Can't Dock

[Doolittle81]

I've been away from Sailing/Subbing for too long, i guess.

I started a new American career....out of Manila. Ran across a hugely Dumb convoy of ships...sank three light cruisers, a DD...used up a lot of torps though....I was just close off the NW coast of Luzon. I had 4 torps left. Couldn't see any point of heading to the "Star" mission objective area up by Formosa. Sailed back to Manila. Manila still has the tilted Anchor. I don't see the pop-up Option to dock...even to just refurbish supplies.

Now what do I do?

[banjo]

That's a tricky one--haven't seen that before. I suspect you had a base change radio message, missed it, and for some reason the anchor didn't change. Are you using 1.4? Go into My Documents/Sh4 and find the career folder for your guy. Read down thru it and watch for Base Change. Go there if you can make it, or try another base for gas. I don't know why you can't refuel at Manila unless it has been lost to the Japanese.

[-Pv-]

It doesn't suprise me you can't dock when you haven't even completed one mission and especially not the primary. If you hadn't used up your fuel chasing ships, you might have completed your mission and limped back at slow speed and docked, even if the base changed. That you cannot even resupply is strange. Are there any other bases you can get to and resupply? Finish the mission, then return?

Always, the primary mission should be 1st priority. It's nearly meaningless to rack up a big score and not complete missions. Your career will not last long that way.

If you end up restarting or restoring a save, reserve all your resources to completing the misisionm then go hunting on your way back, keeping the fuel reserve necessary to do so above sinking ships. Only attack ships that are along your pathm and only those you don't have to reverse much to get them. Don't chase ultra contacts on your way out, only on the way back, and only if it doesn't jepordise your fuel for returning to port.

It's a given the early missions in the pig boats in the S Pacific are tough. Long ranges, moving bases, slow boat with little range. On the plus side (as you've discovered) the enemy is not very good at counter-measures yet and easy to pick off when you encounter them.

-Pv-

[Fincuan]

Completing or not completing missions has no effect on the ability to dock or refit. When you're close to port there should be an anchor symbol in the upper right or left corner of your screen. Click that, and the dialog you were looking appears.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Also, look for the slanted anchor, this is your home base, something that came in with 1.4.


RDP

[gimpy117]

I know!! beach the ship!!!

ok don't really just kidding...

[Doolittle81]

The ICON was the answer. Apprently in 1.5, the Text dialogue pop-up window doesn't always Pop Up! Clicking the icon brings up the window so that one can dock or refit....whetehr or not you have 'completed' the Mission (greyed out the Star).
I hadn't been paying any attention at all to the 1.5 icons, such as the one telling you that you are underwater or not...If i can't keep track of that matter then I shouldn't be playing the Game, sailing the sub, at all!

Thanks for the assistance.

[SurfnSea]

Glad you got it figured out. Because I was going to suggest using those last 4 torpedoes on Maniila; you'd be out of torpedoes and get their attention all at the same time.

[ebonyflyer]

Hi,

I'm using SH4 v1.4 and i'm in the Career mode. I'm assigned to the Brisbane Subase aboard the USS Balao. I just completed a mission where I was to deploy to the East China Sea. A seconday mission was to sink enemy freighters, where there I sank three. Upon returning to Brisbane, I got the menu allowing me to Refit or Postone, but could not Dock to end the mission. I tried the mission twice, each time successfully completing the primary & secondary mission objectives, but upon arrival back at the base, it would not let me dock.

I've successfully completed other missions at Pearl Harbor, but I recently transferred to Brisbane, and this was the first Brisbane mission.

Any ideas why I'm not allowed to dock??

[banjo]

See above--your base changed. Are you patched to 1.4 or 1.5. If so, look for a leaning anchor on the map. That's your new base. You missed a message probably.

[-Pv-]

If you looked through the scrollable mesage history, you'll see the one sent to transfer your base.
-Pv-

[LeeVanSpliff]

Any ideas why I'm not allowed to dock??

Exactly the same thing happened to me at my first Brisbane mission. Checked the messages but nothing there - appears that the high command didn't consider it worthwhile to keep me informed. My crew must have considered me quite stupid for a while as I was arguing with the port authorities.

Just grab some fuel and sail south around Australia, no enemy ships so you'll be there in no time.