Fishing Boats?? NOT!!!
 

May'44 on patrol just SE of the East entrance of La Perouse St. Finding pretty good hunting here. Pick up multiple contacts on radar that turns out to be a small convoy of fishing boats, or so I thought. I dove to periscope depth to avoid detection, and moved in for a closer look. When the range closed, I saw that these "sailed" fishing vessels had radio masts and rigging. I immediately battle surfaced, closed the range and commenced engageing with the DG. I successfully destroyed three of the four, as one slipped away and I wanted to clear the area ASAP in case they radioed for help. In any case, these boats sunk with loads of debris popping to the surface, as well as an oil slick. Obviously hauling a bit more than sushi!

I never encountered a fishing boat where I could see the radio equipment. Are you running a mod?

Yep, Jap fishing boats carry radios and will report your position. Mods vary, but you'll also run into many neutral or generic fishing boats that won't report you. Just be careful for any fishing boats around Japan. Not to mention some of them carry large machine guns, although I've only seen it in TMO, not RSRD. I surfaced near one once, didn't see the gun and the dern thang almost sunk me before I got dived again.

Notice radio mast and sneaky gunner on deck.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps63903941.png

I see now that it's been pointed out. I really didn't know what to look for and thought it would be obvious.:hmm2:

Wait ... there's neutral fishing boats? :huh:

Most of them I run into in TMO have equipment and will rat you out in a heartbeat. If I even think they saw me I change course and run like hell. It's nothing to have a plane flying around looking for you in a short while, or a small TF comes running your way. If they know your there they think they can find you.:ping:

P.S. Armistead, I can't send you a message, your box is full up.

OK, my many fans, I deleted a few.

I just replenished with 24 more. Emails away.

Those are them alright:yep:

they do exist in RFB 1.5 . Been shot at by them a few times:huh:, but have only noticed them from Formosa to Japan in the E China Sea:hmmm:

And all this time I didn't think they had much purpose in the game. Great picture. Now I really won't feel bad about sinking them.

I really don't think the game has enough fishing boats, even in RSRD. I've read numerous books where skippers spent days dodging fishing boats. I've put a lot more in RSRD and it does make thing interesting, moreso if you increase contact times/ranges.

I see and dodge allot of "fishing boats" running RFB RSRD combo

avatar note* how the hell did I get to be a Jap ???????

must have done something.....hmmmmmm

You'll get a lot of fishing boat convoys in RSRD, what lacks is many staying in one area fishing. For instance, I have about 30 scattered around Formosa basically static or going 1kt. If they see me, they'll call one of the subkiller groups I have in the area. It also makes it tough doing end arounds.

So is it best to avoid them altogether? Even if you surface near them, sink them with your guns, they would still be able to radio your location in right? You can only get one at a time and the other three or so would be calling in your position.