rsrd convoys; where are they

09-28-13, 07:08 PM

I guess the subject asks the question. I love rsrd campaign but I miss all my convoys. Is there any way to get more convoy action but not all like the regular campaign. There must be a happy medium somewhere. Any help? Thanks in advance Brian

09-28-13, 11:14 PM

google ww2 shipping routes and note the dates because they change.

that tells you where to find them, rsrdc removes the other shipping so if you aren't in the right place you wont find any ships at all

JoeCorrado · 09-29-13, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwchaney

I guess the subject asks the question. I love rsrd campaign but I miss all my convoys. Is there any way to get more convoy action but not all like the regular campaign. There must be a happy medium somewhere. Any help? Thanks in advance Brian

The short answer is that you can't find, what is not there.

True, as Webster says, you can (keep it very "anti-real" by) looking up actual historical convoys as the records list- what records there are- but that to me is the ultimate in taking the fun and chance out of the game- and the rare convoys in RSRD reflect but a small sample of the shipping that would have existed in real life. The RSRDC "assumes" that pretty much no other shipping existed if there was no post war record of it. This is totally unrealistic since Japan could not have supported her peace rime economy on the amount of tonnage in RSRD, let alone a economy in full out war time footing- and that is a tragic shame from my perspective.

Check out this thread- relief may be coming from some of the more capable modders here to address the problem.

CapnScurvy · 09-29-13, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwchaney

I guess the subject asks the question. I love rsrd campaign but I miss all my convoys. Is there any way to get more convoy action but not all like the regular campaign. There must be a happy medium somewhere. Any help? Thanks in advance Brian

I'm working on just this issue.

For all RSRDC v5xx mods, I'm working on increasing merchant traffic. This recent thread asks the same question.

I'm increasing spawning probabilities, contact report sightings, number of convoys and their make-up. I'm making sure the individual/convoy merchant traffic are traveling at speeds manual sonar can "hear" them with (a limitation the stock game has regarding not hearing a ship when its traveling at below half its rated maximum speed).

It's coming.

09-29-13, 11:54 AM

Thanks CapnS. I will waiting for your editing. BWChaney

Bubblehead1980 · 09-29-13, 12:16 PM

Okay, I am going to try to clear this up once and for all...

There are plenty of convoys in RSRD, but it does depend on what you year and your patrol area. I just finished a patrol in June-August 1944 in East China Sea, I ran into 6 convoys.Once was a tanker convoy I added, but 5 were RSRD convoys.

The problem the stock game and other mods that use random generated traffic gives as a first impression to a player is that there were always convoys in the logical places at logical times and this is simply not true.The Japanese did not take ASW seriously for a large part of the war so convoys were rare in 42, and early to mid 43.There was no dedicated, centralized convoy coordination for most part, it was left up to regional commanders. After serious losses were suffered they started building more escort vessels, what the British/Americans called corvettes and Destroyer Escort types.Convoys were much more common by Fall of 1943. IJN suffered heavy losses in late 43 and especially in January/February 1944.This lead to an actual more centralized effort in convoy organization being pursued, case in point was the Take Ichi Convoy( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Ichi_convoy)attacked by USS Jack and Gurnard in April/May 1944.

RSRD reflects history by using a source that documented a large percentage of convoys and put them into the mod. Yes, some are missing that were there and were not documented for whatever reason.Prime example is in 1944, the Singapore/Japan seas lanes running tanker convoys east of Hainan Island then via Luzon Straits/Bashi channel, west of Ryuku Islands to various ports in Japan is empty in 1944 except for singles.This is wrong as this was a major shipping lane with plenty of tanker traffic.I added some convoys there myself which will be included in my add on for RSRD.

Now, if you are playing 1942, don't except to see a lot of convoys because fact is, there were not many convoys.There were a few but a lot of ships running alone or in pairs unescorted.1943, 1944 and first part of 45 there are a ton of convoys, especially in key areas.They die off in 45 as did in real life as shipping losses were many.Their routes also change, in late 44 and into 45, really dont find convoys on open ocean like in real life, they hug the coast for most part for protection.This requires some changes in tactics. Running TMO along with RSRD? This is pretty much suicide if attack submerged unless find some deeper spots and sees are rough, then you have somewhat of a chance.Night surface attack is your best bet but then that is not always an option without some fixes for realism.Suggest download my radar fix, brings IJN radar down to more realistic performance.

