WOW new one for me

[AVGWarhawk]

I finished up my second mission and the good old Admiral English asked me to go to take some pictures of a nice harbor in Japan. I was out of torps and I had gotten the message to head home when ready (after I spotted a convoy). Midway was just as far as a nice little blue anchor that had white strips on it. Looked like a port to me. I motor on over and to my surprise:o the American version of milch cows sitting in a nice little cove called Tulagi. Just southeast of the Solomon Islands. This was December 1942. I was topped off and loaded with torps. Beautiful and besides, if I headed back to PH Admiral English would probably assign a desk job after my 5 patrol. Furthermore, I would probably get the mission over so what the hey. I showed Admiral English my stern and moved out to take my pictures after the reload in Tulagi. Besides, Admiral Lookwood is my buddy in this part of the world;)

I think my crew picked up something from the locals in Tulagi. They all seem to be itching in the nether regions.

This is a new on one me and I like it. Resupply ships!:rock:

[MONOLITH]

Can you tell me what the process is? I haven't used one yet.

Do you just pull up close to it and get a "Do you want to resupply" type popup?

[AVGWarhawk]

Just pull up and the refit/dock/end mission pops up. Just like a regular port. You can only refit though.

[MONOLITH]

And is there some way by which a player can know where the milk cows are when they are needed? Or did you come across one purely by accident?


EDIT: Oops, sorry, I just reread your "Little blue anchor with white stripes on the map" part. I wonder how often they appear in game, I have yet to really get into a career mode.


Thanks for the info! :up:

[Dowly]

Also, when you refit in SHIV, the game doesnt go to the office screen. When you hit 'refit' the fuel & torpedos are given instantly and you are ready to continue the patrol.

[AVGWarhawk]

Not sure when they appear I just notice this particular colored anchor and gave it a shot. Resupply ship it was!

Here is the great part, about 100nm south of this supply spot there is the port of Honiara that is Japanese controlled. I motored out, low and behold, two tankers headed to Honiara. I sunk them with three torps. Beautiful! I guess the zeros will not be getting their aviation fuel. Grounded again;)

I find something fun everytime I load and play.

[Gunner]

Seen those anchors with stripes in them in my game, wonderd what that meant, know I know. Thanks for the info mate.

[Lagger123987]

What Milkcows? The US have them too? Cool! Now I can see those submarine tankers waiting for me in the Pacific too!

[azn_132]

What Milkcows? The US have them too? Cool! Now I can see those submarine tankers waiting for me in the Pacific too!

No, the US uses submarine tenders not Milkcows, and their docked in the same place like forever, unlike Milkcows, that have to return to base to refuel then go out to sea again.

[MONOLITH]

Here is the great part, about 100nm south of this supply spot there is the port of Honiara that is Japanese controlled. I motored out, low and behold, two tankers headed to Honiara. I sunk them with three torps. Beautiful! I guess the zeros will not be getting their aviation fuel. Grounded again;)

I find something fun everytime I load and play.




:up:

[Iron Budokan]

Neato megeato!

[Greentimbers]

I just saw one of those striped anchors on my way back to PH Aug 42. It was at Johnston Atoll I believe. I thought it might be a new base under construction, did not know it was resupply ships:o:cool:

I did not stop as I had been pretty beat up in a air attack and all I wanted to do was get back to port.

I made it back OK, next time I will stop in on our friends with their portable sub supply store:yep:

Great game (even if it has a few warts)

[UnSalted]

When you play in '43 and wearly '44, a skipper can run himself ragged around Tulagi. The "slot" between the Solomons from Tulagi running NW towards Rabaul is usually full of tankers....Large Modern Tankers at that. Just stay between the islands and have fun.

My second patrol out of Brisbane I headed there on the way to the area NE of the Bismarck Sea and got about 60K tons of kills before having to refit at Tulagi and heading up the same slot again. Had to go BACK to Tulagi again before reaching the patrol area...another refit. Way too many easy pickings in the Solomons and the TF destroyers cruise right over you when you meet them.

[the_belgian]

Also, when you refit in SHIV, the game doesnt go to the office screen. When you hit 'refit' the fuel & torpedos are given instantly and you are ready to continue the patrol.

When taking a refit i stay in that harbour for 24/36 hours* before i set sail again.
Just to go ashore,grab me a drink in the officers mess and talk with the guys there.
Meanwhile the boat is refitted and the guys on board had time for some fishing and enjoy the weather above deck.
*seems more realistic than docking,loading and leaving within 2 min.

