" If you went across the Pacific in "real-time" the enemy aircraft encounters would be much further apart so to speak."
Much further apart in real life meant non existent. In game the original 1.0 version had constant air attacks while attempting to cross the ocean, all the accounts I've read of actual WWII subs there were occasional encounters with IJN submarines, but no air attacks until within 500 miles of Japan.
Question of practicality, in real life a 360 degree patrol out to 1200 miles was impossible, a 180 degree coverage in the most likely direction would have required every available airplane and pilot and would have used up every drop of fuel they had in less than a week. Remember one of the primary reasons the Japanese HAD to go to war when they did was dwindling oil reserves, if they had waited another year the Pearl Harbor attack would have been impossible.
For the game, however, the AI is not really trying to cheat, it's a question of processor resources - rather than sending out random patrols with a random chance of getting lucky, it's more efficient to program the subroutine to have the player sub trigger a patrol within X miles of an airbase/carrier which then makes a beeline for the player sub. The problem is they overdid it;
[AirStrikeSettings]
; AirStrike Creation Parameters
; Airstrike Session:
; 1. Compute airbases in range according to their aircraft maximum ranges
; 2. Compute air coverage factors on allies/axis/neutral on the target zone
; 3. Compute airstrike probability from each base
; 3.1 check number of aircraft that can strike at that range and conditions, and compute a coverage factor based on the range of each aircraft type
; and detection area around submarine ( 10 km radius )
; 3.2 multiply coverage factor for the target area with :
; - current airstrike probability againt that side
; - nigft factor ( if necessary )
; - airbase competence
; - close to airbase factor
; 3.3 check probability for airstrike
; 3.4 add more aircraft probabilistically for a large target
Maximum Aircraft Range=2000 ;[>0] in kilometers
Poor Airbase Modifier=0.2 ;[>0] Modifier for poor airbase (carrier) rating
Novice Airbase Modifier=0.35 ;[>0] Modifier for novice airbase (carrier) rating
Competent Airbase Modifier=0.5 ;[>0] Modifier for competent airbase (carrier) rating
Veteran Airbase Modifier=0.7 ;[>0] Modifier for veteran airbase (carrier) rating
Elite Airbase Modifier=1 ;[>0] Modifier for elite airbase (carrier) rating
Night Modifier=0.5 ;[>0] Modifier on strike probability at night
Default Air Strike Probability=10 ;[>0] Default probability to send an airstrike from a airbase (carrier)
Enemy Air Strike Probability Increase on Radio Messages Sent=30 ;[>0] Increase over the default probability on a radio message sent
Friendly Air Strike Probability Increase on Contact Report Sent=70 ;[>0] Increase over the default probability on a contact message sent
Enemy Air Strike Probability Increase on Player Detection=40 ;[>0] Increase over the default probability on player detection
Atenuation Factor=10 ;[>0] decrease from an increased probability to default one on each air session
Logic Steps Between Air Sessions=10 ;[>0] steps between air fighting sessions, 10*Logic Interval(90sec)
2000 klicks is 1080 nautical miles, meaning to go that distance, search for an hour, and return to base the aircraft would need to have a range of at least 2500 nautical miles. The editors default to "Veteran" quality meaning most airbases would have a 70% chance of launching every 15 minutes, practically guaranteeing at least one per hour. Then flying directly to an area within 10kM (5.3 nautical miles) of the player sub. Reduced by 50% at night despite the primitive night flying instruments at the time and the few pilots actually qualified to fly in the dark.
Again I have no problem with SOMETIMES being forced to patrol submerged all day in enemy waters, that's reasonable. While transiting the vast emptiness of the Pacific it's not reasonable or realistic.
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