Look up the maps but they are not always a help.Just open up the traffic with the Mission Editor, if you just look to see where the routes area in that time period, it is not cheating.Same thing as looking at a map. I speak to this as someone who when I first began using RSRD, made the same comments and had same feelings concerning convoys.I remember the frustration of going on patrol and thinking there are no convoys.Another thing to consider is that RSRD seeks to simulate history by not always assigning player to a hot area but the underlying plan in many cases is to have player in the right area so that may encountered a big prize.

Example, I have been assigned to cold areas, encountered nothing, but at end of 30 days in area, here comes a carrier or heavy cruiser, with escorts.Worth the wait ? Yes. Sometimes I encounter them but was not in position to attack and they got away, it happened in RL and RSRD simulates this. After getting a feel for this I checked the traffic files, ran the simulation with the ME and was like "Ok, I get it now".Fact is, not every sub got a hot area on each patrol and not every sub was able to rack up tonnage on each patrol.

I simply can not run this sim without RSRD these days, I find other traffic "gamey" and unrealistic.Even though TMO's campaign is pretty good.I like that I am attacking a convoy that spawns once and will not respawn.This gives convoys variety in number of escorts, ships etc.This also in many cases, prevents unrealistic patrols.There are times when may run into a convoy early on, take out 3 or 4 ships, then that is the last one you see, so you spend the next 20-30 days in area just looking.This was how it was in many cases but you still bagged 4 ships, a successful patrol by any standards.

That is another thing, player is not limited in this sim as skippers were in rea life by things such as staying in your assigned area.To prevent overlap, confusion and possible friendly fire, subs were usually forbidden from moving into another area without permission, some exceptions could be made though. Player chooses to play realistically, they will stay in area but if so chooses, can just go way out.I stay within my area, maybe go out of it a little to get a last attack in on a convoy before it's gone.Due to game limitations, there is a honor system sometimes, such as with refits.Well if you want you can pass withing 10 miles of a port, click refit, get a new load of fuel and torpedoes. Others, if choose, can actually pull into port, up to a pier and wait a few hours(with TC of course) then depart.

I will conclude this "rant" but bottom line, there are plenty of convoys in RSRD, takes time and patience.Study maps, open up the traffic layer for the desired year and see the routes.Dont want to cheat,? dont check the dates they depart or run the simulation, just look at the routes.Don't give up, I did not and now, can't enjoy the sim without RSRD.

EDIT:I also don't understand how people think there is not enough single merchant traffic, I can't help but run into them.I ignore most unless its a big ship and deleted many in 44 and 43 since it was illogical that important ships would be on the open ocean alone.

Cowboy40 · 09-29-13, 09:21 PM

As stated above....

1. This is one area the Japanese ignored before and during the war. They failed to workout an effective convoy system.

2. Their sound equipment was not on a par with allied equipment. It just wasn't enough to be effective.

3. ASW weapons deployed by the Japanese were will again not on par iwth allied development. Their depth charges wer of an obsolete design to start the war. Type 88 was actually of World War One design (it is doubtful that these depth charges were used in combat), the typle 95 was the standard depth charge but had a payload of 100kg that was raised to 147kg during the war, but it had only two depth settings 30m or 60m. They type 95 was replaced by the Type 2 during the war. The type two were almost direct copies of British designed depth charges, and it had a payload of 105kg that was increased to 162kg late int he war. It used the same method of detonation as the Type 95, but it had 30m, 60m, 90m, 120m and 145m settings.

4. By mid 1944, the US unrestricted submarine warfare campaign had been so effective that US boats were actually running out of targets. US submarines accounted for 55% of recorded losses of the Japanese merchant marine.

Given these factors it should be no surprise that convoys in the Pacific were far and between.

Campbell, J. (2002). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

Silverstone, P. H. (2008). The Navy of World War II: 1922-1947 (The U.S. Navy Warship Series). New York: Routledge.

TorpX · 09-29-13, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCorrado

The short answer is that you can't find, what is not there.

True, as Webster says, you can (keep it very "anti-real" by) looking up actual historical convoys as the records list- what records there are- but that to me is the ultimate in taking the fun and chance out of the game...

I agree. Sometimes I am tempted to delve in to the files to see what's there, but I know it would spoil my enjoyment of the game.

Quote:

The RSRDC "assumes" that pretty much no other shipping existed if there was no post war record of it.