[AVGWarhawk]

(even if it has a few warts)


:rotfl:

[AhhhFresh]

Cool! I'm on my second patrol out of Brisbane in a S-42 class boat, left on July 27th 1942, and I decided to cruise up through the Solomons by Guadalcanal and Tulagi... August 1st just as I pass by to head through the aforementioned "slot" I got word from HQ that Operation Watchtower was starting in 6 days and it's open season in the Solomons.

I wonder how long after the invasion they put a tender there?

So far around the Solomons I haven't seen much of anything except Sampans... hope it picks up soon!

[AVGWarhawk]

@AF,

I'm at the start of 42 and the port south of Tulagi is loaded with Japanese. Tulagi is the spot with the anchor. I'm not sure if it will show in 41 or not. I just noticed this two nights ago. Right now, the slot is very busy for me but I have to go take pictures off Japan. Orders is orders:shifty:

[UnSalted]

Unless the orders are accompanied by a date to accomplish, I figure targets are targets..let COMSUBPAC wait.

[AVGWarhawk]

Unless the orders are accompanied by a date to accomplish, I figure targets are targets..let COMSUBPAC wait.

True! I'm working the campaign as it is layed out attempting to find out if step by step completion prevents the repeats all the time. I did nail two tankers on the way out for my photo session:up:

[AhhhFresh]

@AF,

I'm at the start of 42 and the port south of Tulagi is loaded with Japanese. Tulagi is the spot with the anchor. I'm not sure if it will show in 41 or not. I just noticed this two nights ago. Right now, the slot is very busy for me but I have to go take pictures off Japan. Orders is orders:shifty:
Well, Tulagi/Guadalcanal wasn't invaded before Aug 7th 1942... so you have to be playing after that.

Honiara on Guadalcanal is the port to the south of Tulagi... and I'm just about to scout it out, so we'll see!

[tater]

Honaria never existed during the war, there was no port there at all. I deleted it because I lost my mind every time I saw it.

Also, tankers should never go to Guadalcanal, and the merchants that DO go to Guadalcanal should stop in November, 1942 (where the last such tripended in utter disaster for the IJN). The campaign layers are particularly bad in the SWPA. There are jap ships steaming to Port Moresby, etc.

The ships off guadalcanal (US) should just be at anchor with lighters and landing craft to take stuff ashore. Maybe a CB built long pier later, I'd have to look, since I've never seen a single picture of any facility at all of any size there. The japanese had nothing at all there, most transports that survived to land stuff ran aground so they'd be able to unload even after being bombed.

[AhhhFresh]

Honaria never existed during the war, there was no port there at all. I deleted it because I lost my mind every time I saw it.

Also, tankers should never go to Guadalcanal, and the merchants that DO go to Guadalcanal should stop in November, 1942 (where the last such tripended in utter disaster for the IJN). The campaign layers are particularly bad in the SWPA. There are jap ships steaming to Port Moresby, etc.

The ships off guadalcanal (US) should just be at anchor with lighters and landing craft to take stuff ashore. Maybe a CB built long pier later, I'd have to look, since I've never seen a single picture of any facility at all of any size there. The japanese had nothing at all there, most transports that survived to land stuff ran aground so they'd be able to unload even after being bombed.

Well the Tokyo Express had to be running supplies somewhere... so after you delete Honaria, where does the war material go?

[AVGWarhawk]

Honaria never existed during the war, there was no port there at all.

There is not actual port here. Just ships in a cove. If you do not mind, I look on the net about this Honaria and see how it relates to this game.

[tater]

One, Honaria was built on the location of the US bases after the war. The BS port there is right near Lunga Point. They'd find it a little difficult, unless they desired to give their supplies to the Marines.

Two, they did not have a port there. The landed stuff with barges from anchored ships. The "Tokyo Express" (called "Cactus Express" at the time, which was changed to "Tokyo" by the press to avoid using the US code word for Guadalcanal, "Cactus" (like the press would do that now...)) was mostly DDs acting as erzatz APDs. The cargo was literally dumped into the sea nearby, and picked up or not by the ground forces with what boats they had. None the less, it was not at Lunga, but farther west (Cape Esperance area).

In any case, this traffic should drop to zero after February '43, and after the invasion in August, '42, it should ONLY be at night. The extant layers really suck in the Slot.

