--- /tmp/erri-hunt-before/ERR_SupplyConvoyTactics.c	2026-10-04 12:52:07.062390760 +0200
+++ addons/core/Scripts/Game/ERR/10_AI/ERR_SupplyConvoyTactics.c	2026-10-04 12:57:40.250476502 +0200
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
  bool Registered;
  bool Released;
  vector OrderedContact;
+ vector SearchPosition;
+ int SearchStep;
+ bool SearchPlanned;
  ref ERR_ConvoyBoardingProgress BoardingProgress;
  float BoardingRetryAt;
  void Clear()
@@ -202,6 +205,7 @@
  protected vector m_Left;
  protected float m_LastContact = -1;
  protected float m_NextOrders;
+ protected float m_NextSearch;
  protected vector m_LastOrderContact;
  protected bool m_OrdersIssued;
  protected float m_BoardDeadline;
@@ -280,7 +284,7 @@
  // Only production native observations or a delivered HQ snapshot may call this.
  void Report(vector position, float observed, float now)
  {
-  if (m_Stopped || !ERR_ForceRules.Finite(now) || !ERR_ForceRules.Finite(observed) || !ERR_ForceRules.FiniteVector(position) || observed < 0 || observed > now || now - observed > 60000 || observed < m_LastContact) return;
+  if (m_Stopped || !ERR_ForceRules.Finite(now) || !ERR_ForceRules.Finite(observed) || !ERR_ForceRules.FiniteVector(position) || observed < 0 || observed > now || now - observed > 60000 || observed <= m_LastContact) return;
   m_LastContact = observed;
   if (m_State != 1) Start(position, now);
   else if (vector.DistanceXZ(position, m_Contact) > 40 && now >= m_NextOrders) { m_Contact = position; Orders(false, now); }
@@ -299,19 +303,58 @@
  }
  protected void Flank(int index, bool dismount)
  {
+  PlanFlank(index, dismount, 0);
+ }
+ protected bool PlanFlank(int index, bool dismount, int step)
+ {
   ERR_SupplyTeam team = m_Task.Teams[index];
-  if (team.Released || !team.Living()) return;
+  if (team.Released || !team.Living() || step < 0 || step > 2) return false;
   // Preserve an in-progress native all-member dismount across contact refreshes.
-  if (!team.Aboard(m_Task.Vehicles[2].Entity, false) && SCR_BoardingWaypoint.Cast(team.Group.GetCurrentWaypoint())) return;
-  team.Clear(); team.OrderedContact = m_Contact;
-  if (dismount && !team.Aboard(m_Task.Vehicles[2].Entity, false)) team.Add(Board(m_Task.Vehicles[2].Entity, false));
+  if (!team.Aboard(m_Task.Vehicles[2].Entity, false) && SCR_BoardingWaypoint.Cast(team.Group.GetCurrentWaypoint())) return false;
   float side = 1; if (index == 1) side = -1;
+  vector desired = m_Contact + m_Left * (70 * side);
+  if (step == 1) desired = m_Contact + m_Forward * 100 + m_Left * (140 * side);
+  if (step == 2) desired = m_Contact + m_Forward * 160 + m_Left * (50 * side);
   vector approach, sector;
-  if (!FootPosition(team, m_Contact - m_Forward * 80 + m_Left * (110 * side), approach) || !FootPosition(team, m_Contact + m_Left * (70 * side), sector)) return;
-  team.Add(Move(approach, 15));
+  if (!FootPosition(team, desired, sector)) return false;
+  approach = sector;
+  if (step == 0 && !FootPosition(team, m_Contact - m_Forward * 80 + m_Left * (110 * side), approach)) return false;
+  AIWaypoint move = Move(approach, 15);
   AIWaypoint search = AIWaypoint.Cast(ERR_Actors.Spawn(ERR_Resources.SearchWaypoint(), sector));
-  if (search) search.SetCompletionRadius(30);
+  AIWaypoint exit;
+  bool needsExit = dismount && !team.Aboard(m_Task.Vehicles[2].Entity, false);
+  if (needsExit) exit = Board(m_Task.Vehicles[2].Entity, false);
+  // Failed placement/allocation must not erase the team's working orders.
+  if (!move || !search || (needsExit && !exit))
+  {
+   if (move) SCR_EntityHelper.DeleteEntityAndChildren(move);
+   if (search) SCR_EntityHelper.DeleteEntityAndChildren(search);
+   if (exit) SCR_EntityHelper.DeleteEntityAndChildren(exit);
+   return false;
+  }
+  team.Clear(); team.OrderedContact = m_Contact;
+  team.SearchPosition = sector; team.SearchStep = step; team.SearchPlanned = true;
+  team.Add(exit); team.Add(move);
+  search.SetCompletionRadius(30);
   team.Add(search);
+  ERR_HQ.Event("CONVOY HUNT", string.Format("%1 team %2: search step %3/3 at %4 from last observed contact; formation suspended", m_Task.Receipt.SourceId, index + 1, step + 1, sector));
+  return true;
+ }
+ protected void ContinueSearch(float now)
+ {
+  if (now < m_NextSearch) return;
+  m_NextSearch = now + 45000;
+  for (int i = 0; i < m_Task.Teams.Count(); i++)
+  {
+   ERR_SupplyTeam team = m_Task.Teams[i];
+   if (team.Released || !team.Living() || !team.Aboard(m_Task.Vehicles[2].Entity, false)) continue;
+   // Retry refused initial orders, but never replace a team still travelling.
+   if (!team.SearchPlanned || vector.DistanceXZ(team.OrderedContact, m_Contact) > 40) { PlanFlank(i, false, 0); continue; }
+   if (team.SearchStep >= 2) continue;
+   IEntity leader = team.Group.GetLeaderEntity();
+   if (!leader || vector.DistanceXZ(leader.GetOrigin(), team.SearchPosition) > 45) continue;
+   PlanFlank(i, false, team.SearchStep + 1);
+  }
  }
  protected bool SupportPosition(int index, vector desired, out vector position)
  {
@@ -381,6 +424,8 @@
    if (intercept.InterceptToken != 0) return;
   }
   Clear(); m_State = 1; m_Contact = contact; m_TruckWithdrawn = false; m_OrdersIssued = false;
+  m_NextSearch = now + 45000;
+  foreach (ERR_SupplyTeam team : m_Task.Teams) { team.SearchPlanned = false; team.SearchStep = 0; }
   if (m_Task.Column) m_Task.Column.Reset(now);
   m_Task.Waiting = false;
   vector origin;
@@ -493,7 +538,11 @@
     }
    }
    if (found && now >= m_NextOrders) Orders(!InfantryAboard(false), now);
-   if (now - m_LastContact >= 60000)
+   // Search only remembered positions. Real new sightings can redirect the
+   // teams; silence gives them time to reach and sweep both flanks, not a
+   // one-minute dash followed by forced reboarding.
+   if (!found && now - m_LastContact < 180000) ContinueSearch(now);
+   if (now - m_LastContact >= 180000)
    {
     Clear();
     if (!Usable(2)) { foreach (ERR_SupplyTeam lost : m_Task.Teams) lost.Release(m_Mode); Finish(now); return false; }