I assume nobody has done an accounting of the shipping, to see how much is represented in RSRDC. If someone had the time, it would not be that complicated.

Bubblehead1980 · 09-29-13, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorpX

I agree. Sometimes I am tempted to delve in to the files to see what's there, but I know it would spoil my enjoyment of the game.

I assume nobody has done an accounting of the shipping, to see how much is represented in RSRDC. If someone had the time, it would not be that complicated.

Honestly, it really does not take anything away if you open up the file, look at routes being used, it's the same as looking at the map.Chance is there because most have a random radius set and will not travel exact same path.Only way it is cheating and takes away is if you open up the file, run the simulation through the ME and see the time and dates convoys depart etc.

For a long time I did not delve into the details until I wanted to know more about workings of RSRD for modding purposes, so if you just look at the traffic routing, as you would with a map or as any skipper would have had coordinates of known shipping lanes, it wont kill off the fun for you and will prevent all the talk about no convoys in RSRD.

JoeCorrado · 09-29-13, 10:47 PM

Between March 1942 and March 1945 there were over 1,000 Ultra Messages sent to commanders operating in the Pacific. Each message was the result of the American's having broken the Japanese code. The messages were fairly common and dealt with information both mundane and critical, one item they revealed was naval units assigned to escort duty. From this information- critical information regarding convoy routes and escort strengths were gleaned and the mentioned Ultra Messages relayed to commands that were believed most likely to benefit from the information, or that could be POSITIONED in order to take advantage of the information. For the U.S. submarine fleet, this meant being in the right place, at the right time, and sinking ships.

Quote:

Source: The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia

"Allied success at reading the Japanese merchant shipping code often put American submarines in the right places at the right times."

Quote:

Source: Valor At Sea

During 1943 U.S. SUBMARINES alone put over 1, 500,000 GRT of Japanese merchants on the bottom. US codebreakers were picking up messages which proved highly productive on a regular basis and by the early months of 1945 the hunting grounds of the US submarine fleet were getting thin.

Comprising less then 1.6% of all US Naval personnel in the Pacific, yet accounting for more then half of all enemy shipping sunk, the US submarine fleets were well represented in the Allied effort for achieving victory. Historians have stated that a major factor contributing to Japan's surrender was this island nation's recognition of the fact that she was unable to sustain the war effort due to the severe shortages of raw materials and basic essentials. By eliminating their ability to import vital goods and supplies, American submarines were able to do to Japan what Hitler's U-Boat force came close to doing to England.

The American Submarine Force accounted for 54% (over 5,000,000 GRT) of all Japanese ships sunk during the war.

I do not wish to argue the RSRDC model for merchant shipping- and the work put into the recreation of known shipping, both military and merchant, is nothing short of incredible. However, I expect that the BEST service for RSRDC would be to make it an even truer representation of reality by including ships and convoys that we do not have official written proof of, but which MUST have existed since it was in fact sunk.

1943-1944 was the U.S. Submariner's "Happy Time" and that's all I am looking for from the game- a little happy time. LOL I have targets aplenty (too many in fact

) with just GFO and a few added mods, but I do so miss the "realism" of actual naval battles that RSRD provided. This aspect of RSRD represents the pinnacle of modding success in my humble opinion.

It isn't really a question of adequate targets IF you know when and where- Ultra Messages don't appear to be much of a factor at all in RSRD- but Does RSRDC provide ships (target opportunities) in the numbers necessary to account for the KNOWN tonnage sunk during the war- even for just the official totals confirmed by the U.S. Submarine Force? These ships would have sailed and sailed again being potential targets each time till they were eventually sunk. Does RSRD account for the same ships or only if they are mentioned by name in a convoy report? SH4 has many followers and the "realism" factor should be balanced with the playability factor. That is my only point.

Bubblehead1980 · 09-29-13, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCorrado

Between March 1942 and March 1945 there were over 1,000 Ultra Messages sent to commanders operating in the Pacific. Each message was the result of the American's having broken the Japanese code. The messages were fairly common and dealt with information both mundane and critical, one item they revealed was naval units assigned to escort duty. From this information- critical information regarding convoy routes and escort strengths were gleaned and the mentioned Ultra Messages relayed to commands that were believed most likely to benefit from the information, or that could be POSITIONED in order to take advantage of the information. For the U.S. submarine fleet, this meant being in the right place, at the right time, and sinking ships.