[tater]

Honaria never existed during the war, there was no port there at all.

There is not actual port here. Just ships in a cove. If you do not mind, I look on the net about this Honaria and see how it relates to this game.

Dunno about your game, but I see (saw, before I deleted it) a port there, it's in Campaign_LOC.mis, too. <SHRUG>

Regardless, there should be no japanese ships at anchor at Guadalcanal, except maybe when they first dropped guys off to build the airstrip, and even then, just for a handful of days. After that, and absolutely after August, 1942, the only "parked" ships belonging to the japs should be aground, or wrecks. After November, not a single Merchant ship (and no tankers, not ever) should even head that way, only warships.


tater

[AVGWarhawk]

Japanese (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Japan) forces occupied the Solomon Islands in January 1942. The counter-attack was led by the United States (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/United_States); the 1st Division of the US Marine Corps (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/US_Marines) landed (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Battle_of_Guadalcanal) on Guadalcanal (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Guadalcanal_%28Pacific_Ocean_island%29) and Tulagi (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Tulagi) in August 1942. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/World_War_II) took place on the islands for almost three years. Tulagi, the seat of the British administration on the island of Nggela Sule in Central Province was destroyed in the heavy fighting following landings by the US Marines. Then the tough battle for Guadalcanal, which was centred on the capture of the airfield, Henderson field, led to the development of the adjacent town of Honiara as the United States logistics centre.



Here is what I found on the Solomons and Tulagi. I'm there in 42 but I think is is December. Perhaps they held it that long I do not know. Still checking on Honaria

[AVGWarhawk]

The extant layers really suck in the Slot.


@Tater,

Can you adjust and look at the layers thus starting a mod that controls the amount of ships and when they appear etc?

[AhhhFresh]

One, Honaria was built on the location of the US bases after the war. The BS port there is right near Lunga Point. They'd find it a little difficult, unless they desired to give their supplies to the Marines.

Two, they did not have a port there. The landed stuff with barges from anchored ships. The "Tokyo Express" (called "Cactus Express" at the time, which was changed to "Tokyo" by the press to avoid using the US code word for Guadalcanal, "Cactus" (like the press would do that now...)) was mostly DDs acting as erzatz APDs. The cargo was literally dumped into the sea nearby, and picked up or not by the ground forces with what boats they had. None the less, it was not at Lunga, but farther west (Cape Esperance area).

In any case, this traffic should drop to zero after February '43, and after the invasion in August, '42, it should ONLY be at night. The extant layers really suck in the Slot.
I know all that... but I'm asking what you do for the game. Don't convoys and shipping have to go somewhere?

Can you have convoys spawning without a destination port?

I figured it was just convienent shorthand to get things to work.

[tater]

Yeah, it is certainly possible.

I plan on doing a full modification of the layers at some point, but like many I was waiting to find out about 1.3 I think. I have a set right now that I might release as a mod, assuming no one minds that it is merely a bash of the current layers. I wanted to do a really compulsive set of layers, but certain things make that impossible (no persistance of units, etc).

Someone else was also working on the Slot as I recall. It really needs to be scripted—it's be cool to clone a jap DD and replace some of the deck stuff (sailors, etc) with cargo, dunno if it is possible, though. You could also have the ship come to a near stop offshore, then have rafts appear next to it for unloading...

[tater]

Oh! Sorry, I misunderstood you.

No, the game doesn't care. Since there is no dynamic anything, cargo doesn't ever arrive anywhere, the game doesn't keep track of that. Ships can appear or disappear anywhere.

The layers are divided into things like lone (100% of 1, 25% of a 2d) merchant by year, task forces by year, convoys, etc.

The paths are just placed on the map, with a % chance of the group spawning every X hours (ypically a large number of hours, hundreds plus). There is no requirement for ports, ports are just window dressing.

[AVGWarhawk]

Yeah, it is certainly possible.

I plan on doing a full modification of the layers at some point, but like many I was waiting to find out about 1.3 I think. I have a set right now that I might release as a mod, assuming no one minds that it is merely a bash of the current layers. I wanted to do a really compulsive set of layers, but certain things make that impossible (no persistance of units, etc).

Someone else was also working on the Slot as I recall. It really needs to be scripted—it's be cool to clone a jap DD and replace some of the deck stuff (sailors, etc) with cargo, dunno if it is possible, though. You could also have the ship come to a near stop offshore, then have rafts appear next to it for unloading...

