OK guys, a slight difference of opinion here LOL. But, to me anyway, it seems most people agree with my logic - THERE'S A FIRST!
My intention was/is to have some fun while also learning the user interface so that it becomes as close to second nature as possible, before starting to gradually increase the realism.
I feel I'm getting on OK - can get the boat to go where I want, at whatever depth I want. And now I'm happy with my torpedo decisions. Next I'm going to get myself into some tricky situations trying to get targets at Lerwick sub base and Scapa Flow to get my evasion skills up with the destroyers there. I'm intercepting targets OK as well but I soon want to learn a more mathematical method.
Then I'll start to increase the realism, as suggested by doing away with the more elementary aids.
And in between all that I'll be adding and removing mods to see what I like. I really want to try/introduce the voice commands - could be LOTS of fun; apart from the neighbours wondering what I'm shouting at, at three in the morning! LOL If any of you have comments/opinions on the voice command mods I'd love to hear them.
So hopefully in a few weeks I'll have a game modded the way I like and be playing at a reasonable level of realism that's been achieved in a planned/structured way that lets me get the most from the game. Rather than trying to play at too high a realism, too soon, and getting fed-up or disheartened with it and then selling a great game on Ebay.
Makes sense to me LOL