|
|
Post by stevethecat on Jun 9, 2019 2:39:42 GMT -6
This comes from a fair bit of frustration in missions about having to park next to something and then wait for daytime for my ship to start shooting due it being an 'unknown target' sat exactly where the enemy ship/structure used to be. (I'm looking at you bombardment target in the Baltic sea...)
Searchlights extend identification and spotting range at night, but take up deck space. Nothing much beyond that, say upto 4 mounts for an extra 1000 yards?
|
|
|
|
Post by dorn on Jun 9, 2019 4:17:48 GMT -6
Searchlights does not extended spotting. You cannot use searchlight if you do not know where your target is as it reveals your position not target position.
|
|
|
|
Post by stevethecat on Jun 9, 2019 5:02:46 GMT -6
Searchlights does not extended spotting. You cannot use searchlight if you do not know where your target is as it reveals your position not target position. Then that's a risk which could well be worth taking. Implement the 'search' part of searchlight. It would be better than fast forwarding through time waiting for the sun to rise so you can continue shooting at a now unidentified building. |
|
|
|
Post by polyarmus on Jun 9, 2019 6:10:57 GMT -6
Searchlights does not extended spotting. You cannot use searchlight if you do not know where your target is as it reveals your position not target position. Then that's a risk which could well be worth taking. Implement the 'search' part of searchlight. It would be better than fast forwarding through time waiting for the sun to rise so you can continue shooting at a now unidentified building. It is not just about search lights - there were also other tools used during night fighting. 1. Search lights - should allow increased range for target identification, while making your ship a target as well. But trained crew could be able to get couple of salvos away before the enemy reacts. 2. Star shells - flare shells providing area ilumination 3. Flares dropped by float planes - I am not sure of their usability and usefulness during ship to ship fighting, but these would be useful for land target bombardment. Japanese fleet use them during bombardment of the Henderson airfield on Guadalcanal. |
|
|
|
Post by rimbecano on Jun 9, 2019 9:32:38 GMT -6
Searchlights does not extended spotting. You cannot use searchlight if you do not know where your target is as it reveals your position not target position. Then that's a risk which could well be worth taking. Implement the 'search' part of searchlight. It would be better than fast forwarding through time waiting for the sun to rise so you can continue shooting at a now unidentified building. With searchlights, the ability of others to see you falls off with the square of distance, while your ability to see others falls off with the fourth power. You may very well be visible at full daytime sighting ranges while only gaining a few thousand yards sighting range. |
|
|
|
Post by stevethecat on Jun 9, 2019 10:16:22 GMT -6
Then that's a risk which could well be worth taking. Implement the 'search' part of searchlight. It would be better than fast forwarding through time waiting for the sun to rise so you can continue shooting at a now unidentified building. With searchlights, the ability of others to see you falls off with the square of distance, while your ability to see others falls off with the fourth power. You may very well be visible at full daytime sighting ranges while only gaining a few thousand yards sighting range. I would absolutely take that as an option if it meant I could do bombardment missions without having time to go put the kettle on. |
|
|
|
Post by dorn on Jun 9, 2019 13:34:23 GMT -6
With searchlights, the ability of others to see you falls off with the square of distance, while your ability to see others falls off with the fourth power. You may very well be visible at full daytime sighting ranges while only gaining a few thousand yards sighting range. I would absolutely take that as an option if it meant I could do bombardment missions without having time to go put the kettle on. I think that this issue should be solved in different way than using searchlights. |
|
|
|
Post by stevethecat on Jun 10, 2019 1:22:44 GMT -6
I would absolutely take that as an option if it meant I could do bombardment missions without having time to go put the kettle on. I think that this issue should be solved in different way than using searchlights. Maybe, but I'm an utter customisation whore so if I can build in a solution then that would make me happy. |
|
|
|
Post by alsadius on Jun 10, 2019 8:44:11 GMT -6
If we're considering light sources, I also want ships on fire to be visible at daytime ranges, not nighttime ranges.
|
|
|
|
Post by mycophobia on Jun 10, 2019 13:23:55 GMT -6
I do think it will be a good idea to expand our nightfighting arsenal though. Search light, star shells and flares are all options to consider and adds more flexibility and choices during night battles. While many have mentioned the downside of search light, they are very often used in the night actions of WW2, granted often to the detriment of the ship using it. Still, putting a ship in risk to give the other hidden ship a chance should certainly be an option, and I think the prevalence of search lights in many ww2 night actions warrant their inclusion, even if they are far from an ideal night fighting tool. Having other night fighting gears also make a dedicated night action force more attractive.
I don't think they necessarily had to be part of the ship design process, it can just be a doctrinal option to put them on/emphasize their use for a modest cost or have them automatically available as tech progress. Doctrine should dictate the policy of their use. (E.G - Only illuminate large ships, only DD illuminates, only use starshell when large ship spotted, etc)
I also agree with the idea that firing ships should be more visible, there are records of ships being targeted because of their persistent gun flash giving themselves away (E.G USS Helena). I don't think this need to make them automatically visible as in daylight tho, since friendly ship will still have trouble identifying the firing ship, and may still hold fire and not react. It pays to know that "there is a ship there firing", even if your captains may not be able to react as well as in day time.
|
|
