Enemy Task Force

Ca[t White · 11-09-14, 10:33 PM

I think I'm finally finding my rhythm with SH4, I've been doing well so far and I was awarded two medals after completing two patrols. I've sunk a good number of Destroyers and Merchant ships in Career. Now I want to go after a more Tastier Target such as a Task force but my problem is locating one. The sonar officer is always reporting that there is a enemy task force in the Area however, I'm not good with math. Any tips on how to locate a task force would be very helpful.

Dread Knot · 11-10-14, 09:58 AM

Historically, Japanese capital ships were tough to catch and sunk. You almost had to be directly in their path to get a shot in. They were often moving fast and heavily escorted and there are far fewer of them about in comparison to routine merchant traffic, which is why the entire US submarine fleet only managed to bag one heavy and one light cruiser in all of 1942. Your best bet is to lie off a major Japanese naval base like Truk, Rabaul or Hiroshima to see if one comes your way. However, don't try to be so close you're being harassed by aircraft constantly or find yourself in shallow water, which is why I don't recommend waiting off a base like Singapore. If you are based in Manila at the beginning of the war, you can try to head off the invasion fleet headed for Lingayen Gulf.

Another way is to cheat.

Try to show up for one of the major naval clashes or amphibious invasions (that you shouldn't have previous knowledge of) in the war and you might get some blows in. Another cheat is the harbor raid. Sneaking into a major base like Truk and sinking stationary Japanese battleships like clay pigeons is possible in the game, but is ahistorical and gets dull fast.

Ca[t White · 11-10-14, 11:36 AM

I'm currently based in Australia I forget the area where I'm stationed at. What would be a great area to catch an incoming task force?

Dread Knot · 11-10-14, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ca[t White

I'm currently based in Australia I forget the area where I'm stationed at. What would be a great area to catch an incoming task force?

Depends on which port in Australia you are based out of. If it is Brisbane, I'd hang out between Rabaul and Truk as this was a common transit area for Japanese warships being used in the Solomons Campaign to head for the front, or go home for repairs. Another good area might be between New Britain and New Ireland west of Rabaul. The "Slot" running down the Solomons Archipelago might be a good area too if you are using a mod that models the naval campaign there.

If you are based out of Fremantle it might be a bit tougher. Historically the Japanese didn't base many heavy units in the South China and Java Seas after the initial wave of conquest in early 1942. You might find some running between the Home Islands and Singapore though. The water here tends to be shallow though.

Armistead · 11-10-14, 08:21 PM

Are you playing with mods or stock? With stock, TF basically show bout anywhere at any time and what few battles are included aren't very historical. TMO has decent realistic traffic in itself and RSRD is totally historical.

merc4ulfate · 11-10-14, 08:30 PM

Yeah if you play TMO, RFB and RSRD you would have much better success if you travel to the right spots on the correct dates.

You could always raid Truk and get Court Marshalled.

Sniper297 · 11-11-14, 12:02 AM

A lot of it depends on how much realism you're playing, especially map contact updates. Even with map contacts off the radio reports mark the time, location, and heading, so all that's needed is to use the protractor to draw a course line and get onto that line ahead of them. Stock game an actual task force (one with capital ships, they erroneously call antisub patrols and troop convoys "task forces" but the real ones have battleships and/or carriers) cruises at 12 knots, so measure 144 miles from the contact report and that's where they'll be in 12 hours if they don't alter course.

One easy "cheat" - save the game, sit and wait in accelerated time. When a contact report pops up note the location carefully - then reload the save game and head full speed for that location, so on the day the contact report comes in you're already close to it.

Ca[t White · 11-11-14, 12:17 AM

Where would a task force be most likely to be docked at for refueling or resupply?

Ca[t White · 11-11-14, 07:53 AM

im playing with the stock version. what would you recommend?

Ca[t White · 11-11-14, 08:00 AM

what is RFB, TMO, and RSRB?

merc4ulfate · 11-11-14, 10:34 PM

ACK!!!!

You need to read up on the mega mods and how good they are.

