[CaptainHaplo]

Petsman,

The first set of answers you got were very accurate. You will need more torps to sink the enemy, only because of the problems (historically accurate) that existed - as time passes those are alleviated. Things such as prematures, deep runners, circle runners, etc.

As for the hits sinking ships - it depends on if you stay with "Stock" SH4 or use the NSM mod. NSM creates realistic sinkings like GWX does. For example, hitting the same spot twice wont really help much to sink your target, since all it does is still flood one compartment. Since NSM causes sinking due to flooding, you have to flood enough compartments. Of course, there is always the change you get a critical hit and one shot blows the target to bits.

There really isnt a GWX for SH4 yet - it took a long time for GWX to get built, in time something similiar will likely appear. There are some "super mods" out but nothing the scope of GWX as yet.

ASW tactics and such are similiar, but ranges and the mechanics differ quite a bit. After all, you and your enemy are using different equipment - not german Uboats and allied escorts. For example, US subs never had an anechoic coating or decoys during the war. Different IJN escorts would have different asdic ranges based on the equipment they carried, etc.

Individual engine control is not available, much to the chagrin of many. Its not in SH3/GWX either for the same reasons - its cannot be modded in at this time.

Manual targetting is the "same" mathematically speaking. The 3 minute rule still applies, as well as all the other calculations. SH4 gives you the ability to use imperial or metric so if your used to metric you wont be totally shut out of doing manual targetting.

There was no such think as a "Milch Cow" for the USN - fleet boats held alot more fuel, food and ordinance than the type VII. The concept was never used by the USN in the pacific except in a rare emergency personel transfer or some such.

The position keeper - its not a yes or no - the TDC operates totally different than the one on Uboats. This is historically accurate. You may use the PK or not depending on how you play.

Get SH4, patch it to 1.4 - then play a bit - with a grain of salt. Figure out what does and doesnt work for you (like stock is very arcadish with gun reload times, traffic, etc) - then get mods that make it more what you want. Both RFB and TM are excellent starts, although I suggest adding the NSM (damage/sinking mod) and RSRD (historical traffic mod) to whichever one you use as combined they really make things much more realistic.

One note - if you do this - dont think that, like in a uboat, being underwater is protection from aircraft. Historically, in the pacific, you could be seen as deep as 150 feet or more - and get bombed. This is recreated in some mods so dont be suprised.