I do not wish to argue the RSRDC model for merchant shipping- and the work put into the recreation of known shipping, both military and merchant, is nothing short of incredible. However, I expect that the BEST service for RSRDC would be to make it an even truer representation of reality by including ships and convoys that we do not have official written proof of, but which MUST have existed since it was in fact sunk.

1943-1944 was the U.S. Submariner's "Happy Time" and that's all I am looking for from the game- a little happy time. LOL I have targets aplenty (too many in fact

) with just GFO and a few added mods, but I do so miss the "realism" of actual naval battles that RSRD provided. This aspect of RSRD represents the pinnacle of modding success in my humble opinion.

It isn't really a question of adequate targets IF you know when and where- Ultra Messages don't appear to be much of a factor at all in RSRD- but Does RSRDC provide ships (target opportunities) in the numbers necessary to account for the KNOWN tonnage sunk during the war- even for just the official totals confirmed by the U.S. Submarine Force? These ships would have sailed and sailed again being potential targets each time till they were eventually sunk. Does RSRD account for the same ships or only if they are mentioned by name in a convoy report? SH4 has many followers and the "realism" factor should be balanced with the playability factor. That is my only point.

That is the point, RSRD has realism AND playability. 1942 was slow convoy wise and thus is in RSRD. There are plenty of singles and pairs and plenty of TF activity.Again, much as in real life, its matter of luck in a lot of cases.This is the fun, it's not a shooting gallery but the chance for a real big score is there.Sometimes, you get lucky and stumble across multiple convoys.Want a lot of convoys? play in 43 and 44, early 45.42 is slow convoy wise per history and so is mid 44 until the end of war.

I just think before people talk about lack of convoys etc they should stop, and invest a little more time to find out.I was once one of those people but I figured it out.

Armistead · 09-29-13, 11:08 PM

If you hunt the historical shipping lanes in RSRD, you'll find plenty of convoys.

Bubblehead1980 · 09-30-13, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

If you hunt the historical shipping lanes in RSRD, you'll find plenty of convoys.

Exactly.I was once, long ago, one of those who thought there were not enough convoys in RSRD.I added some that should be there in certain areas such as east china sea, east of hainan island via luzon straits to japan but even without those, there are plenty

JoeCorrado · 10-01-13, 03:55 PM

As you likely know by now- I am no purist for realism, my realism level runs at bout 60%

but I do try to stay within my patrol area following my mission parameters- and you can't sink what isn't there. I agree that IF you are in the right place at the right time, there is shipping. No doubt about it.

Problem is, even setting up outside a port that should be active will yield no targets most times in RSRD. That really is not realistic. A good sized port with zero traffic in or out, is counter intuitive unless your presence is already known. And even then, your targets would likely be ASW units.

Likewise, there is a lack of even local merchants- typical strategy if no larger targets were available, was often to move closer to shore and attack smaller merchants that would travel the coast for safety. Again- you can't sink what isn't there in RSRDC.

So, if you maintain integrity of assigned mission, that leaves port raiding. While it was sometimes done in order to force the issue, in SH4 it is about as gamey as it gets unless it matches your mission assignment.

I think that ultra messages could resolve (or at least mitigate) the empty seas issue in RSRDC that some of us suffer from- these messages were quite typical and were also very effective in placing our subs in the right place at the right time. If you received even two or three ultra's that fine tuned your search during a 30 day patrol in an otherwise barren sea- it would add to the enjoyment factor. Maybe an increase in shipping is not the only possible resolution?

Stock game shipping is way, way, way too abundant. And the ultra messages never end- Sometimes the over abundance of the stock campaign is worse that the shortage of RSRDC-

I don't dislike the idea of spending a 30 day patrol and getting just a few ships- even the opportunity of sighting ships even if they get away. No problem at all. That is pretty realistic since a skipper who could nab an average of three or four ships per patrol, was considered top shelf indeed.

Spending a thirty day patrol with zero contacts in your assigned area was frustrating as it could be in real life- and it did happen occasionally- but for a game, that is just not very fun.

