Is the AI this "advanced"
 

TMO with custom mods

1 March 1942.


Departed Java on 28 Feb, assigned to Makassar Strait. Received contact report and "invasion imminent" warning at 2100, turned back to attack the invasion force east of Surabaya (part of my custom mods/upgrade for TMO) Arrived as dusk was settling , seas were heavy so felt comfortable approaching the invasion force in the relatively shallow water as it was stopped off shore, landing craft heading for the coast. Snuck inside the screen, attacked after dark, managed to slip away thanks to heavy seas. Next day made a similar attack at dawn , had to make high speed submerged run to get away from a pesky destroyer who was right on our trail in spite of heavy seas, it was close.

That evening, force had moved a short distance into really shallow waters and seas were calm now, could not dive. Surface attack was out due to full moon, clear skies and (surface attacks were pretty much not done at this point in war) and could not see to fire from long range. So opted to wait until dusk. Cruised the cast some ran into some daihatsu landing craft dispatched three with aft deck gun and 20 mm. Two armed landing craft made a couple minor 25 MM hits, missed with larger. Left area when a destroyer, obviously responding to SOS arrived on scene.

Moved in at dawn on the 3rd of March to fire from long range on invasion force. I had just two Mark 14's left in bow tubes, fired on a large freighter (NAGARA MARU) from 7850 yards using slow speed setting. One prematurely exploded but other made the trip. However, as it was close a small troop carrier that was stationary just behind the NAGARA MARU, TYOHEI MARU suddenly sped up along side the port side of the maru, right into the path of the torpedo, which impacted (or ran under shallow draft vessel and detonated) The TYOHEI obviously had ammo aboard as it went up like a fire show, superstructure collapsed, split in two, quickly sunk in the shallow water. A 1200 ton troopship sacrificed itself for a 8000 ton freighter it seems.

Question is, is the AI this advanced? I have seen this happen a few times over years, mostly by escorts and at times it seems on accident others on purpose, this one seemed purposeful as ship had no reason to speed up until torpedo wake was sighted. The Nagara attempted to get under way but not as nimble obviously.

There's no AI setting I know of that a ship would sacrifice itself to save a more important ship tho I've seen ships at torpedo detection make it seem so. One thing I always found interesting is the different behavior groups often make when they come under attack. I've seen some groups the ships break up and go into different directions often do large circles at varying speeds while a few may stick to the original course. In time they all regroup back into a body. Others, it's the typical the main body just starts the zig helming staying on the same course, slowing down. I notice with a few faster TF they just maintain fast speed and don't slow down and keep going, like the Center Force. I'm not sure what controls all the different responses.

That happens in stock AI as well.


That behavior is typical in Pacific Theater WWII sub sims for the Japanese, ever since Gato and Silent Service. Even kaibokan (small coastal escorts) would try to run you down.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaib%C5%8Dkan

The Atima and Hira gunboats will suicide on top of you if they get a chance...

Explain? Never seen this.

I haven't either, I wonder if he means they slow down so much that any depth charges they drop blows the boat up, it would look like suicide from the enemies point of view wouldn't it?. :yep: