Alfred
Posts: 6685
Joined: 9/28/2006
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Although often asked, there is no particularly good consolidated thread which thoroughly deals with naval search/ASW arcs. This thread is probably the best single thread.
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3299579&mpage=1&key=search%2Carc�
One of the problems you will encounter is that there are some very strong advocates for not setting search arcs but they tend to hide the details as to why they can get away with it. Newbies read these no set arcs assertions and just adopt the principle that it works perfectly and obviates the case for setting arcs. From that urban myths are created. As always the devil is in the detail. Particularly when reading my posts, one has to be alert to exactly what I say and the nuances I point out.
1. Setting search arcs does increase micromanagement. Players who are averse to micromanagement or at least want to minimise, tend to be very enthusiastic at the prospect of avoiding this additional work load.
2. There is an automatic 360 degree search arc for up to 4 hexes on all naval search/ASW missions. Set the mission out to 4 hexes, you get 360 degree coverage irrespective of what you do. Set the mission out to 8 hexes, you get 360 coverage up to 4 hexes out. Coverage for hexes 5-8 inclusive depends on what you do. Set the mission out to 12 hexes, you get 360 coverage up to 4 hexes out, with coverage of hexes 5-12 inclusive dependent on your selection.
3. Consider the range of your searching aircraft. For example, Allied float planes are not really going to stretch the auto 360 degree coverage are they. So there is no point in setting naval search arcs for them as the code has already taken care of that plus if you did specifically set such search arcs you would need to reset them every time a change of task force travel direction occurs as search arcs are not dynamic.
4. Usually when the don't bother setting search arcs adherents assert that in their games they do very well without setting them they fail to point out that the DL and MDL of enemy task forces are also determined by other factors besides the efforts of their own planes flying search missions. They also fail to point out that the sheer weight of embarked planes set to search usually is much greater than what they have on land and thus the malus associated with not setting arcs is mitigated. As I said details, details which are very easy to overlook by newbies.
5. Not all sea hexes are created equal. There are frontal and backdoor approaches to most ports. How often do you really think an enemy task force is going to, or is even capable, to come in from the back door. Yet, because it is random, you will get backdoor searching if not set.
Experienced players who know exactly what they are doing and what the enemy capabilities are, can get away without setting search arcs. They save themselves some micromanagement, but that is somewhat limited as setting of search arcs for land based aircraft is largely a one time set and forget task, only needed to be revisited when a major redrawing of the sea frontlines occurs. It will superficially appear to be as effective as setting arcs, but it isn't. So the real question for you is does the additional micromanagement represent an acceptable cost for the improved search footprint obtained when setting arcs.
Alfred
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Arcs random vs setting a start and end arc - 
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