Quote:
Originally Posted by propbeanie
I copied my Manila entry to Brisbane, and changed the Flotilla designation:
[Flotilla 2.UserPlayerUnitType 9]
ID= F2NSSPT109
Becomes: [Flotilla 3.UserPlayerUnitType 9]
ID= F3NSSPT109
I have no idea what your ...UnitType number would be, but be sure and change the Objective assignments similarly... juss sayin'...  - similarly, the "F" number depends upon what Flotilla you have Brisbane numbered as...
The guns are definitely too strong. Some of the boats had a single-barrel 20mm up front and a single-barrel 40 in the rear, at the most, didn't they? I don't think they would have been able to move very well through the water configured like they are now - but they can sure tear up a merchant from over 5k out...
The "crew" that are available in the game, for the most part, won't work, since they'd "walk" a distance that is longer than the boat, so they'd have to be "posed" folks, maybe two standing doing the binocular and shading of the eyes movements. Maybe have one or two others sitting somewhere?... One thing about battle stations, is that the torpedoes were not always remotely fired, but were instead manually fired out of their tubes by a man standing by the back of a tube, detonating a the black powder launching charge. So they would have to have a person standing at the tube for that (after watching some of the vids, they apparently only did that when the remote wouldn't work - or did it depend upon the boat and time period??)...
Found some links that I'm sure others have already posted:
http://pt-king.gdinc.com/Torpedo.html
Not a very impressive weapon
http://mathscinotes.com/2013/06/aimi...rom-a-pt-boat/
They've got a link for a History channel show on the PT boat. They show push-button and manual lever launches. it's a rather over-dramaticized and romanticized story, but they do show a lot of the different armaments employed, and somewhat how they came into being. Like the Sherman tank in Europe, Necessity was the Mother of Invention...
No sound on this one, but they show the later-used "roll-off" launch of a torpedo, and then the PT boat going faster than the torp, while tracking it...  |
Brisbane Command is Flotilla 3 in RSRD.Believe it will be Unit 8. For Manila I just replaced the Narwhal with PT109.I've been mapping out how I want a campaign to look, doing some research etc.
Since PT's range is limited and unsupported not meant to travel long distances across opean ocean(few did such as 1200 miles from New Guinea to Leyte in 1944, but had support vessels and traveled together), the retreat from the Philippines, with bases changing is an issue. Thinking start out Cavite(possibly create small base a Sissiman Cove, which is where MTB Squadron 3 sent it's boats to hide from air raids) run missions supporting fight, supporting Batann defense etc, try to be historically accurate as much as possible, but keeping gameplay interesting. Final mission ends with a VIP transport ie McArthur as PT-41 did.Have it where can end patrol where drop him off or refuel and make it to java if possible, end patrol there. Base will be Darwin instead of Fremantle, can run some missions out of Darwin. Later in war will support ops in Dutch East Indies during McArthur's drive. Support the invasion of Morotai for example. Read some intense combat took place there for PT's interdicting Japanese supplies and troops trying to cross the strait from Halmahera.Then end up supporting Leyte Campaign, namely Surigao Strait. Finally, Okinawa area until end of war.
Pearl Harbor Command for PT's seems limited in first part of war. Could have them posted at Midway(some were sent to defend Midway before the battle) Fictional but could start out at Wake Island, try to defend Wake.Later war, during the central pacific offensive, lot of moving around supporting operations.
Solmons and New Guinea campaign in 42/43 will be the mainstay of a PT mod obviously.PT's arrived at Tulagi in October 1942, moved to the Russel Islands in 43, then Rendova, up to Bougainville eventually, Green Island. Played a part in Admirality Islands operation.
They operated in Aleutians as well apparently but not sure how much combat they saw there.
Aramament wise. Well their standard when the war began was two sets of twin .50 cal machine guns in the tubs and four torpedoes.As war progressed it changed and various boats have various configurations. Typically they would have a cannon of sorts on the bow, quite a few ended up with 37 mm on bow and a single 40 MM on stern with 20 on deck and .50 cals in tubs, some cases single or twin 20 MM. Some ended up with rocket and grenade launchers.
I'm a bit lost on how to make the upgrades work etc but would like to make it so start out with the .50 cals in the tubs, then get maybe two 20 MM's on deck(bow and stern)then since dont have 37 MM in game, can just get a 40 MM on bow by mid 43, so have it for the "barge busting" in the central solomons, later get one stern. 20 MM and .50 and of course leave some room for player to decide their setup, as with the sub campaign. Maybe can remove the search light on deck since dont use it, replace it with additional node for deck gun. Could place a 20 MM there , then have 40 MM on bow. Saw a video tour of PT-658(although a higgins boat, armament were often identical) it's setup was interesting . 37 MM on bow, 20 MM just behind it to port(on our PT109, about where the searchlight is) .50 cals in gun turret, 20 MM amidships after on a mount, 40 MM on stern. Four torpedo "racks" . Depth charges on the deck edges at stern port and aft. Rocket launcher forward starboard.My main thing is I want all guns except maybe one to function as deck guns for surface targets.Reasons for this are in RSRD planes are not the constant threat as in other mods. PT's mostly operated at night. Also, PT in sim have enough speed and handling, can avoid enemy bombs and one functioning AA gun would be plenty. Like many things in sim it's a one or other. Like they did in real life, a lot of barge busting will occurr in this campaign, targets not worth torpedoes will often be encountered, so will need plenty of deck guns. As its now we "onky" have a 40 MM on bow and twin 40 on stern.Addition of 20 MM and maybe .50's blazing away would prove effective.
Surface radar is needed as well.
Torpedoes worked two ways. Early in war they had the tubes, which the found were a liability because when they fired the charge to launch them, they flashed and could give away their position. Later when Mark 13 became their standard, they were put on a simple rack. When time came to attack, the racks were pushed out, and torpedoes were manually started, then were rolled over the side. Made me think of "In Harms Way" when the PT Boat Skipper was attacking and instead of fire would yell "Roll One" Roll Two". Wea re stuck with the tubes in the sim, which is fine. Speaking of which. Do you know how can make it so there are not reloads for torpedoes? As mod is now have four reloads, I tried to change this in the sim file but it caused a CTD. Reallly only want to have four torpedoes.
Far as deck watch goes. Posed crew would be fine, least would be there. Yes think maybe one crew at the helm postion on deck, one or two lookouts, bow and stern? At GQ, ideally two at the helm position(torpedoes were aimed from here) but a least one, since as captain that is where player will be most of time , those at their guns(40 MM's need two men manning them) and put a crew member by the tubes, since they were manually fired.
Any idea on how to change player starting rank? I opened the UPC localization file and saw some info in there on promotion, how to change that, but not sure about starting. Most PT skippers were Lt JG's, some even were Ensigns. Thinking Player will start as a JG, can move up to Lieutnenat Commander(maybe full Commander) over course of war.
Some changes to make to make the mod mesh better in campaign mod but man it's a lot of fun already.
Thanks for your help.
Here is a video tour of PT-658. I can't wait to tour and take ride on the 305 in New Orleans, won't be too long.