I just migrated to 1.5 last week and am playing a similar setup you are - rfb-1.52, rsrdc. I also added OM. I haven't had your problem, though I'm getting driven under by aircraft almost daily.
Back in my early 1.4 days, I loaded up TM-1.7x, RSRDC, and started a beginning of war patrol in Gudgeon. I ran smack dab into the Japanese invasion force headed for Wake Island. I never got close enough because an aircraft bombed me and I suffered major damage, barely making it back to Pearl. I then wised up and have never started a career without SD radar. Thats most or all of your problem.
The current version of RFB limits your starting renown to zero, meaning you can't get a SD radar until you've earned something like 2000 points. I know its a cheat, but, I go into the saved games folder, and change the "PlayerCurrentRenown=", in the CareerTrack.upc file to a value where I can buy radar.
From a historical accuracy standpoint, SD radar was available early in the war. I am not sure if it was installed on submarines at the time of Pearl. As a WWII submarine historian, I do know that the latest stuff was installed on the boats at the earliest opportunity, so, I have an issue with earning renown for something as critical as SD radar. Many boats - and many more German U-Boats - were lost to aircraft.
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