A nice effect I don't recall from SH3, is the ability to disable different engines. Encountered a task force of about 12 Destroyers and 4 Cruisers (1 heavy, 3 light) and took out more than a few engines. It was funny to see them limping around on 1 prop, flahing their lights while 12+ destroyers scream around like hornets hunting for you......
....none of the cruisers ever made it home either.