So, about those plane attacks

[Rhodes]

Those terrible nerve breaking situations. I have been notice something that want to ask if some one notice the same.

I currently have 2 campaigns, one with a Type VII and other with a Type IX. The first is now at November of 42 and the latter in August of the same year.
I started a new patrol in the type IX and in transit to the patrol area, NW of Cape Fisterra, I got radar warnings (already have the Biscay cross) and so planes.
Had several moments of crash diving, going submerge and after going to surface to recharge, only manage to stay at for a few time, then the planes would arrive, etc.
In other patrols of this boat, from spring 42, I began to see more planes and being attack by them, normal situation.
Now, the other side. In the campaign with the type VII, in the same months and so on, I never experienced the rising of the air patrols and subsequent attacks. My last patrol in Nov of 42, at the north Atlantic, never saw any enemy plane. Granted that the weather plays a important role, but even with heavy clouds/no rain/moderate visibility, I got attack by planes when playing with the type IX, but not with the Type VII.

Any one ever experienced this? I find that in, in terms of realism when playing with one type, the game acts more historic realistic and when playing with the Type VII, were are the planes, I ask in a more immersing kind of way.
Of course, I know that several things can influence the game behavior.
I play GWX+SH3 Commander+several mods (with H.Sie and Stiebler).

[bstanko6]

There are air coverage zones in the game. Depending where you are.

As the war progresses, the air coverage gets worse. Especially the long convoy routes to and from England.

It makes sense the type IX would see more air coverage later, as the allies were prioritizing security to the convoys crossing the Atlantic.

Perhaps the bigger Type IX can be more easily detected by aircraft radar than a Type VII and that is why you have more enemy encounter in a Type IX.

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted by allievo

Perhaps the bigger Type IX can be more easily detected by aircraft radar than a Type VII and that is why you have more enemy encounter in a Type IX.

Could be, if the game engine has that kind of ability. But it could like bstanko6 said plus just some coincidence that my routes with the IX pass by the air coverage zones more times than when playing in my other campaign.

Well, no sunshine for everyone until the air gap zones...

[bstanko6]

Convoy routes like HX or PC have the most coverage, as well as CAM ships which provide air cover. Good luck!

[CaptBones]

If I read it correctly, the OP states your patrols were in two different areas.

As bstanko6 noted, the air patrol/airstrike coverage is based on different zones throughout the game "map". These are established by specific aircraft ranges from individual air bases around the game world.

In the game, you can find the active air bases on the chart (only landlubbers use maps!), each symbol shows up with the location of the base and identification of the aircraft operating from that base. IIRC the existence of land air bases is controlled by the Campaign_LND.mis file in the data/Campaigns/Campaign folder; CAM ships and aircraft carriers are created in the SCR and RND files. In order to simulate increased air coverage, more air bases (and CAM ships and aircraft carriers) are activated as the war progresses.

Good hunting!

You'll find the settings for patrol/strike coverage in the data/Cfg folder, the file is AirStrike.cfg. The very first entry is Maximum Aircraft Range, which sets the boundary of the zone of air coverage for each active air base.

I felt that a single set of controlling parameters in the AirStrike.cfg file was producing an "unrealistic" representation of the number and efficiency of Allied air patrols and strikes, especially during the first year or two of the war. So, I made four copies of that file, revised the values to be more representative of ASW air patrols in 1939, 1941, 1943, and 1945 and put those files into appropriate Date folders in SH3 Commander. Seems to work better; I've only gotten through 1939 - 1942 thus far with those changes, will have to see what happens in 1943.

allievo is also correct; radar detection, as well as visual and active sonar detection, is primarily governed by the surface area of the target (your boat) as seen from the searching platform. You can find those values in the data\Cfg\sim.cfg files; [Visual], [Radar] and [Sonar] Enemy surface factor. You can tweak those values (and others in that .cfg file) and put your modified sim.cfg files into the Date folders in SH3 Commander to represent improvements in Allied ASW capabilities as the war progresses.