vector movement - SS Graf Spee vs INS Ajax at Montevideo

[flykiller]

continuing on where Vector Movement Made Simple left off (and leading up to Vector Combat).

this is a simple maneuver exercise. solomani ship graf spee has been heavily damaged and is holed up at montevideo, a size 8 neutral world. imperial naval ship ajax is lurking outside the planet's 100d, waiting for graf spee to attempt to escape. graf spee is presently at M1, while the ajax is still at M6. to win, graf spee must exit montevideo's 100d and jump. to win, the ajax must achieve 1 hit on graf spee, crippling it. the ajax has a weapon's range of 3LS and if graf spee is within 3LS of the ajax then the ajax is assumed to fire and hit, but the ajax may not enter neither may it fire through montevideo's 100d limit - it may only fire upon graf spee if both ships are outside the 100d and the line of fire does not pass into the 100d.

the circle around montevideo is its 100d limit. the ajax is located just outside of montevideo's 100d at (x,y)(199,066), while graf spee is located on the planet's surface at (x,y)(199,199). the circle around the ajax is its 3LS weapons range. both ships presently have vectors of (xv,yv) (000,000)

montevideo's government has ordered graf spee to depart, and graf spee is about to make a break for it. anyone care to play this through?

 

[flykiller]

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">SS Graf Spee vs INS Ajax at Montevideo

SS Graf Spee - M1, disabled at 1 hit
INS Ajax - M6, weapons' range 3LS

Graf Spee Ajax
location vector vector d location vector vector d
turn x y xv yv xd yd Ajax x y xv yv xd yd GS
001 199 199 000 000 -- -- 4.4 199 66 000 000 -- -- 4.4</pre>[/QUOTE]

 

[The Oz]

I'll give it a try. I'll command the Graf Spee. Initial acceleration will be 1G in the +Y direction (directly away from Ajax).

 

[flykiller]

welcome aboard the oz. we begin. movement will be hard to see at first but will become more visible as the ships acquire vector.

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">SS Graf Spee vs INS Ajax at Montevideo

SS Graf Spee - M1, disabled at 1 hit
INS Ajax - M6, weapons' range 3LS

Graf Spee Ajax
location vector vector d location vector vector d
turn x y xv yv xd yd Ajax x y xv yv xd yd GS
001 199 199 000 000 00 01 4.4 199 66 000 000 -05 03 4.4
002 199 199 000 001 -- -- 4.5 197 67 -005 003 -- -- 4.5

</pre>[/QUOTE]as you can see the ajax is pulling to the left (-x) and down (+y).

 

[The Oz]

Graf Spee will change heading 30 degrees port, to start building some vector in the +X direction, but maintaining the primary thrust in the +Y direction.

 

[flykiller]

very well, I'll advance the game 3 turns with 1 turn of +1 x and 2 turns of +1 y.

as you can see I'm still a bit clumsy at holding the ajax close to the 100d line.

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">SS Graf Spee vs INS Ajax at Montevideo

SS Graf Spee - M1, disabled at 1 hit
INS Ajax - M6, weapons' range 3LS

Graf Spee Ajax
location vector vector d location vector vector d
turn x y xv yv xd yd Ajax x y xv yv xd yd GS
001 199 199 000 000 00 01 4.4 199 66 000 000 -05 03 4.4
002 199 199 000 001 01 00 4.5 197 67 -005 003 -06 00 4.5
003 199 200 001 001 00 01 4.3 189 70 -011 003 -06 00 4.3
004 200 201 001 002 00 01 4.3 175 73 -017 003 -05 02 4.3
005 201 203 001 003 -- -- 4.5 156 77 -022 005 -- -- 4.5

</pre>[/QUOTE]graf spee now has a slight drift to +x but is still emphasizing +y. ajax is building up a lot of vector but has a long way to go.

 

[The Oz]

Graf Spee will hold this course for now.

 

[Border Reiver]

When does the INS Achilles come into play?

 

[The Oz]

We already destroyed that symbol of Imperial tyranny! Along with INS Exeter, too!

