Quote:
Originally Posted by Floven de Sorezé
Hello fellows,
I've been playing intensively these last few days and am really getting the feel for this game. I sense that in a not too distant future I'll try manual targeting (but first I want to perfectly understand auto-targeting, I still miss too much - torpedo is too deep, or given too much lead etc...)
In the meantime I've discovered another really newb question.. What's the difference between the American Submarines? (in 1.4 + TM1.76 + RSRD) Off the top of my head the names 'Balao', 'Gato', 'Porpoise', 'SS-18', 'SS-24', 'Salmon' etc. appear. Is there somewhere a place where I can find a comprehensive list of these subs with their differences and comparative specs? To be honest I don't know anything about pacific theatre submarine warfare, so I can only randomly choose one when asked in game.
Probably one is faster, the other goes deeper, one has more torpedoes and another one has a better range? It would be cool if anyone could help me here.
Thank you very much,
good hunting,
Floven de Sorezé Stockeir
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I don't know where a list is but i'll give you a run down....
S-18 and S-42 class are WW I vintage submarines, they are small, slow subs with short range and limited offensive capability.However, they can be fun.You can get them early in the war and I believe into 1943(I have not played the out of the game box in a long time, I run the mods, which once you have mastered stock, should given them a try, the differences are amazing) Had a shallow test depth of 200 feet also in addition to only carrying the WW I era Mark 10 torpedo, which while more reliable than early war Mark 14's have a short max range, low speed and pack less of a punch.
Porpoise Class were the first attempt at a "fleet boat" They have plenty of problems, had a slow surface speed of 18 knots and short range compared to later models like the Gato.They also only have four bow tubes and two stern, also dives slower than later boats and has a 250 foot test depth.Decent boat to have the first year or so and into 1943 but you find its a disadvantage as times goes on.
Salmon and Sargo class are basically same thing, they were improvements on the Porpoise class.They have four stern and four bow torpedo tubes, dive faster but share the same surface speed and 250 foot test depth.Good boats, although as the war drags on, you find things such as slower surface speed to be a liability.
Tambor/Gar Class-Seen as the first real fleet boat but still had limitations.Preceeded the Gato class, had six bow and four stern tubes, top speed of around 20 knots but had a shallow test depth of 250 feet but could go deeper.Good boats all around.Not much difference from Gato class though, esp in the game.
Gato Class-The first real fleetboat in my opinion, refinement of the Tambor/Gar class and standard sub of WW II for the USN.Six bow tubes and four stern, 24 torpedos total.20+ knots surface speed, long range.Test depth of 300 but if needed can safely go deeper as long as no hull damage.Just a great boat that was the workhorse of the submarine force in WW II.
Balao Class-Basically the same as a Gato except it had a welded hull.The Balao has a test depth of 412 feet and can go much, much deeper safely.In stock you can only order up to 450 feet but if damaged and you sink deeper you should have plenty of time to repair before you reach crush depth.In mods like TMO, you can go to 600 feet.
I did not know a lot about sub warfare when I first got SH 4 a couple years ago, always interested but never knew much.The game got me to reading some of the books, which as excellent.Many of the WW II skippers wrote books later in life.I highly suggest "Wahoo!" by Richard O Kane and Clear the Bridge!! also by O Kane.Thunder Below by Eugene Fluckey is also an amazing read.Really gives you a lot of info.
Good luck, hope this helped.