Quote:
Originally Posted by torpedobait
I started a career in an S Class boat out of Cavite/Manila, migrated as usual through Surabaya to Perth-Fremantle, received an upgrade, and then had the base change to Brisbane. My Sargo class boat still had a .50 Cal AA and a 3.5" deck gun. In early 1943 I was upgraded to the Balao. I have all the expected equipment, except that it has two .50 Cal AA guns and still have the 3.5" deck gun.
In all previous versions of careers I was always able to upgrade to at least the single 20mm AA gun and the 4.5" deck gun, usually even before getting the surface radar, but not this time. Neither is offered. This is the only career in which I was sent from Fremantle to Brisbane.
Is it because I am still in Brisbane?
Boat History:
USS S-23 (SS-128), starting from Manila 12/08/41 - Completed 4 Patrols, with base changes to Surabaya, then Perth-Fremantle, then Brisbane - no transfers requested.
USS Sturgeon (SS-187), starting from Brisbane, 9/2/42 - Completed 3 Patrols
USS Saury (SS-189), starting from Brisbane, 2/21/42 - Completed 3 Patrols
USS Balao (SS-285), starting from Brisbane, 7/11/43 - Completed 2 Patrols (so far)
No armament changes since 12/8/41 on any boat. Seems very strange.  |
I ran into the same thing about the Balao so I started doing some digging and reading. Many Balao started out with the 2 .50's plus the added armament.
Deck Gun:
1 3″/50-calibre, or 1 4″/50-calibre, or 1 5″/25-caliber
Anti-Aircraft Weapons:
1 or 2-20mm Oerlikons, or 2-40mm Bofors, or 1-20mm and 1-40mm
Light Weaponry:
6-mounting points for 30-caliber, 50-caliber, or combination
Torpedoes: 10-21″ torpedo tubes (6 bow, 4 stern); 24 Mark-14 torpedoes; Mark III Torpedo Data Computer
Engines: 4 GM-Winton V-16, or 4 Fairbanks-Morse 9 or 10-cylinder opposed-piston diesel/generator sets.
Motors: 4 DC high-speed electric motors, reduction gear drive, two per shaft, or 4 variable speed DC direct drive motors
Radar: Short range SD air detection radar; SJ surface search radar; ST periscope radar
Sonar: JP hydrophone, upper deck; JK/QC, QB Sonar under bow
Wartime Modifications: Enhanced electronics suites, radar, sonar.