Why So Many Aircraft Encounters
 

I just started running version 1.5 and still, nonstop aircraft encounters, even though I'm way out by Midway Island.

I don't understand... it makes the sim unplayable.

Aircraft are one of the most dangerous things to a sub.

Welcome to driving fleet boats in the Pacific. SubPac strongly suggest not traveling on the surface while in enemy territory!

I presume you're playing un-modded. I agree, base game, the aircraft encounters are overdone and irritating. The mega mods correct it. I know you can go in the files and change it, but I'm not sure of the path.
:Kaleun_Salute:

With the stock game, the easiest thing to do is to use Webster's Better Air Patrols mod. It turns down the frequency, but increases the planes accuracy, so it's more important not to be seen. Use the SubSim download link, since Filefront is no more. One thing to remember about the airplanes is that they have these super-radio sets in their airplanes, and can fone home and tell all their buddies about your submarine traveling on the surface at 10 knots, course 276 142 nautical miles off of Kii Suido. So don't let the first one see you. If he does, dive below 100 foot, and then change course. If it's late in the day, just stay down until dark, then get back up top and continue on your way. :salute:


Edit: Corrected the link - when using keyboard shortcuts, one does have to be careful with how long they press the keys... :roll:

Welcome back!
 

Fuel Issues
 

So I leave Pearl and refit in Midway and head to Saipan... at the slowest speed I'm out of fuel and cannot get back.

Situational awareness is for everyone. Always keep an eye on your fuel. There are also buttons you can push that will tell you max range at current speed.

All Ahead flank might get you there yesterday, but you'll run out of fuel last week.

Slow speed doesn't get you better mileage either. There is a sweet-spot inside 8-10 knots somewhere. I guess it depends on the mod you are using. I forgot, did the game have the option to tell mileage at current speed? I haven't played my install of RFB2 in ages, but I think it did. I know I did my own mod-tweak by setting my ahead standard speed EOT setting to that fraction of maximum surfaced speed.

Looking at the default PORPOISE class with Silent 3ditor, in the NSS_Porpoise.sim file, max range is 14,300 miles at 10 knots. All ahead 2/3rds rather than Standard gets you 10 knots.

I'm currently working on a couple mods, one to place refueling bases closer to Japan and the Philippines, the other with a forward base on a small island to start the Pearl Harbor career, eliminating that tedious boring dreary slog all the way across the Pacific. I know it's historic but I'm playing a game here, staring at a screen for 20 minutes constantly getting bumped out of time compression for radio messages is not my definition of entertainment.

Doing refueling bases is pretty simple, fire up the mission editor, open US_NavalBases.mis, click the tab for Land, American, NB Naval Base, drag and drop that on the map, give it a name. Get within 10 miles and you can refit, full fuel tanks and torpedoes. You can even drop one in the middle of Tokyo Bay if you want to go crazy. Just remember to click on Mission, Parameters, and check the box for "Ignore player submarines" on so you don't get that silly error when you save it.

As for ridiculous air attacks, that's even easier to mod yourself;

Data\Cfg\AirStrike.cfg can be edited with notepad or any text editor.

Maximum Aircraft Range=2000 ;[>0] in kilometers
Poor Airbase Modifier=0.2 ;[>0] Modifier for poor airbase (carrier) rating
Novice Airbase Modifier=0.35 ;[>0] Modifier for novice airbase (carrier) rating
Competent Airbase Modifier=0.5 ;[>0] Modifier for competent airbase (carrier) rating
Veteran Airbase Modifier=0.7 ;[>0] Modifier for veteran airbase (carrier) rating
Elite Airbase Modifier=1 ;[>0] Modifier for elite airbase (carrier) rating
Night Modifier=0.5 ;[>0] Modifier on strike probability at night
Default Air Strike Probability=10 ;[>0] Default

You can change the modifiers if desired, but a simple hack is to change that
Maximum Aircraft Range=2000
to
Maximum Aircraft Range=200

Which is a more reasonable distance from land to start worrying about air attacks. I suspect the creators were trying to capture the feeling of the U-boats trying to cross the Bay of Biscay in 1944 under constant harassment by Sunderlands, but the result was more aircraft than existed in the history of the world for that kind of coverage.

Mods are ready;

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...38#post2605638

Testing with these, a PORPOISE running at Standard making 15 knots burns almost as much fuel as a 1970s Buick. :haha:

Do what sniper says. I was in same position, untold aircraft in the middle of nowhere. So I 'cheated' and made adjustments, sometimes halving their range, big help.

and the Buick was at periscope depth :arrgh!:

Thanks for the mod!! :yeah:
I started a new career and the airplanes started appearing like mosquitoes on a summer Georgia evening... Have always been cautious to submerge if I will be within 5 miles of the airplane, so this will be a plus.

FWIW, the hyperlink was dead for me. It has a "v" ahead of "http"... Removed the leading "v" and this link worked for me

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...22#post1120222

you want MORE aircraft! I lowered it down to approx 20% of what it was as the chances of being met by a zero or betty in the pacific is minimal, especially miles from anywhere or jap bases. The nearer to occupied jap lands obviously that would increase.

This is what I do when starting new install. I 'arrange' ranges and modifiers. I still have planes but not in mid pacific, unless I am closing in on a task Force. By the way - the term 'Task Force' should NOT apply to a destroyer patrol of 2 D's and a gunboat. If someone would like to change it, feel free.

I feel that I should point out one sentence in the above narrative - the sentence in bold. The Bay of Biscay was patrolled by Captain Walker RN and his 6 black swan sloops, every u boat he found, he sank. Walker saw more FW Condors than Sunderlands. For the sake of historical fact, the long range Sunderland played a small part in the Bay as they were mostly used over Atlantic. Walkers ships were the Second Support Group, as opposed to Escort Groups and roamed freely hunting U boats. These were the first 'hunter killer' ships. A phrase the Americans like to think they invented. Walkers boss, Admiral Horton, CinC Western Approaches, a former submariner, gave Walker free will to roam. A lot of Walkers tactics were adopted by the Royal Navy, some of which are still in use today. On one single patrol walkers ships got 6 u boats. In WW2 history it became the '6 in one trip' patrol. Incidently, it was Horton in WW1 who invented the flying of the Jolly Roger when he came back from a successful trip. The stiff necks thought it unfair, but Horton wouldn't listen. If you want anything else on this, click on my walker link below.