I regret if it comes off as whiny or complainant. RSRDC is the culmination of a vast amount of work- but as even Duci used to say- the ability to have a favorite mod "flavored to taste" is the goal. If I had a more accommodating "real life" I would attempt to learn the methods of tweaking in order to provide an alternative which provides the "sweetened target availability" that some percentage here hope for while preserving the great aspects of RSRDC relative to the historic records that are so awesome is RSRDC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

Exactly.I was once, long ago, one of those who thought there were not enough convoys in RSRD.I added some that should be there in certain areas such as east china sea, east of hainan island via luzon straits to japan but even without those, there are plenty

I am reading a great novel "Submarine" which reminds me again of the tactics of a sub skipper, and I don't want my RSRDC experience to make me one of those skippers who could just never find the war. LOL

c13Garrison · 10-01-13, 07:31 PM

I havn't been able to be much involved lately (rehearsal season has started) but I'll toss my 2 bits in on this.

I would very much like to know what a "historic" intercept chance for US subs on Ultra convoys was. By my experience it is about 1 in 12. You can travel to the area indicated and yet still miss the convoy entirely if it is beyond your detection range.

I know the many boxes and diamonds on the stock game are not realistic and gamey, but it would be nice to be able to at least draw a plot on that convoy from Rabaul to Pelieu. Even if its 800 miles and frought with margin of error, at least I would feel I was putting myself in the best chance to succeed.

Hope everyone is well!

09-28-13, 07:08 PM	#1
bwchaney Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	rsrd convoys; where are they I guess the subject asks the question. I love rsrd campaign but I miss all my convoys. Is there any way to get more convoy action but not all like the regular campaign. There must be a happy medium somewhere. Any help? Thanks in advance Brian

09-29-13, 11:08 PM	#12
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,864 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	If you hunt the historical shipping lanes in RSRD, you'll find plenty of convoys. __________________ You see my dog don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

09-28-13, 11:14 PM	#2
Webster Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	google ww2 shipping routes and note the dates because they change. that tells you where to find them, rsrdc removes the other shipping so if you aren't in the right place you wont find any ships at all

09-29-13, 11:54 AM	#5
bwchaney Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Thanks CapnS. I will waiting for your editing. BWChaney

09-29-13, 12:16 PM	#6
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	Okay, I am going to try to clear this up once and for all... There are plenty of convoys in RSRD, but it does depend on what you year and your patrol area. I just finished a patrol in June-August 1944 in East China Sea, I ran into 6 convoys.Once was a tanker convoy I added, but 5 were RSRD convoys. The problem the stock game and other mods that use random generated traffic gives as a first impression to a player is that there were always convoys in the logical places at logical times and this is simply not true.The Japanese did not take ASW seriously for a large part of the war so convoys were rare in 42, and early to mid 43.There was no dedicated, centralized convoy coordination for most part, it was left up to regional commanders. After serious losses were suffered they started building more escort vessels, what the British/Americans called corvettes and Destroyer Escort types.Convoys were much more common by Fall of 1943. IJN suffered heavy losses in late 43 and especially in January/February 1944.This lead to an actual more centralized effort in convoy organization being pursued, case in point was the Take Ichi Convoy( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Ichi_convoy)attacked by USS Jack and Gurnard in April/May 1944. RSRD reflects history by using a source that documented a large percentage of convoys and put them into the mod. Yes, some are missing that were there and were not documented for whatever reason.Prime example is in 1944, the Singapore/Japan seas lanes running tanker convoys east of Hainan Island then via Luzon Straits/Bashi channel, west of Ryuku Islands to various ports in Japan is empty in 1944 except for singles.This is wrong as this was a major shipping lane with plenty of tanker traffic.I added some convoys there myself which will be included in my add on for RSRD. Now, if you are playing 1942, don't except to see a lot of convoys because fact is, there were not many convoys.There were a few but a lot of ships running alone or in pairs unescorted.1943, 1944 and first part of 45 there are a ton of convoys, especially in key areas.They die off in 45 as did in real life as shipping losses were many.Their routes also change, in late 44 and into 45, really dont find convoys on open ocean like in real life, they hug the coast for most part for protection.This requires some changes in tactics. Running TMO along with RSRD? This is pretty much suicide if attack submerged unless find some deeper spots and sees are rough, then you have somewhat of a chance.Night surface attack is your best bet but then that is not always an option without some fixes for realism.Suggest download my radar fix, brings IJN radar down to more realistic performance. Look up the maps but they are not always a help.Just open up the traffic with the Mission Editor, if you just look to see where the routes area in that time period, it is not cheating.Same thing as looking at a map. I speak to this as someone who when I first began using RSRD, made the same comments and had same feelings concerning convoys.I remember the frustration of going on patrol and thinking there are no convoys.Another thing to consider is that RSRD seeks to simulate history by not always assigning player to a hot area but the underlying plan in many cases is to have player in the right area so that may encountered a big prize. Example, I have been assigned to cold areas, encountered nothing, but at end of 30 days in area, here comes a carrier or heavy cruiser, with escorts.Worth the wait ? Yes. Sometimes I encounter them but was not in position to attack and they got away, it happened in RL and RSRD simulates this. After getting a feel for this I checked the traffic files, ran the simulation with the ME and was like "Ok, I get it now".Fact is, not every sub got a hot area on each patrol and not every sub was able to rack up tonnage on each patrol. I simply can not run this sim without RSRD these days, I find other traffic "gamey" and unrealistic.Even though TMO's campaign is pretty good.I like that I am attacking a convoy that spawns once and will not respawn.This gives convoys variety in number of escorts, ships etc.This also in many cases, prevents unrealistic patrols.There are times when may run into a convoy early on, take out 3 or 4 ships, then that is the last one you see, so you spend the next 20-30 days in area just looking.This was how it was in many cases but you still bagged 4 ships, a successful patrol by any standards. That is another thing, player is not limited in this sim as skippers were in rea life by things such as staying in your assigned area.To prevent overlap, confusion and possible friendly fire, subs were usually forbidden from moving into another area without permission, some exceptions could be made though. Player chooses to play realistically, they will stay in area but if so chooses, can just go way out.I stay within my area, maybe go out of it a little to get a last attack in on a convoy before it's gone.Due to game limitations, there is a honor system sometimes, such as with refits.Well if you want you can pass withing 10 miles of a port, click refit, get a new load of fuel and torpedoes. Others, if choose, can actually pull into port, up to a pier and wait a few hours(with TC of course) then depart. I will conclude this "rant" but bottom line, there are plenty of convoys in RSRD, takes time and patience.Study maps, open up the traffic layer for the desired year and see the routes.Dont want to cheat,? dont check the dates they depart or run the simulation, just look at the routes.Don't give up, I did not and now, can't enjoy the sim without RSRD. EDIT:I also don't understand how people think there is not enough single merchant traffic, I can't help but run into them.I ignore most unless its a big ship and deleted many in 44 and 43 since it was illogical that important ships would be on the open ocean alone.

