Stupid question: Re ID'ing ships

[Elphaba]

Hi

Ok, so I've been playing DW for a long while now and want to get back into SH5.

Thinking of using the Wolves of Steel mod (despite not wanting German voices etc...grrrr), and aside from the 'Real Navigation' worries I have a much more stupid concern.

From the few times I've tried it out, early in the career when I can only target certain nationalities ships, how the hell do you guys identify those targets?

So the only think I can come up with, is that I have the learn to recognise the flags of the countries I can target. However the problem with that is that I can never get close enough to the target without spooking it for me to clearly read / see the flag!

So how do I know who to shoot at?

Told you it was a stupid question.

[maillemaker]

Well, you can call up the flags sheet by using one of the buttons on the right-hand side of the screen, along with a bunch of other sheets.

Be aware, though: Iceland is not on the sheet and they are bad guys.

But you either have to get close enough to see the flag or cheat and use external camera.

Steve

[Elphaba]

Is this 'fairly realistic' too?

I mean, especially with the speed differences when submerged how did the Captains identify targets on the horizon without blowing their cover? Were the binoculars on the bridge so much better than the scopes so the watch crew could make them out, or were there other mechanisms for knowing who you should pursue / plot an intercept for?

[kevinsue]

You can guess the probability of the ships nationality by the location. If the ships are following known Allied convoy routes, or sailing by day through enemy territory then more than likely they are enemy and valid targets. Then comes the long job of overhauling that target, just keeping their smoke visible on the horizon until you are ahead far enough to move into your attack position undetected. By the time the target gets itself into the zone for a good firing solution, they will be close enough to easily identify the nationality of the vessel before firing a torpedo at it. It can be frustrating to go though all the effort only to find that the prospective targets are neutral but I guess that's what you have to do if you want realism. :yep:

I would recommend using "The Wolves of Steel" megamod and the real nav is a breeze because you still have a Navigator on board to do most of the work. I have uploaded "The submarine Commander's Handbook" which was issued to Kriegsmarine U-boat Captains in WW2 which explains how to overhaul a target in detail plus many other things relating to the art of submarine warfare. Link below:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/uebtv9imymdbbbs/The_Submarine_Commanders_Handbook.zip