Best way to approach mission?

[PeteSnook]

Hi,

I've had SH4 for a while, but never really got into it. I have started a new career, and am really enjoying it (must have more patience now or something)...really makes you feel like you're there! I haven't got into realistic TDC yet (I still let the crew do that), but I am trying to act as a real skipper might have done.

Had a great mission searching for contacts off the Marshall Islands yesterday. Gave up after ages searching and only finding American ships (is there a way to figure out what lanes the Japanese ships use, other than going by contact reports?), moved closer to Java and eventually came across two Japanese ships being escorted by three destroyers. I managed to sink both freighters with 6000 yard shots, before sneaking off un-detected...very satisfying!

Anyway - to my question. I am on a mission where I need to drop off an agent at Osaka, and am trying to work out the best way to approach, given that it's deep in Japanese waters.

Trying to think how a real skipper might have done it, I decided that when I get close to Japan, I would run under the surface (at 1/3 speed) as long as possible during daylight, then wait till it's dark and run on the surface to recharge the batteries, getting as far as possible before daylight and having to submerge again.

I managed to get into Hiroshima harbour to take some photos on a previous mission using this approach, but running into Osaka, I've already been targetted by a shore battery at night, and forced to submerge when I've only got 10% battery left.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. When running on the surface at night, is it best to keep as far from land as possible? I was staying close to the coast to try and avoid any shipping.

Thanks

[les green01]

while going into harbors i try to stay in the middle far away from the shore, and i would check the moon to see how bright it is and don't know if they can see your wake or not but i like to keep my speed low course i like to be sneaky as much as i can,also if i have radars i will even run on the surface during the day only diving when needed that way i got a full charge in the batteries.I really don't get close to the shore too much unless they are deep water close by incase i need it,hope this helps you out.

[Diopos]

Hi,

...
I've only got 10% battery left.

...

Thanks

That's why I never go for moving submerged for any other reason than attacking and avoiding DDs Escorts etc. You have found yourself deep in enemy waters and nears major naval facilities with almost no battery. Stay on surface as much as possible. If forced to submerge do so but avoid moving if you can help. If you travel submerged for say 10 hrs at 3 kts you move 30 nmiles. A distance that would be covered in ~2-2.5 running on the surface. If you add in the somewhat reduced speed and diesel consumption to recharge batteries then you would probably avoid submerged "tourism". too :DL. WW2 fleetboats/Uboats are not post war nuclear subs. In the type of scenario you're playing your final approach to your target way include a "submerged" final leg. Minimize it. Plan your approach taking into account sunset, sunrise and moon phase (if you want to do it """properly""").

[Frumpkis]

Bad weather and no moon at night is your friend for sneaking into harbors like that, without being spotted by shipping or shore guns.

On the other hand, some of these randomly-generated harbor recon missions are just deathtraps, and are very difficult to pull off at full realism settings (especially if you're using an "aggressive" enemy AI mod like TMO). I've had to retreat from a few missions like that in the past. You'll only miss out on some reputation points if you fail the mission, so there are no real consequences for not being able to complete a mission. Go sink a bunch of big merchants to make up for it!

[Admiral8Q]

I seem to have the harbour raids down pat. I just snuck into a tiny one and sunk a 5000 tonner. I used to do that in SH1, I guess it takes a lot of practice.

Yes, the recon ones I usually leave alone after I take the photographs.

[Mav87th]

I had two great days in the vicinity of Sofu Gan. The traffic going in and out of the Empires main ports are pretty big apparently, so I just sat and waited for something to come along up from the Luzon Strait towords Japan. And my prize for waiting it out patiently was a 10.000 ton tanker and a Haruna Maru that i had to surface and use my deck gun on as it was to dark at all to use the periscope.

[Rockin Robbins]

Fear. I suggest fear. Double fear, even.

The first thing you have to do is turn tail and get those batteries charged. You aren't doing anything but dying with a 10% charge. Then I suggest that you come back in under cover of darkness with a pretty rough sea flooded down to the lowest you can get and still run the diesels: about 30'. Sneak in going under 10 knots.

This way you don't use your batteries until you absolutely have to and you have greater vision for your surroundings. You are almost invisible. Just the same, stay maximum distance from those shore batteries. If they shoot, pull the plug and keep her slow on your way in. When you get a thousand yards away from the shore battery try bringing her up to 30' again and restarting those diesels.

Do everything slow, have extreme patience and fear. Don't forget the fear.

[PeteSnook]

Thanks very much for the advice. I'll try staying away from the coastline. Hadn't thought about running on diesels, but lower in the water - will give that a try too.

And the fear is definitely one thing this sim delivers...excuse the pun, but it's very 'immersive'.

Thanks again

[Admiral8Q]

Yes, try to conserve your batteries. These WW2 "submarines" are not true subs. they're more like submersible torpedo boats. If my batteries go below 50%, then I know I've messed up somewhere. On patrol, even with a zillion planes, I rarely go below 95% battery power.:salute: