Balao and difficulty

[strenface]

Hello all! Long time since I have been here or on Silent Hunter, but I decided to get back into it for a bit.

I am in late 1942 and just received a new Balao class submarine. I have used it before, so I am quite familiar with its capabilities.

I also have never used a submarine other than the Balao class past 1943.

I just had a Tambor and really enjoyed the difficulty brought by a limited dive capability. I fear the Balao will make the game far too easy. Running TMO btw.

I recall being able to drop to 600 feet and always getting away with minimal damage. That gets boring after a while.

So what do you all think? Does the diving capabilities of the Balao make the game too easy? Or is deeper diving needed later in the war?

I saved right before docking so I can easily go back and take a refit instead, or try for a Gato.

[magic452]

I usually go with a Gato till pretty late in the war.
The truth be told once you figure out how to evade the escorts it gets a bit too easy till later than most of the traffic stays close to the coastlines.
I shouldn't say too easy because you can always run into the elite DDs and the ones with all those ashcan throwers. Not so easy than.

Magic

[merc4ulfate]

The later the year the more you need that depth. I only wish the seals and other areas of the submarine had the test depth the pressure had. Some pressure hulls were rated at 900 feet but the seals for shafts and such only went to 600.

[Armistead]

It certainly reached that depth historically. Seems around 600 ft you have to use some speed to hold it steady, which can give you away. The thing is with that depth, you can usually hit flank and outrun charges before they reach you. You'll be glad you have it later war, take it to Formosa in 44, Korea Straits in 45.....think TMO has decent traffic there.