Quote:
Originally Posted by yellbird
Just started SH4 v1.5 and don't understand something, While playing Single Mission, Ambush in the Palawan Passage as soon as mission starts I dive below Thermo Layer, go to slow and Silent Running but the first 3 DD's have no problem finding me , I barely start the mission and they are all over me. If I can destroy them then the rest of the mission seems fine. Have handled all the other missions without a lot of problems. Any ideas? Thanks
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Just for the sake of clarification, your issue is the fact that despite you do everything by the book, silent running, going below thermal layer, the works, they still find you and pound you to kingdom come.
I had never played that particular mission, did so now just out of curiosity to better understand your question.
I am by no means a seasoned skipper in this forum, but a few things strike me as obvious as I start that particular mission:
a) the destroyers are already rushing to your position because they have spotted you. A quick glance at the gages, as the scenario starts, tells me I am at 10 meters / ~30 ft depth - Yes I have been spotted.
b) I want to go deep and silent, but cannot go deep enough, depth is about 100 meters / ~300 ft, and the sea is calm. They may well detect me under these conditions.
c) It's 1944, so IJN crews and equipment are far more competent than in 1941.
d) They know your exact position (where you went under), and you, running at about 4 knots, do not get enough distance from where you submerged, by the time they arrive at where they spotted you.
And the pounding begins. Even if they cannot actually detect you, you are still in the area where you submerged.
Again, I had never even started this particular Quick Mission until I read your post, and have only played it for about 30 secs.
Indeed a possible strategy seems to be to try and destroy the destroyers.
If one tries to play the ghost game (running silent, etc), by the time the destroyers give up on you or you get out of the spot where they're dropping those DC's, the convoy / task force is long gone. Of course you could then wait until you can surface, and chase them by radar and try to ambush them again, this time not having been spotted.
Another possible solution - you have to try it, since I haven't - as mission starts, order PD and ahead flank, and 90º starboard. Immediately go to the navigation map, select the closest destroyer, and start reducing your speed (speed equals noise from the motors and propellers) as you see his hydrophone circle approaching you. Just before the lead destroyer gets you inside his hydrophone circle, order Ahead 1/3 Silent Running. They may not hear you, and just keep rushing to where they last spotted you.
Oh, and remember to keep your periscope as low as possible. the last thing you need is a mast sticking out of the water with a neon sign "AMERICAN SUBMARINE HERE".
Good luck, and let us know how it went.