Tips for making it to the end of a campaign

[gg779]

I think the time has finally come, my mouse is starting to hesitate over that shortcut - I have had a good run and completely immersed myself, pun intended, since SHIV's release; moded and remoded; without even thinking about my other simulations - but yet again I become another historical statistic: three patrols is my best so far, I know it was hard, but surely some skippers survived.
So please let’s hear your tips of how to be a good commander; how you consistently sink ships but most importantly how you increase the odds that you and your crew will make it home.


Game settings
Real Fleet Boat and Flavoured to Taste - realism comprimised with map updates and external camera.

[SteamWake]

I dont know if this will help all that much but my biggest downfall by far was a lack of situational awarness.

I have had uhhh premature carrier ending blunders a number of times through target fixation. You get so focused on setting up your shot and getting a kill you fail to notice that DD steaming at you at flank from your port side.

By the time you do notice it its too late.

I work hard now on getting a good feel for where ALL the boats in a convoy are.

I also try to get as many kills or cripples off with my first salvo as possible. Possibly targeting two or three ships working my way right to left (if the convoy is moving left to right) only having to turn the ship slightly before the next shot(s).

I then go deep change course and position and reload.

Trying to swing around to unload the stern tubes in the mix as well is a pretty risky manuver. Better be sure the DD's cannot get close to you in time.

[DS]

I was getting killed on a regular basis in the begining too. My longest run was 1.5 patrols...

I burned the following lessons into my head, which I would follow - NO MATTER WHAT!

1. On a submerged convoy attack, once the shooting has started, you dive to 300+ feet RIGHT *&%#@! NOW (meaning without delay; no "just one more minute at PD to make this last shot...), if

A: a destroyer is coming anywhere near you;
B: you have no tubes currently loaded;

It takes time to get from PD to 300+ feet, and destroyers love to kill you as you're passing around 100-200 feet on you way down, which means you need to pass 200+ feet BEFORE a destroyer is even close to being overhead...


2. Unless you have the working SD radar, you spend ALL DAY submerged to avoid air attack in enemy territory. Spending time on the surface in enemy territory without 100% working SD radar is Russian roulette - it's just a matter of time before the odds kill you...


3. (Personal Choice - not all will agree) I do not attack escorted convoys on the surface, day or night. The time required to get from the surface to 300+ feet (also known as SAFETY) is far greater than the time it takes for a destroyer, having suddenly detected you, to gun you full of holes, and then depth charge your sinking carcass for good measure.

Since implementing these SOPs, I have survived (so far) into my fifth patrol, with over 300,000 tons sunk, none of which have been my submarine...

Hope that helps.

[gg5056]

When I Am In Careers. I Keep Saving The Game As I Go. So If I Get Sunked.
I Can Start Over Before I Was Sunked. I Found Out The Hard Way.

[Crosseye76]

I was getting killed on a regular basis in the begining too. My longest run was 1.5 patrols...

I burned the following lessons into my head, which I would follow - NO MATTER WHAT!

1. On a submerged convoy attack, once the shooting has started, you dive to 300+ feet RIGHT *&%#@! NOW (meaning without delay; no "just one more minute at PD to make this last shot...), if

A: a destroyer is coming anywhere near you;
B: you have no tubes currently loaded;

It takes time to get from PD to 300+ feet, and destroyers love to kill you as you're passing around 100-200 feet on you way down, which means you need to pass 200+ feet BEFORE a destroyer is even close to being overhead...


2. Unless you have the working SD radar, you spend ALL DAY submerged to avoid air attack in enemy territory. Spending time on the surface in enemy territory without 100% working SD radar is Russian roulette - it's just a matter of time before the odds kill you...


3. (Personal Choice - not all will agree) I do not attack escorted convoys on the surface, day or night. The time required to get from the surface to 300+ feet (also known as SAFETY) is far greater than the time it takes for a destroyer, having suddenly detected you, to gun you full of holes, and then depth charge your sinking carcass for good measure.

Since implementing these SOPs, I have survived (so far) into my fifth patrol, with over 300,000 tons sunk, none of which have been my submarine...

Hope that helps.


Words to live by ! :up:

[AirborneTD]

When I Am In Careers. I Keep Saving The Game As I Go. So If I Get Sunked.
I Can Start Over Before I Was Sunked. I Found Out The Hard Way.

THis is something I just can't make myself do. I save often and will only restart a game if I have a CTD, screen freeze or have something happen beyond my control.

I never restart if I've been sunk legitimately. I just start a new career with a new boat.

To each his own.

[AhhhFresh]

Escorts are most dangerous on the approach... once you get inside the convoy they're somewhat brain dead (unfortunately). So I just force myself to be patient and never push something when the odds aren't fully in my favor.

I don't use RFB or FtT at the moment, and my understanding is that they are significantly harder than stock, but these are my tips regardless:

1. Don't push your intercept too close to visual range of the lead DD. Go further out. Swing out wider. It's ok to lose visual contact... you know where they're going to be and when.

2. Don't leave your periscope up! Pick your target from a safe distance and use the position keeper if you are afraid of missing them (the position keeper works whether you do manual targeting or not and is an absolutely wonderful tool). I suggest spending most of your time below persicope depth actually... come up only once the lead DD has passed (hydrophone) and you are getting ready to fire.

3. The best place to be in an attack is between the lines of the convoy... not only is the middle line where the juciest targets hang out, but also the prop noise of the convoy will conceal you from detection better than anything else. Your intimate range will ensure hits. In addition, if you do it right, you'll be able to empty your forward and aft tubes on at least 3 different ships in a matter of minute or two.

4. Remember that you don't have to sink everybody in the convoy right now. You're a lot lot faster. You still know where they're going. Sink your targets and let the convoy get out of range. You can then surface, reload, and recharge before swinging around and hitting them again.

That's got me through 5 patrols in an S-boat and Porpoise without even suffering depth charges (no saving or reloading either).

[Snacko]

Save, Save, Save! I too do this all the time.

And I also like to hide under enemy frieghters so the Destroyers can't get me, and I dive while under them.

[mookiemookie]

3. (Personal Choice - not all will agree) I do not attack escorted convoys on the surface, day or night.

Boooooooring! :p:rotfl: