I'm hoping for more variety in the missions as well. While I find sinking merchant ships enjoyable, I'd love to try to support / thwart an invasion, get assigned to a harbor raid (e.g., Pearl Harbor), and even the occasional pilot rescue or supply mission would be a welcome change.

The primary impetus behind starting this thread was simply of this desire for variety: I don't think I've ever seen a Japanese submarine simulator.

Two events come readily to mind: The sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis after it delivered the atomic bomb (what if they had sank it on the outbound trip?) and the U.S.S. Hammann, a destroyer. The Hammann was lashed to the Yorktown during the Battle of Midway, as the Yorktown was listing badly after having been struck by bombs. A Japanese sub saw this target of opportunity and sank both ships. My father was on the Hammann (he survived, or I wouldn't be here to type this).

Variety - the spice of life (just don't try to use this logic while trying to explain the presence of your girlfriend to your wife). ;)

And we could have I-400 sub... ahhh!

As a Japanese we could sneak in Los Angeles or San Francisco harbor, anyone remember movie "1941", directed by Steven Spielberg.

Heck, for this reason alone, I want Japanese submarines: :D

Ahh 1941 a good one jeje i laugh my head off every time i watch the toilet scene:rotfl:

I agree with what other people have said. A Japanese sub campaign would have a lot more variety than other nations:

1. Operating as the forward element of the Kido Butai. Early war you could participate in famous battles like Coral Sea and Midway (imagine having a huge dogfight going on right above your head! There would be lots of big targets but also lots of danger since there would be TONS of DDs and aircraft everywhere.

2. Someone mentioned the long lance wasn't moutned in sub tubes but there was a sub torpedo far superior to allied counterparts. The Japanese used pure oxygen instead of compressed air, giving their fish a lot more range. The warheads were also heavier, meaning you have a boat with more range and more punch.

3. Sending supplies/troops in Guadalcanal and other places. People complain that would be boring until you realize that the allies had a hardon for stopping the Tokyo express, US ASW is far superior to IJN ASW, so every patrol would be like running a gauntlet of enemy ships. Plotting your course, and managing fuel/batteries would become really crucial.

4. Unique submarine types and weapons. See a fast-moving CL off in the distance? cram Bernard-san into a Kaiten (human-operated torpedo) and send him off! Also having supply/midget subs would be interesting as well.

5. Propiganda/morale missions, like shelling Los Angeles harbor and trying to set the oil tanks on fire (or just scaring them into THINKING they're under attack) or having a sub carrier launch a seaplane to firebomb some real estate in Oregon.

6. Rendezvous missions with German U-boats to exchange critical information about technologies/nuclear secrets.

Agreed.

Biggest reason you will never see a Japanese subsim is the sheer number of RO and I classes.

SH3 and SH4 both have just 4 sub types and I would expect the same for any other SH game in the future...and how in the world would you ever decide on 4 classes of I type and RO type subs?

Another reason why they would never do it is that it wouldn't sell enough units to even pay for the work they would have to put into it,and companies don't make a product if they know it isn't going to sell.

An SH based on British subs might sell enough to at least break even,but again...it comes down to which 4 sub types you'd put into the game.

I would like to play IJN submarine even I pay extra money.
Please please UBI, please make IJN submarine add on in someday.

I think, one reason why we cant play IJN submarine on any sub simulation is
in Japan there is no real IJN submarine left unfortunately.
Only some midget sub and "kaiten" have left.
And hard to find photo, plans, movie , etc....


I read some book who wrote real IJN submarine crew.
It is very very interesting mission.

Supply to Isolated island in south pacific with supply sub which dosent have
any torpedo tube ,goes to America for bombing mission.
Goes to Germany from Japan to exchange some material,
bring kaiten to danger area ,they couldnt dive to deep because
not to broke kaiten....

I-go class.....over 1000 tons
Ro-go class.....over 500tons ~ 1000 tons
Ha-go class.....less 500 tons

Oh by the way, everyone see the thread what I posted on Japanese forum?
I found part of documentary movie "gochin" (which taken in ww2) on Youtube.
You can see real I-10 or some Kaidai class IJN sub.
enjoy !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqm7ULHfSU8

Yes!! I really think an expansion about jap subs is required after SH4 release,this working together with a better 24h online server for multiplayer play.This would allow us to make long and detailed missions,not just join into some session for 1 hour.

Later,we ll see if people from Ubi surprise us with a new sim,implementing the Skipjack,Sturgeon,George Washington class,Benjamin Franklin class ,Resolution class ,Hotel class ,Yankee II class ,
Delta II class ,etc.

Best regards.

I would gladly pay for an SHIV addon like this.:yep: It will bring more realism to the game.


BTW: I dont exclude the tought that the future SHV will be concentrated around IJN in WWII or the allied submarine fleet in the Atlantic theatre.

I'd love to patrol of the Australian coast sinking ships, laying mines, shore bombarments and sending midgets off to hit Sydney harbour. I would pay for it as a add on!:up:

Someone took my idea.

An IJN Addon to SHIV
 

An IJN-addon: Is that possibly something that the freeware modders can make, or does it have to be made by Ubisoft, considering hard coding etc.?

Sink as many US carriers as you please, you won't change the course of the war one iota.

US subs took out 50% of the Jap merchant navy, air delivered mines did most of the rest.

The US slowed down carrier production late in the war as they were no longer neccessary.

IJN doctrine, equipment, culture and training all made sure that the IJN subs were utterly ineffective.

Ask yourself this, when you request that Ubi finance a boring niche market expansion - would you bet your house that it will break even? because you are asking Ubi to bet a lot more than that and if it fails (and it would) that might be the end of the Silent Hunter franchise.

Yeah may be you right. But I want play IJN submarine:yep:
I think same thing in sh3. We cant change the course of the war.
And German doctrine, equipment ineffective etc..... the same thing.
But you play sh3 and enjoy , isnt it?


Yes, also you are right if it is true.
I see forum in Japan,many people want to play as IJN side,
I think If it will sell,it going to big hit at least in Japan :roll:

Even if UBI will not sell add on,
I hope UBI to release technical code for making add on.....
Then we can make add on and some soft maker can make for sell add on:smug: