Aikoku Maru Aux Cruiser

[Bubblehead1980]

Noticed that in RSRD the Aikoku Maru class Aux cruiser is assigned as an escort often in 1942.This vessel have active/pasive sonar? Depth charges. Thinking itll be rather lackluster as an escort if not. Have yet to find one in the campaign but havent played early much in RSRD due to lack of convoys. Shooting singles gets boring.

[Torplexed]

Noticed that in RSRD the Aikoku Maru class Aux cruiser is assigned as an escort often in 1942.This vessel have active/pasive sonar? Depth charges. Thinking itll be rather lackluster as an escort if not. Have yet to find one in the campaign but havent played early much in RSRD due to lack of convoys. Shooting singles gets boring.


The Aikoku Marus were merchant ships of the Osaka Shosen line converted to a commerce raiding role just before war broke out. They had some modest success in this role in the far reaches of the Indian Ocean, and they also served as supply ships for replenishment of Japanese submarines operating off the coast of Africa.

The survivors were re-rated as transports in 1943. Although they had an impressive surface armament which included eight 5.5" inch guns and four 21" torpedo tubes, I don't think they were ever equipped with ASW gear. None survived the war.

[Armistead]

Can't understand why you can't find convoys in RSRD. Each time I go out I most always can them, maybe just played so long, know where to look, but if you follow history, it's all there for the most part. There are almost always large invasion forces through 43. I posted several convoys in the convoy SS thread.

My favorite is always late feb to early march in Java. 3 large invasion forces, battle of Sundra...just have to do a quick refit before Surabaya falls to stock back up and go attack again. At one time I had 3 large convoys within sonar in different directions...just not enough torps.
I never shoot singles in RSRD unless large tankers....just let em pass.

Had a blast..followed two large US TF, over 70 ships during the time of the The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. I didn't think anything would happen, but sure enough here came JP planes in mass, most I've ever seen in the game and they attacked all day long....Was quite a show.


I think this is the Aikoku. Seems I found these at Lae, can't remember the time, but about 4 there with the invasion force. Can't remember if they have sonar, but seems they had charge racks....though they never got to use them. They do have several deckguns.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2009-05-15_103753_140.jpg

Also in the group was this poor nerchant without a skin...Long ago, so probably an old version of RSRD, but only time I ever saw it was there, almost thought someone put in a hospital ship....lol
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/Armistead1424/SH4Img2009-05-25_211829_640.jpg

[Bubblehead1980]

I'ma SH 4 addict lol, just home around 0400 and had to finish up an attack I began before I went out, was driving me crazy.Ah well its sunday, I can sleep until little while before superbowl comes on.

Wolfe, I've had luck lately finding convoys in RSRD, in 1944 and escorts are tough usually so been having a blast.Twp patrols with a Gato began in 1944, was in Marianas and Palaus for 1st and 2nd patrols, about 45k tons down between the two of them, mostly from convoys.Escorts were pretty tough, fun stuff.

Mainly do not find convoys in early way, say May-August 42 but got lucky early.Using a Porpoise class out of Fremantle, patroling right outside Manila Bay.Sonar had a warship contact, turned into a 8 ship convoy escorted by a lone Mutsuki DD on July 2, 1942.Attacked, sank one and underwent a pretty good depth charging, ideal sonar conditions.Finally went to 275 feet and managed to lose him after 6 hours...thats where i saved before I went out.

Came home, loaded her back up....did an end around and attacked submerged just after dawn, one more down.DD wasnt as accurate this time but kept me down 5 hours.Surfaced, charged and saved game to pick up later.Bed time.

RSRD is fun now that Im finding convoys.Think the only think could do to make it more interesting is add single escorts to some of the lone merchants, read many times about large tankers or freighters having 1 or 2 escorts.Esp Japanese coast, have that little small subchaser as one escort, would not make singles, esp large important singles such easy targets.

[Armistead]

Why I leave single merchants alone unless big, it's rather silly. I don't know of many cases except near ports and home that singles ran alone.

Early war after Java, I usually head for the Solomons. Course you'll get the large DD groups running the slot at high speed. I'll shoot at em now and then when we have Tulgari for refits., but you'll get several good meduim size battle groups with CA's, some BB's. You can pick a lot of convoys up in mid 42 in the Bismark, near Wewak, ect.

I just finished my career, so may try RFB this go round. Course the Y repeats coming out of the bungo last month of the war, so I sunk it, got torps in both DD's, but didn't sink em. War ended with us demanding the surrender of the CA we left dead on the water, just out of ammo. I died 9 times in 39 patrols...all in Formosa in 44...Next career going back to no cams, no contacts. I forgot how fun it was and try to play for real.....will most certainly find another place to hunt than Formosa in 44.