Keep working for the full deal!!! That would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

[Weather-guesser]

Supply ships! Rock on :rock:

[-Pv-]

It would be nice to have the slot and Tokyo Express more "authentic" appearing (within the limits of the game) but I'm willing to wait for solid news on 1.3 patch so a modder's time isn't wasted in case a new patch impacted the effort. For me, the area between E Australia and the Philippines is the most interesting part of the war where subs played a major role. It's an area of mystique, legend and great, prolonged struggle.

Perhaps it would make a great "War Patrol" to have a lengthy adventure in that area during the height of the Solomons battles.

Guadalcanal, Papua, Rabaul, Lae, Bougainville are places and stories that easily captured my young imagination reading about them as a kid.
-Pv-

[loreed]

Depot ships I have used but I have never gotten a message to "return when ready" I send a report back that I am out of torps and its always silence, Squadron Ops Officer must not like me.

[GTHammer]

I'm surprised so many people didn't see the anchors. They're big on my nav map and the first time I pulled into PH I got the Refit, End Mission, Postpone popup box. I picked refit and checked my sub. Damage = Gone, Torps = Full, etc...so I was like phuck it. Lets go do some more hunting. Two things I would mention. 1. I got a message saying that Manila was not to be used as home port anymore 'cause of airstrikes, but I went there first because it was so much closer and voila they still refitted me. 2. If you plot a course with waypoints and have your sub auto follow the course in close to the dock make sure you slow the game speed down when you approach the dock. When the refit/End Patrol/Postpone window pops up your sub will continue straight ahead, at the same speed, with the same time progression. I found this out the hard way as I was sitting back running at around 2000x regular time at flank speed up along a preplotted course fairly close to the harbor. I was watching tv and just glancing over occasionally at my comp when suddenly my crew started screaming their heads off and alarms started blaring. Apparently the little window had popped up, but my boat continued at flank speed directly into the harbor where it proceeded to plow into a docked American battleship. Long story is we both sank. I did try to reverse out of the ship but my front end was stuck inside the battleship. Now I approach the last bit slowly.

[GTHammer]

Depot ships I have used but I have never gotten a message to "return when ready" I send a report back that I am out of torps and its always silence, Squadron Ops Officer must not like me.
Only messages I get are if A. Completed my objective for my mission(For example dropped off my spy just offshore of Japan) then send a status report, I will get a new mission or a return home. or B. If I report a contact sometimes I get a "Good find. Break contact and RTB at discretion".

[AVGWarhawk]

Depot ships I have used but I have never gotten a message to "return when ready" I send a report back that I am out of torps and its always silence, Squadron Ops Officer must not like me.

I trigger this message by finding a convoy and reporting in. Let your men spot three ships in the convoy, radio in and usually the return message is Nice Find we will send other assets to intercept, return at your descretion.

[UnSalted]

By June 23rd, 1943 Honaria has become an American base in the career game. I just went in there and found evidence of AVG's turkeyshoot (a couple of American flagged cargo ships and a merchant's buttend sticking straight up in the shallows). But, to point out the spawning power of game, on the way back up the slot to a new patrol area I ran smack into 2 Japanese flagged Large Modern Tankers headed toward the "liberated" port. Both ran into TIS problems and are probably respawning as we speak.

[tater]

There are several places where I have seen bizarre patterns of japanese merchants. Many of the layers are a bit screwy. Only solution is to fix 'em.

For the Slot stuff, open the convoy and merchant layers by year, and simply delete the ones that go into the Slot. Of course the problem is that then there will be ZERO traffice there since they didn't make a Tokyo Express layer.

Rabaul is also pretty ugly. One, there are not nearly enough ships there a lot of the time, and two, there is a huge port facility object there. Simpson Harbor was again, mostly an anchorage. The port facilities were almost nonexistant. By late 1943 (?) one of the largest "docks" was a ship sunk next to a wooden pier. They cut the hull down where needed, and decked it over, and the ship became the largest quay/dock/whatever in the whole harbor. In game... looks like NYC.

They likely spent a fair amount of time making some port objects out of a library of buildings, etc. They would have been better served to follow a "less is more" strategy, at least for some of the Pacific. The two "very small pacific" objects are neither very small, nor terribly pacific looking.

Odd that they didn't make some very simple "finger piers" for submarines instead of the giant concrete fingers suitable for CVs, since a sub dock is the most likely such facility you'd ever see.

tater