[XenonSurf]

Also avoid shallow waters like the plague. In SH4, the whitest zones on the map are shallow with only 48-55 feet deep from what I could see, meaning that even if there is no risk to run aground at depth < 20 (they have taken this risk out for the pacific theater in SH4 I think, but not sure), you are visible after diving for all trained escorts and also for planes which you then must attack instead of diving (yeah they see you underwater in clear weather and calm sea).


There are usually 3 or 4 depth zones:

Blue zone with > 1000 feet deep.
greyish zone with 300-1000 which is still fine;
Not always: Bright grey zone up to 250 feet, can be fine against a single escort only.
Bright white zone with less than 60 feet deep which you should avoid at day and pass quickly during night only.


Mission mechanics:
In FOTRSU, I think missions and their operation areas work this way: you can leave the mission area to sink ships but you must stay in total within the circle for the time of patrol days requested, for example if you are requested to patrol 5 days in your area (which is within the circle) you can stay 2 days in the circle, then leave it and return, then patrol 3 days in the circle after which you get a message for the mission completed. You are then free to do what you want until you decide to hit the 'Report Status' button, which will get a new mission. Don't press that button if you decide to return to port! Sitll I'm not 100% sure it works that way, but that's what I've seen during my last longer patrol. In all cases, you get renown points for every ship you sink, in your patrol area or not.



XS