Ship Recognition for dummies

[Stormflux]

It took me *forever* to figure this out, squinting at the recognition books, counting the number of cables on the masts, number of doodads on the deck, not knowing which identifying features to look for.

Then one day I decided to research what exactly a "old split freighter" meant, and it's actually ridiculously simple! Here's a chart:

http://www.forumimagecodes.com/images/habve3nkupqqo0k3it5h.png

Split superstructure freighters have the smokestack completely separated from the bridge, while Composite superstructure freighters have a big structure in the middle containing everything.

To tell modern from old, the easiest way I've found is to look at the bow. If the bow is straight, it's an old freighter. Newer freighters had an angled, "swept" look. You can also look at the bridge, older freighters have a larger, 'Titanic' style bridge whereas newer freighters have a smaller, enclosed bridge.

Freighters also come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. There are only two large freighters in the game: the large modern composite and the large old split. These are recognizable by their many masts & loading cranes, as well as their tiny ant-like crew members. Conversely, if you see gigantic crew members looming over the deck, you're probably dealing with a Small freighter!

[Major Johnson]

Personally I'd like to know why the recognition manual doesn't have merchant ships. The original SH did, and it also listed armament which was a big help in deciding whether to surface attack or not. But I guess after thinking about it, if anyone wanted to mod a ship into the game, they would also have to add it to the recognition manual, which may or may not be possible.

[Raven79]

The manual has all merchants in it. They're just listed as an own country, if I might say so. Before you click on the japanese flag, try turning the page over. ;)

Thx for the hint, I always wondered how those names were made up ^^

[Major Johnson]

Oh crap! So you're telling me the mechant shipping is under the Japanese flag without the stripes?? Man, now I feel dumb!! :doh:

Thanks!

[sergei]

Good work Stormflux :up:
I've always wondered what the differences were.

[Raven79]

Merchants are listed as country "Merchants" without a flag symbol, because all forces use them and just put up their flag at the mast :)

[tater]

http://members.spinn.net/~merrick/Stuff/Ship_ID_example1.jpg

http://members.spinn.net/~merrick/Stuff/Ship_ID_example2.jpg

http://members.spinn.net/~merrick/Stuff/Ship_ID_example3.jpg

http://members.spinn.net/~merrick/Stuff/Ship_ID_example4.jpg

[Stormflux]

Very nice find! I guess I was wrong about using the raked vs. plumb bow to identify modern vs. old merchants. Although for SH4 purposes it seems to work, it's probably not 'realistic'.

From glancing at the example above, my first instinct would be to classify it as a Large Modern Composite Freighter. Now to look at the game manual:

http://www.forumimagecodes.com/images/3cdgypa8ns2i8bx7zag.png

As you can see, it's not exactly right, but pretty close! Large size, composite superstructure, Mast - Kingpost - Funnel - Kingpost - Mast configuration (the kingpost masts fore and stern are apparently coded the same as single masts), but the poop deck shouldn't be there. BUT it's the only one in the game that's even in the right ballpark!