What the heck with recon planes?
 

Just started my 3rd mission on SH4 (vanilla with Real Environment mod) and i just sunk a ship then this happened...

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/4937/59002269.jpg

What the heck is this? Its not normal right?

There is probably a carrier nearby.

Thats what i thought, i went in the same direction the planes came from and never saw anything... i think they're coming from Java

Actually it turned out it WAS a carrier... 3 to be exact. There was a huge task force with about 20 escorts (i didnt look the right way at first.)

I just sat on the bottom in silent mode and waited for the escorts to pass, poped up to periscope depth and shot 4 torps at the last carrier (no escorts at the back, what a dumb mistake) then started the game of cat and mouse with 5 of the escorts.

I managed to get out by creeping at 2 knots at 220 ft. (almost scraping the bottom as i went by) but it was damn worth it :D

You sunk the carrier, what class was it?

I forget... a 28000 tonner.

EDIT: I think it was a Shokaku fleet carrier