A couple of PT Boat improvments I'd like to see

[Baumer]

I was reading through my CiC magizines looking for information about fleet AA gunnery and control, and came across an interesting article about PT Boats. While this is from the December 1945 edition it is talking about the SO-3 radar and how it was employed in combat.



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So I have two ideas for improving PT Boats that I think would be feasible and not make them OP

Idea #1

When you are at the helm it would be nice to see the relative bearing and approximate range in the upper right hand corner of the screen. From the article you'll see that the SO-3 could provide bearing information within 3 degrees and range data within +/- of 100 yards. I would have the radar automatically target the largest ship, so then the player would still have to do the work to figure out intercept and when to fire, it would just make figuring it out a little easier and allow them to be more consistent.

Idea #2

As seen in the article, radar was critical to the use of rockets on PT Boats for providing range information. Just like I stated in the first idea, range data was accurate to within +/- 100 yards. So for the second idea I'd like to see range data and rocket launcher elevation (in degrees) in the upper right corner of the screen when in position #7 (rocket station). Again there would still be plenty of work for the player to figure out, especially when calculating lead for the rockets, but this would allow us to be more consistent using them.

Just to reiterate a few points about the ideas

• For both ideas targeting would be automatic, starting with the closest CV then working down to the CA and finally the DD's (again starting with the closest first)
• Bearing data would have a 3 degree error window
• Bearing data would be relative, player would have to figure out proper heading for intercept
• Range data would have a 200 yard error window (+/- 100 yards)
• While the article states that accurate range data was available up to 40,000 yards. I think ,for game play, maximum range data should be 20,000 yards at most

I think these additions would be fun, and help players be more consistent, without dramatically effecting game play.

<S> Baumer
 

[steely07]

+1

[AWwrgwy]

The ability to land.



wrongway

[gyrene81]

cool ideas baumer.  could change the way pt boats get used, for the good.

[RTHolmes]

randomly I saw They Were Expendable a few weeks ago, been using PT boats at every opportunity since

[SEseph]

The ability to land.



wrongway

+1000000 

• For both ideas targeting would be automatic, starting with the closest CV then working down to the CA and finally the DD's (again starting with the closest first)
• Bearing data would have a 3 degree error window
• Bearing data would be relative, player would have to figure out proper heading for intercept
• Range data would have a 200 yard error window (+/- 100 yards)
• While the article states that accurate range data was available up to 40,000 yards. I think ,for game play, maximum range data should be 20,000 yards at most

I think these additions would be fun, and help players be more consistent, without dramatically effecting game play.

+1 Would make PT boats much more useful.

[beau32]

+1 Great Ideas, and I would like to see Radar used on the PT Boats.

[bortas1]

  how good was the radar on the pt boats?just wondered.

[Hap]

 

[MAINER]

+1

[icepac]

If a shore battery is relatively close to the water, I can usually down it with a pt boat.

[wil3ur]

The ability to land.



wrongway

   +1

[Vinkman]

+ 1 

[EagleDNY]

Would also like to see the SMOKE GENERATORS active on the PT boat.  It would be nice to be able to lay smoke screens to be able to confuse bombers, shore batteries, or maybe cover an LVT landing.

[titanic3]

Would also like to see the SMOKE GENERATORS active on the PT boat.  It would be nice to be able to lay smoke screens to be able to confuse bombers, shore batteries, or maybe cover an LVT landing.

What's that going to do besides add lag and even more attention to whatever you're trying to cover?
As long as icons are enabled, smoke does nothing. It works for GVs because GVs don't see each other icons, but against planes/boats, it's a sign that yells "Here I am!....Shoot me".