Long Live the Solomani Party! One Party, One People, One Planet!!! Solomani Victorious!

 

[flykiller]

very well, graf spee repeats its last three turns, while the ajax continues to try to pull around the 100d. we are now at the beginning of turn 8.

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">SS Graf Spee vs INS Ajax at Montevideo

SS Graf Spee - M1, disabled at 1 hit
INS Ajax - M6, weapons' range 3LS

Graf Spee Ajax
location vector vector d location vector vector d
turn x y xv yv xd yd Ajax x y xv yv xd yd GS
001 199 199 000 000 00 01 4.4 199 66 000 000 -05 03 4.4
002 199 199 000 001 01 00 4.5 197 67 -005 003 -06 00 4.5
003 199 200 001 001 00 01 4.3 189 70 -011 003 -06 00 4.3
004 200 201 001 002 00 01 4.3 175 73 -017 003 -05 02 4.3
005 201 203 001 003 01 00 4.5 156 77 -022 005 01 05 4.5
006 202 206 002 003 00 01 4.7 134 84 -021 010 02 05 4.7
007 204 209 002 004 00 01 4.8 114 96 -019 015 02 05 4.8
008 206 213 002 005 -- -- 5.0 96 113 -017 020 -- -- 5.0

</pre>[/QUOTE]

 

[The Oz]

Graf Spee changes heading 15 degrees to port, aiming to build vector equally in +X and +Y directions.

We're getting a classic "pursuit spiral" going here.

 

[Starflyer]

Seriously.......this is simplified vector combat!

 

[The Oz]

It's just LBB#2 movement put into a simple Cartesian grid, instead of using 'tail-to-tip' vector addition.

But it is interesting. I'm not sure I can evade Ajax, but it's fun to try, and if this tactic doesn't work we can try some others later.

 

[flykiller]

very well, four turns to lay on (xv,yv)(2,2), up to the start of turn 12.

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">SS Graf Spee vs INS Ajax at Montevideo

SS Graf Spee - M1, disabled at 1 hit
INS Ajax - M6, weapons' range 3LS

Graf Spee Ajax
location vector vector d location vector vector d
turn x y xv yv xd yd Ajax x y xv yv xd yd GS
001 199 199 000 000 00 01 4.4 199 66 000 000 -05 03 4.4
002 199 199 000 001 01 00 4.5 197 67 -005 003 -06 00 4.5
003 199 200 001 001 00 01 4.3 189 70 -011 003 -06 00 4.3
004 200 201 001 002 00 01 4.3 175 73 -017 003 -05 02 4.3
005 201 203 001 003 01 00 4.5 156 77 -022 005 01 05 4.5
006 202 206 002 003 00 01 4.7 134 84 -021 010 02 05 4.7
007 204 209 002 004 00 01 4.8 114 96 -019 015 02 05 4.8
008 206 213 002 005 01 00 5.0 96 113 -017 020 05 03 5.0
009 208 218 003 005 00 01 5.1 81 134 -012 023 05 03 5.1
010 211 223 003 006 01 00 5.1 71 158 -007 026 05 03 5.1
011 214 229 004 006 00 01 5.1 66 185 -002 029 05 03 5.1
012 218 235 004 007 -- -- 5.1 66 215 003 032 -- -- 5.1

</pre>[/QUOTE]the ajax appears to be swinging around very quickly.

Seriously.......this is simplified vector combat!

well it needs some weapons rules too. have some ready to go.

 

[The Oz]

Graf Spee makes a radical course change: turns 90 degrees to port to build vector in the -Y and +X directions.

 

[flykiller]

(sorry for the delay in a response, I've been trying to upload the graphic for the last four hours but aol is becoming more and more non-functional and impossible to work with.)

 

[The Oz]

I didn't even notice; I was away at a con.

 

[flykiller]

advancing to the start of turn 16. clearly the ajax has laid on too much vector, but I think graf spee began its turn too late.