Trigger Maru Overhaul
Run Silent Run Deep
Operation Monsun
Real Fleet Boats
We Dive at Dawn
Wolves of the Keiser
Fall of the Rising Run

All excellent megamods and there are more.

Plus smaller mods that add realism, environments, other ships, improved ship physics and a whole lot more.

Hambone307 · 11-12-14, 12:55 AM

If you want a good challenge with a task force, grab an S-18 and try to head off the Manila invasion force. I bagged a cruiser and one Battleship that way, but took one heck of a beating from the escort destroyers.

Sniper297 · 11-12-14, 02:08 PM

"The sonar officer is always reporting that there is a enemy task force in the Area however, I'm not good with math"

Sonar doesn't report sightings in the area, you get that from radio messages. When you get a radio message switch to the map and look for the red squares or diamonds that show the position. The little "tail" sticking out shows the back of the formation, the opposite direction of that is the heading. You don't need math, just basic geometry.

The red square or diamond shows where it is, the tail sticking out shows which way it's going. Use the protractor tool to draw a course line opposite the tail.

Then remember it's moving, so don't head for where it is - point your sub to where it will be 12 or 24 hours later. You can guess at that, use 10 knots as a basic speed, if it will take you 14 hours to get to his course line he will advance 140 miles along that line, so you need to intercept the line at least 140 miles ahead of the reported contact position. Getting there early is okay, you can wait on the course line or move toward him on the course line, as long as you get there before he passes you're bound to meet. Once you learn to use the basic plotting tools it's really not rocket science.

Again, closer is better, so the best way is to cheat - stop near a likely position, save the game and wait. Get a contact report, look at where it is and take a screenshot or note the latitude/longitude coordinates, then load the save game from several days before the contact report, and head for where you know the contact report will come.

In the stock game, sneaking into inland waters is hairy, but I've found it's worth it for anchored capital ships;

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=201622

For a few more anchored and looping carriers/battleships I made my own mod;

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=211844

See the "spoiler.jpg" pic in the SUPPORT folder for that mod for locations.

11-09-14, 10:33 PM	#1
Ca[t White Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 107 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	Enemy Task Force I think I'm finally finding my rhythm with SH4, I've been doing well so far and I was awarded two medals after completing two patrols. I've sunk a good number of Destroyers and Merchant ships in Career. Now I want to go after a more Tastier Target such as a Task force but my problem is locating one. The sonar officer is always reporting that there is a enemy task force in the Area however, I'm not good with math. Any tips on how to locate a task force would be very helpful.

11-10-14, 09:58 AM	#2
Dread Knot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hawkeye State Highlands Posts: 1,288 Downloads: 84 Uploads: 0	Historically, Japanese capital ships were tough to catch and sunk. You almost had to be directly in their path to get a shot in. They were often moving fast and heavily escorted and there are far fewer of them about in comparison to routine merchant traffic, which is why the entire US submarine fleet only managed to bag one heavy and one light cruiser in all of 1942. Your best bet is to lie off a major Japanese naval base like Truk, Rabaul or Hiroshima to see if one comes your way. However, don't try to be so close you're being harassed by aircraft constantly or find yourself in shallow water, which is why I don't recommend waiting off a base like Singapore. If you are based in Manila at the beginning of the war, you can try to head off the invasion fleet headed for Lingayen Gulf. Another way is to cheat. Try to show up for one of the major naval clashes or amphibious invasions (that you shouldn't have previous knowledge of) in the war and you might get some blows in. Another cheat is the harbor raid. Sneaking into a major base like Truk and sinking stationary Japanese battleships like clay pigeons is possible in the game, but is ahistorical and gets dull fast. Last edited by Dread Knot; 11-10-14 at 10:09 AM.

11-10-14, 08:21 PM	#5
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,864 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Are you playing with mods or stock? With stock, TF basically show bout anywhere at any time and what few battles are included aren't very historical. TMO has decent realistic traffic in itself and RSRD is totally historical. __________________ 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.

