search for subs and ground support

BBs/CAs/CLs - no search arcs, usually only NavS/ASW mix of day/night plus Recon for bombarding