Merchants in the Marshalls and liferafts.
 

I've been deployed to the marshalls to engage and sink merchant shipping. but can't find any merchants because there are no harbours in the area, where can I find them?Also, when do people use liferafts?I haven't seen anyting use one.

Not sure about the Marshall's (what year are you playing?) but I see liferafts and lofeboats a lot, both occupied and empty. It's sort of depressing sometimes, seeing a little floating wreckage, and en empty lifeboat.

I started in 41 but now I think i'm around feb. 28 1942.

That's wierd about the lifeboats.

There is no traffic there to speak of, in fact it looks like in 42 there is more allied traffic than japanese. I didn't look at all the jap layers, but I bet there is nothign there.

Since Truk is empty, and any shipping for the Marshalls would have gone through Truk, I suppose it's not surprising.