11-10-14, 08:30 PM	#6
merc4ulfate DILLIGAF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: florida Posts: 2,058 Downloads: 210 Uploads: 0	Yeah if you play TMO, RFB and RSRD you would have much better success if you travel to the right spots on the correct dates. You could always raid Truk and get Court Marshalled. __________________ Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is. ~Isaac Asimov~ Mercfulfate 将補日本帝國海軍

11-11-14, 10:34 PM	#11
merc4ulfate DILLIGAF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: florida Posts: 2,058 Downloads: 210 Uploads: 0	ACK!!!! You need to read up on the mega mods and how good they are. Trigger Maru Overhaul Run Silent Run Deep Operation Monsun Real Fleet Boats We Dive at Dawn Wolves of the Keiser Fall of the Rising Run All excellent megamods and there are more. Plus smaller mods that add realism, environments, other ships, improved ship physics and a whole lot more. __________________ Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is. ~Isaac Asimov~ Mercfulfate 将補日本帝國海軍

11-10-14, 11:36 AM	#3
Ca[t White Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 107 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	I'm currently based in Australia I forget the area where I'm stationed at. What would be a great area to catch an incoming task force?

11-11-14, 12:02 AM	#7
Sniper297 The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philadelphia Shipyard Brig Posts: 1,386 Downloads: 160 Uploads: 19	A lot of it depends on how much realism you're playing, especially map contact updates. Even with map contacts off the radio reports mark the time, location, and heading, so all that's needed is to use the protractor to draw a course line and get onto that line ahead of them. Stock game an actual task force (one with capital ships, they erroneously call antisub patrols and troop convoys "task forces" but the real ones have battleships and/or carriers) cruises at 12 knots, so measure 144 miles from the contact report and that's where they'll be in 12 hours if they don't alter course. One easy "cheat" - save the game, sit and wait in accelerated time. When a contact report pops up note the location carefully - then reload the save game and head full speed for that location, so on the day the contact report comes in you're already close to it.

11-11-14, 12:17 AM	#8
Ca[t White Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 107 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	Where would a task force be most likely to be docked at for refueling or resupply?

11-11-14, 07:53 AM	#9
Ca[t White Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 107 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	im playing with the stock version. what would you recommend?

11-11-14, 08:00 AM	#10
Ca[t White Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 107 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	what is RFB, TMO, and RSRB?

11-12-14, 12:55 AM	#12
Hambone307 Planesman Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 188 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	If you want a good challenge with a task force, grab an S-18 and try to head off the Manila invasion force. I bagged a cruiser and one Battleship that way, but took one heck of a beating from the escort destroyers. __________________ ____ I can't tell if I have found a rope or lost my horse.

11-12-14, 02:08 PM	#13
Sniper297 The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philadelphia Shipyard Brig Posts: 1,386 Downloads: 160 Uploads: 19	"The sonar officer is always reporting that there is a enemy task force in the Area however, I'm not good with math" Sonar doesn't report sightings in the area, you get that from radio messages. When you get a radio message switch to the map and look for the red squares or diamonds that show the position. The little "tail" sticking out shows the back of the formation, the opposite direction of that is the heading. You don't need math, just basic geometry. The red square or diamond shows where it is, the tail sticking out shows which way it's going. Use the protractor tool to draw a course line opposite the tail. Then remember it's moving, so don't head for where it is - point your sub to where it will be 12 or 24 hours later. You can guess at that, use 10 knots as a basic speed, if it will take you 14 hours to get to his course line he will advance 140 miles along that line, so you need to intercept the line at least 140 miles ahead of the reported contact position. Getting there early is okay, you can wait on the course line or move toward him on the course line, as long as you get there before he passes you're bound to meet. Once you learn to use the basic plotting tools it's really not rocket science. Again, closer is better, so the best way is to cheat - stop near a likely position, save the game and wait. Get a contact report, look at where it is and take a screenshot or note the latitude/longitude coordinates, then load the save game from several days before the contact report, and head for where you know the contact report will come. In the stock game, sneaking into inland waters is hairy, but I've found it's worth it for anchored capital ships; http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=201622 For a few more anchored and looping carriers/battleships I made my own mod; http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=211844 See the "spoiler.jpg" pic in the SUPPORT folder for that mod for locations.