[REL] rudewarrior's "Just Follow Orders!" Mod - NOW 2.0

[rudewarrior]

Released: The “Just Follow Orders!” Mod v2.1

Do you read the orders that BdU issues over the radio and wish you could actually make sense of them and incorporate them into the game?

Do you feel that the challenging aspects of the Prize Rules and the Norwegian Torpedo Crisis are all but missing from the game?

Are you looking for that extra boost of realism that allows you to experience all the pain and frustration of a U-boat commander when trying to follow complex orders issued throughout the war?

Do you look for mods that incorporate realism, intentionally making it more difficult for you, just so you can "take it to the next level?"


Then The “Just Follow Orders!” Mod is for you!

The “JFO!” Mod features:

1. Torpedo (Crisis) Orders – Up until the winter of ‘42/’43, the German Navy experienced several issues with depth keeping and premature explosions in their torpedoes. Only recently, modders in the community have been able to make inroads into simulating this effect. With The “JFO!” Mod, you can follow the orders that BdU was issuing over the radio and implement their recommended torpedo settings. Now, you can suffer through all the confusing orders regarding torpedo settings broadcasted throughout the entire war!


Example of Torpedo Setting Procedures

2. Prize Rules – During the opening stages of the war, the Second London Naval Treaty proved to be a thorn in the side for BdU (and England!). The “JFO!” Mod allows you to attempt to accurately implement the orders that BdU issued to abrogate the Prize Rules. This portion of the mod will also include a draggable template that overlays the navigation map to assist in giving up-to-date information. Thanks to The “JFO!” Mod, you can endure the complex attack orders that U-boat commanders dealt with during the eventual nullification of the Prize Rules!


Prize Rules Template


Example of Prize Rules Orders

3. Blockade Runners – During the later stages of the war, German blockade runners were sailing from the Southern Hemisphere to Western France along a path known as “Route Antar.” During this time, U-boat commanders were under orders not to attack single ships in certain regions of the Atlantic Ocean. Using another draggable template, you can now implement these orders, even further restricting your ability to sink the easier tonnage during the later stages of the war!


Route "Antar" Template

4. Convoy Tactics – Once the War in the Atlantic turned against the U-boats in the Spring of ’43, BdU began issuing more aggressive and dangerous orders especially when engaging aircraft. During certain parts of the war, U-boats were actually ordered to engage aircraft and “shoot it out” on the surface. If the act of risking exposure of your U-boat to deadly aircraft all in the name of the tonnage quest appeals to you, then The “JFO!” Mod is what you are looking for!


Example of Tactical Convoy Procedures

5. Standing Orders – General standing orders were issued as well, e.g. ordering boats to refuel only at night; restricting U-boats use of sea areas, such as the English Channel; implementation of the Piening Route and other return routes; and limiting external load out torpedoes to minimize depth-keeping issues during U-boat combat stress. Now you, too, can be encumbered by changes in standing orders that U-boat commanders had to keep track of while waging war on the high seas!


Example of Standard Operating Procedures

**THIS MOD ULTIMATELY IS NOT DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT, BUT THERE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS THAT MAKE THIS SOMEWHAT OF AN ADVANCED MOD.**

First, we don’t suggest using this mod without certain other mods to fully allow for true immersion. We suggest that one or more of the following mods be used:

1. SH3 Commander (This mod is no longer required for operation, but still highly recommended. It can be used for certain aspects of the mod, please see the readme for a full explanation.)
2. Some sort of übermod, e.g. GWX, NYGM, etc.
3. h.sie’s SH3.exe mod
4. (Jonesoft Generic Mod Enabler)

Second, this mod is almost entirely “immersion only.” There are very few aspects of this mod that are not self-enforced. This mod is designed for advanced players who prefer an “iron man” mentality when playing Silent Hunter III.

Using in-depth research of several sources, andqui and I have been able construct a series of orders that cover the above aspects of gameplay that you can implement at whatever level of intensity you choose.

We have made every effort to research and understand the orders as given at the time using as many resources as possible to produce the list of orders that can effectively be implemented in the game.

New for version 2.0:

We have included a new executable that easily allows you to put in up-to-date orders between saves. SH3 Commander only updated the orders based on the initial date of the patrol. Now, provided you completely exit the game, you can just run the executable and it will write the up-to-date orders into your installation.

Also, we have released a German version of the mod, authored by La vache.

To download, check the downloads section here at Subsim.com.

Version 2.1 Change Log:

-Removed references to the C/30 Zwilling Flak Gun for Operation Weserübung.
-Removed 27 Feb 1944 Standard Operating Procedures orders template and message.

-Edited 1 Nov 1944 Torpedo Setting Procedures orders template and message to reflect correct torpedo loadout.
-Edited messages such that they were all from BdU.
-Edited all Prize Rules templates for spelling (English only).
-Edited Prize Rules templates (and initiating radio message) referring to darkened ships zone for clarity.
-Edited 30 Sep 1939 Prize Rules orders template for clarity.
-Edited 4 Mar 1940 Standard Operating Procedures orders template for clarity.
-Edited 16 Jul 1942 and 12 Nov 1942 Standard Operating Procedures order templates and radio messages for clarity on traversing the Bay of Biscay.
-Edited all references to Irish territorial waters to the correct units of 10 nautical miles.
-Edited 22 May 1943, 24 May 1943, and 27 May 1943 Standard Operating Procedures orders templates and radio messages for clarity and grammar.
-Edited 25 Mar 1943 Torpedo Setting Procedures orders template recommended general depth settings table for merchants for clarity (English only).
-Edited 16 Mar 1943, 7 May 1943, and 27 May 1943 Tactical Convoy Procedures orders templates (and initiating radio message) for grammar (English only).
-Edited 27 Mar 1944 Standard Operating Procedures orders template and message to correctly represent the disposition of quadrant BE.
-Edited all dates in German to more properly reflect German date notation.

-Added 1 Apr 1944 Torpedo Setting Procedures orders template and message.
-Added 10 Apr 1944 Standard Operating Procedures orders template and message.

As you can see, the changes are mainly cosmetic. If you wish to just upgrade to v2.1 from 2.0, please follow the instructions in Section 4.3 of the ReadMe. You can download this version here.

The “Just Follow Orders!” Mod: We included everything, except the boredom!