Scott, other than coincidence and where reality helps produce exciting and challenging gameplay, TMO is not about reality. The sub itself is pretty realistic. The environment is pretty realistic. But the enemy AI is nowhere near realistic. And that is because the prime directive of TMO is more challenging gameplay.
Japanese escorts can and will detect you from ranges that are impossible and will detect you with no problem while you are sitting doggo with your engines off. They will not ping you and they will not search for you. They charge at 30 knots, drop the charges directly on top of you and you are dead. If you hide below the thermal barrier, they will continue to be able to find and depth charge you without the use of active sonar. If you live it will be because you beat the enemy, not because you stuck it below the thermal barrier, hit silent running and ate lunch.
In TMO eyecandy and realism are only tools. Where they contribute to challenging and exciting gameplay they are used. If they do not, realism is ignored. TMO already contains some elements of PE. Installing PE or ROW with TMO will make bad changes to some gameplay aspects. My preference is to play TMO by itself and some submarine skins. It's the most fun you can have with SH4.
If you want realism, try Real Fleet Boat.
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