Thanks all. Interesting stuff--very helpful.

I'll stand up and say the unAmerican thing: I do care what others say. I'm playing this game not just in the interest of becoming a Godzilla Sub Ace, but also to try to get a small flavor of the sub war. There's a historical interest. So if anyone can come along and talk about what's historical and realistic, my ears perk up. If the game fails the test in some areas, that's not useless knowledge. If my play fails the test, I want to know. I'll admit I'm a bit of a snob about the whole thing. I suspect others just go about making mods, and I thank them.

Don't wait for someone to tell you what was historically accurate, check out some of the books other members have mentioned. Check out this thread for some great suggestions on books to read, that way you will know for yourself what real historical tactics were used. http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=124037 These books can give you a much better feel of what the submarine war was really like as opposed to playing this game (granted it is a very awesome game especially thanks to people like Ducimus, leovampire, lurker_hlb3 and all the other awesome modders out there).

Thanks, I've been doing that. I'm not relying on this game to show me what's real, but it's a useful tool to discuss and explore this or that aspect. In fact, the game can be used to show me what's not real, if pointed out. But I wouldn't presume to be the expert, and I like to absorb the expertise of others who have done hard work themselves. Their comments on this game are very useful.

By the way, I'm reading O'Kane's Wahoo right now, and Silent Victory, and I've got a list of others in line.

I was the author of the aforementioned criticizm, and I'll start by agreeing with rrmelend: the idea of the game is to have fun first. Whether it's trying to recreate the historical tactics or just shooting at something, it's still a game.

If I respond negatively to banjo's or anybody else's post, or start on a 'realistic' binge, it's almost always because of percieved (on my part) boasting. I get started when someone gives advice on how to get 500,000 tons in one patrol, or accomplish some other impossible-in-real-life task, because I'm always thinking in terms of the most believable experience, not being Super Sub Skipper successful.

I admit that that's just me, and I don't mean to be down on anybody. My fault, and I apologize.

As for advice on how to do it correctly, well, being broadside to the convoy shouldn't make them automatically detect you, but if it does then I'm all out of ideas. But do like they said, read all the books, and the manuals, and you should be fine.

Just don't read the game manual because you'll just be doing this: :damn: I also agree with Sailor Steve, just because you are broadside should not get you detected automatically. I think I've approached convoys from all different angles and I don't really recall if any one angle is "better" than another personally. I've had my share of successes and also lost my boat and crew from many different approaches.

Jazman, you picked a couple awesome books to start with. Wahoo is highly enjoyable and for me personally an easy read, and as everybody says Silent Victory is almost like the Bible when it comes to the Pacific Submarine war.

What I do is get ahead of the convoy, submerge as deep as I can, at least get under a temperature gradient, and then wait for that lead escort to pass by me. I'll come up to periscope level, the other escorts are usually off to the sides or behind the convoy, and go to town shooting the convoy before the escorts have time to react. That's my strategy. Also I keep my torpedoes running deeper than default, 13' to 14' deep and don't shoot at small ships, only medium or large!

SnowCajun

Official Tactics Manual
 

You might be interested in the OFFICIAL Tactics Manual. Must have been pretty good since it was published in 1917 and not declassified until 1972. :lol: Contains some diagrams. Follow the link below. I'll also post this under its own heading here and at the UBI Forum. I'm sure others will be interested.

O. N. I. Publication No. 23

[formerly] CONFIDENTIAL [Declassified
OP09BH 17 Aug 72]

REMARKS
ON SUBMARINE TACTICS
AGAINST
CONVOYS

NAVY DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
DECEMBER, 1917

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1917

http://www.history.navy.mil/library/...onipubno23.htm