As of now there are no Mega-Mod for SHV. This leaves the new comers spending hours of reading threads just to learn which mods to install. Even though there are threads where everyone list the mods they're currently using the list is often forty or more mods. This becomes confusing and tiresome.
I thought I take a different angle and list an installation approach by problem category. They are BROKEN GAME FIXES, ANNOYANCES, GRAPHIC IMPROVEMENTS and SOUND IMPROVEMENTS. My hope is you can get up and going more quickly and phase in your mods by personnel preference. I don't list many mods here just enough to jump start you into a playable game.
BEFORE YOU MOD
Check your game version is up to date. If not run the Updater found in your drive; \Ubisoft\Silent Hunter 5\Support\GameUpdater\gu.exe
Next play the first campaign mission and complete it. It is a get to know the boat and crew tutorial and the full interface doesn't become available until you're done with this mission.
You could add mods at this point but you may want to do a mission with the full default interface and find out what's going to annoy you first.
By now you should be familiar with the white dialog UBISOFT server logon screen. In the seconds before logging on click the wheel icon on the top right of the dialog and deactivate games saves syncronising with ubisoft. From what I read this will save you a lot of heart ache.
Set Game Options for the realism you want before going any further and starting your first real campaign mission. Whether continuing after the tutorial completion or starting a new campaign under a new name the game will present a mission diagram of the war years. Only the next mission will be available unless you apply the hack. There is no input screen here, just type
silentotto to hack into all the missions throughout the years. Trust me just try it. Choose your mission.
You will be in the sub bunker to begin the next mission but since you applied the hack you have no renown. Press ESC to go back to the main menu screen. Now go to the save\load screen and click on the top save which was autosave for you when you enter the hacked mission. This enters you back in with renown. Go see the supply officer first then see the
flotilla commander.
Now for the mods:
BROKEN GAME FIXES Campaign mode converts this simulation into a mere game. High tonnage score needed to level up! The (Lite Campaign 1.2) reduces this high tonnage requirement.
Give orders to your crew without running around the boat. These mods give SHV a new User Interface (UI) to enter commands.
(Mod - Command Keys 1.03 ) or ( NewUIs with TDC for SH5 by TheDarkWraith)
No UI compass to input any heading 360 degrees. Install a full campass with
( NewUIs with TDC for SH5 by TheDarkWraith)
Dumb AI for enemy ships and planes. The Intelligent Random AI( IRAI ) This mod will bring new AI behavior to the aiplanes and ships in game.
Deaf hydrophone operator
( Sobers realistic hydrophone ) and ( no hydrophone on surface w/IRAI )
Low crew morale stops them from working at all.
( No magic skills v1.5, fixes moral and skills )
The ship recognition manual seems lacking
( Enhanced Ship Reconnaissance Manual )
ANNOYANCES Officers dialogs are limited and useless
(More Crew Commands by Dialog Mod, MCCD_1.04_MFCM_1.2.1_compatible ) If you like this you may not want the other UI mods presented as icons.
Tubes, whatever i do, my tubes stay open. Don't know how to fix this yet.
WO and crew stay on deck when submerged.
( Mighty fine crew mod )
Observation periscope is raising to full when loading or entering
a mission or career. Don't know how to fix this yet.
Crew and equipment are highlighted on mouse-over
( No dam bubbles mod ) or ( Interior Mod, improves mouse-over and fixes dials all over the ship )
Not all the gauges function on the ship
( SteelViking's Interior Mod, improves mouse-over and fixes dials all over the ship )
Walking about the ship sounds like tap dancing
( Sobers no foot steps mod ) or (MightyFine Less Annoying Footsteps 1.0)
GRAPHIC IMPROVEMENTS Exterior improvements to the world outside
( Environment 4.8 MOD )
Interior improvements and dial fixes
( SteelViking's Interior mod V1.2 patch V1.1.1 )
SOUND IMPROVEMENTS ( Capthelms SH5 Audio Mod )