09-29-13, 09:21 PM	#7
Cowboy40 Swabbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 9 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	As stated above.... 1. This is one area the Japanese ignored before and during the war. They failed to workout an effective convoy system. 2. Their sound equipment was not on a par with allied equipment. It just wasn't enough to be effective. 3. ASW weapons deployed by the Japanese were will again not on par iwth allied development. Their depth charges wer of an obsolete design to start the war. Type 88 was actually of World War One design (it is doubtful that these depth charges were used in combat), the typle 95 was the standard depth charge but had a payload of 100kg that was raised to 147kg during the war, but it had only two depth settings 30m or 60m. They type 95 was replaced by the Type 2 during the war. The type two were almost direct copies of British designed depth charges, and it had a payload of 105kg that was increased to 162kg late int he war. It used the same method of detonation as the Type 95, but it had 30m, 60m, 90m, 120m and 145m settings. 4. By mid 1944, the US unrestricted submarine warfare campaign had been so effective that US boats were actually running out of targets. US submarines accounted for 55% of recorded losses of the Japanese merchant marine. Given these factors it should be no surprise that convoys in the Pacific were far and between. Campbell, J. (2002). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. Silverstone, P. H. (2008). The Navy of World War II: 1922-1947 (The U.S. Navy Warship Series). New York: Routledge.

10-01-13, 07:31 PM	#15
c13Garrison Ensign Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago-ish, USA Posts: 223 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	I havn't been able to be much involved lately (rehearsal season has started) but I'll toss my 2 bits in on this. I would very much like to know what a "historic" intercept chance for US subs on Ultra convoys was. By my experience it is about 1 in 12. You can travel to the area indicated and yet still miss the convoy entirely if it is beyond your detection range. I know the many boxes and diamonds on the stock game are not realistic and gamey, but it would be nice to be able to at least draw a plot on that convoy from Rabaul to Pelieu. Even if its 800 miles and frought with margin of error, at least I would feel I was putting myself in the best chance to succeed. Hope everyone is well!