Surface Ship Spotting

[Lethal2615]

Guadalcanal: Getting Started

The Japanese ships do not have radar.

In the north-west DD Fubuki is moving ESE towards DD Buchanan and DD McCalla which are on a reciprocal course.

DD McCalla makes radar contact with Fubuki and fires beyond visual range. Presumably radios Buchanan (is this a good idea?) who joins in the firing. Fubuki engages both ships from beyond visual range.

I maybe missing something here, but ...

How does Fubuki calculate the location of the US DD? Do all ships, even without active radar, have the ability to intercept active radar?

[parmenio]

The Fubuki doesn't target the McCalla until it fires first.... this will be gun flash detection as it's nighttime.

Edit: If you play as the Japanese as the first shot is heading your way, you will see a DD appear on screen.

[Lethal2615]

I was thinking that the US ships were over the horizon. But that is not true, they are beyond normal night visibility range! So the gunfire would illuminate their position because they are in line of sight, ie not over the horizon.

In fact, the documentation mentions these early radar devices were only good to the horizon.

[GMcClellan]

Visibility in that scenario is 6000y. That's not even remotely close to the visible horizon*. So, as Andy said, when the US DD fires, the IJN is able to see the gunflash and target it.


*In real terms, the visible horizon is determined by how elevated the spotter is. Even just the height of the gun director or radar mast makes a major difference. Individual ship height details for surface spotting isn't included in game, but in many clear daylight scenarios, the visibility will be closer to 30000y, which is possible because of the use of spotters in the tops and the like.