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Knyvet -> RE: Reaction movement (1/3/2010 7:55:19 PM)
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A large reaction number may result in your subs or ASW TF automatically reacting into or through an "undesirable" hex
Subs
I cannot find it, but I believe the Game Manual states that a sub is easier to detect and destroy if the sub is in a shallow ocean hex. Regardless, that is logical. As a result and absent a strategic reason, you may not want your sub patrol areas and reaction distances to include shallow ocean hexes.
ASW TFs
I am not sure about ASWs. If you set an ASW TF on a patrol you may not want it to react a max distance away gambling a) a low chance of finding the sub (assuming the chance to find sub algorithm penalizes you for long reactions) while b) straying too far from where you really need ASW, such as a choke point. This is especially true if the longer the reaction hex number the less chance you have of reacting a long distance and successfully attacking the sub.
Fuel consideration
ASWs and Subs
Fuel expenditure may be an issue. If the odds of detecting, getting the detected hex, and being successful are lower with each reaction hex traveled, you just burned 2 * (miles per hex * reaction distance hexes traveled) to go out and back away from your set patrol for a very low probability of success. A sub or DD reacting 12 hexes (hundreds of miles) for nothing puts a dent in overall fuel expenditure that you did not plan on (unless you anticipated the possibility of long reaction fuel expenditures). Especially if this happens numerous times while on patrol.
Subs reacting?
Perhaps subs can chase down a TF using reaction because TFs used zig-zig patterns to evade subs. The time and distance for a sub that plots a dead reckoning intercept angle as well as recalculating the angle for each zig-zag spotting of the known TF makes some sense for catching a faster TF - especially if the sub is on the surface and unspotted for portions of the the zig and zag. Perhaps someone who knows historical tactics can weigh in on my zig-zag sub can catch theory.
My rule of thumb:
Subs react 1, ASW reaction number depends on the desired patrol. A DD in a transport/tanker/supply group will have a low reaction number because I believe the DD will have a hard time reacting a long way while dragging the turtles along. Leaving the turtles behind leaves them defenseless to another sub.
Kyle
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