I can't tell you all how much I appreciate the valuable assistance you all have given me to fix a problem that has literally plagued me since SH3-GWX. Here is what worked:
1) Installing DX9c over DX11;
2) Reducing Mods to Armistead's basic list (now I will restore others 1 by 1 testing as I go)
3) Updating video and sound drivers to latest releases
4) Installing Large Address Aware for both SH3.exe and SH4.exe (I will do that for all my other sims as well). This was the key, and I think needs to be published as a Sticky for all who encounter the problem of the game freezing in the midst of heavy action.
I now believe that the real problem was running up against the 2Gb memory limitation. In every scenario that failed, it was in a graphic-intensive situation (night with searchlights, many ships, large explosions, much detail). That had to push it over the edge. This time after running the Large Address Aware fix, I went to the previously published intercept point, except that I got so close the lead DD found me, despite silent running, stern to him, and dead in the water. I evaded him to find a Shokaku dead ahead at 700 yards. Four Mark XIV's put it on the bottom! In the course of wildly evading 6 DD's while at PD, the second Shokaku passed astern about 1100 yards; I hit with 2 torps out of 4, but not enough damage to keep it under 10 knots, so it eventually ran out of range as I manoeuvered. Next came a Mogami heavy cruiser: it blew up on the first torpedo hit, which meant I wasted the following 2. Oh well! Wound up sinking 1 fleet carrier, damaging another, sinking 1 heavy cruiser and one Asashio DD, damaging 4 other DDs with single torp hits. Not a bad encounter, and I owe it all to you guys.
A Hearty Salute to all who pitched in, and to all members of SubSim.