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">SS Graf Spee vs INS Ajax at Montevideo

SS Graf Spee - M1, disabled at 1 hit
INS Ajax - M6, weapons' range 3LS

Graf Spee Ajax
location vector vector d location vector vector d
turn x y xv yv xd yd Ajax x y xv yv xd yd GS
001 199 199 000 000 00 01 4.4 199 66 000 000 -05 03 4.4
002 199 199 000 001 01 00 4.5 197 67 -005 003 -06 00 4.5
003 199 200 001 001 00 01 4.3 189 70 -011 003 -06 00 4.3
004 200 201 001 002 00 01 4.3 175 73 -017 003 -05 02 4.3
005 201 203 001 003 01 00 4.5 156 77 -022 005 01 05 4.5
006 202 206 002 003 00 01 4.7 134 84 -021 010 02 05 4.7
007 204 209 002 004 00 01 4.8 114 96 -019 015 02 05 4.8
008 206 213 002 005 01 00 5.0 96 113 -017 020 05 03 5.0
009 208 218 003 005 00 01 5.1 81 134 -012 023 05 03 5.1
010 211 223 003 006 01 00 5.1 71 158 -007 026 05 03 5.1
011 214 229 004 006 00 01 5.1 66 185 -002 029 05 03 5.1
012 218 235 004 007 01 00 5.1 66 215 003 032 05 00 5.1
013 222 242 005 007 00 -01 5.0 71 247 008 032 03 -05 5.0
014 227 249 005 006 01 00 5.0 80 277 011 027 03 -05 5.0
015 232 255 006 006 00 -01 4.9 92 302 014 022 03 -05 4.9
016 238 261 006 005 -- -- 4.8 107 322 017 017 -- -- 4.8

</pre>[/QUOTE]

 

[The Oz]

Graf Spee will hold this heading for now.

I think you're right, but I wanted to see if I could eye-ball the moves.

If this was a real thing, both sides would be running constant course calculations and would already know if it were possible for Graf Spee to escape on any possible evasive course.

 

[flykiller]

advancing to turn 18. looks like the ajax is going to catch graf spee, the distance between them is beginning to drop precipitously and graf spee still has a long way to go. I'm not sure it's possible to visually estimate vector intercepts. maybe with practice.

</font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">SS Graf Spee vs INS Ajax at Montevideo

SS Graf Spee - M1, disabled at 1 hit
INS Ajax - M6, weapons' range 3LS

Graf Spee Ajax
location vector vector d location vector vector d
turn x y xv yv xd yd Ajax x y xv yv xd yd GS
001 199 199 000 000 00 01 4.4 199 66 000 000 -05 03 4.4
002 199 199 000 001 01 00 4.5 197 67 -005 003 -06 00 4.5
003 199 200 001 001 00 01 4.3 189 70 -011 003 -06 00 4.3
004 200 201 001 002 00 01 4.3 175 73 -017 003 -05 02 4.3
005 201 203 001 003 01 00 4.5 156 77 -022 005 01 05 4.5
006 202 206 002 003 00 01 4.7 134 84 -021 010 02 05 4.7
007 204 209 002 004 00 01 4.8 114 96 -019 015 02 05 4.8
008 206 213 002 005 01 00 5.0 96 113 -017 020 05 03 5.0
009 208 218 003 005 00 01 5.1 81 134 -012 023 05 03 5.1
010 211 223 003 006 01 00 5.1 71 158 -007 026 05 03 5.1
011 214 229 004 006 00 01 5.1 66 185 -002 029 05 03 5.1
012 218 235 004 007 01 00 5.1 66 215 003 032 05 00 5.1
013 222 242 005 007 00 -01 5.0 71 247 008 032 03 -05 5.0
014 227 249 005 006 01 00 5.0 80 277 011 027 03 -05 5.0
015 232 255 006 006 00 -01 4.9 92 302 014 022 03 -05 4.9
016 238 261 006 005 01 00 4.8 107 322 017 017 03 -05 4.8
017 244 266 007 005 00 -01 4.6 125 337 020 012 03 -05 4.6
018 251 271 007 004 -- -- 4.3 146 347 023 007 -- -- 4.3

</pre>[/QUOTE]I haven't worked it out rigorously, but I'm convinced graf spee cannot be intercepted if it follows a certain course.