AddInModzPak question

[Zero Niner]

Trying to determine what 304_NoJapaneseRadar (removes radar from most of the Japanese aircraft) actually does, in terms of gameplay.
Right now I'm on patrol in the Formosa area, early Oct '44, and I'm finding heavy air activity that wasn't there in earlier patrols in that area. Even at night, I have Betties making a beeline for me. Does the game give the aircraft some sort of radar that helps them spot surfaced subs?
From what I know of WW2, no one does night sorties except for night fighters hunting bombers doing night bombing missions. But not night ASW patrols.

[J0313]

Both the Brits and ourselves did night aerial ASW patrols all the time. That's what the Brits developed the leigh light for. And the Japanese did also do night aerial asw patrols as well.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Zero Niner

Trying to determine what 304_NoJapaneseRadar (removes radar from most of the Japanese aircraft) actually does, in terms of gameplay.
Right now I'm on patrol in the Formosa area, early Oct '44, and I'm finding heavy air activity that wasn't there in earlier patrols in that area. Even at night, I have Betties making a beeline for me. Does the game give the aircraft some sort of radar that helps them spot surfaced subs?
From what I know of WW2, no one does night sorties except for night fighters hunting bombers doing night bombing missions. But not night ASW patrols.

The change reflects the changes in the war over time. By October 1944 Japan had stepped its ASW game up, which included radar equipped, night flying patrol planes. Mostly variants of G4M Betty and later other aircraft such as EMILY flying boats, some lighter twin engine bombers. Planes in the mod reflect this, so they are detecting you on the surface with their radar.

Planes also had MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detection) gear was also deployed on this planes, permitting detection of deep submerged submarines. I am not sure if this is simulated in FOTRS. In TMO, it is by giving planes ability to spott subs under water at deeper depths, when close enough. In reality plane had to fly pretty low over the water and not be too far from submarine to detect it.

USS Halibut was nearly lost to this. A MAD equipped plane in November 1944 detected her, bombed her, marked her location, called in ASW vessels, combined assault severely damaged Halibut, her conning tower cracked and had to be abandoned during the attack. Boat was in such shambles returned to base under escort of another submarine and made one shallow test dive, surfaced and never submerged again due to safety reasons. Halibut was ruled a total constructive loss, essentially the 53rd US submarine lost during the war.

[propbeanie]

Originally Posted by Zero Niner

Trying to determine what 304_NoJapaneseRadar (removes radar from most of the Japanese aircraft) actually does, in terms of gameplay.
Right now I'm on patrol in the Formosa area, early Oct '44, and I'm finding heavy air activity that wasn't there in earlier patrols in that area. Even at night, I have Betties making a beeline for me. Does the game give the aircraft some sort of radar that helps them spot surfaced subs?
From what I know of WW2, no one does night sorties except for night fighters hunting bombers doing night bombing missions. But not night ASW patrols.

304_NoJapaneseRadar is actually 304_NoJapaneseAirRadar, and the only planes with radar then are the flying boats and the kamakazi planes. Most planes will not home-in on you as strongly. As both J0313 and Bubblehead1980 said though, they did have airborne radar, and rather early also, on the 4-engined flying boats, and then in late 1942 on a selection of the Betties. They gradually added more and more radar through 43 to 44 and then as Bubbles says, the got MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector) equipment, which were on a few select planes that flew along the coast of Indo-China and China, especially the Formosa Strait. We somewhat attempt to emulate that in FotRSU, but if you use the 305_LessJapaneseAirRadar AddIn, the radars are later, and do not upgrade to the good stuff, except (of course) on the 4-engine flying boats and the Kamakazi. The Kamakazi need the radar for "targeting", else they don't hit very often... lol

[Zero Niner]

Thanks for the replies, I learnt a couple of new things. Doesn't make the constant air patrols any less annoying though.

[propbeanie]

The one thing about the airplanes, and similarly to the "picket boat" sampans, is do not be seen by them. In other words, if you get a radar contact, and it shows "high speed" and angling toward you, or within roughly 6nm, mark where it is on the map once or twice and calculate when it will pass over you, then crash dive. Get down below 120 foot, then come back up to periscope depth after the guesstimated time and have a look around. Up to radar depth, have a look around, and surely you'll "see" them on the NavMap again. Mark their location and surface when they are far enough away. Draw a line on the NavMap, and if you see a course deviation from your first marks in that last mark, they did "target" you. No matter what though, Figure that in roughly 20-30 minutes, they might be back on a reverse, parallel course, approximately 8-10nm either side of the course they just went on, so be ready for that, and be prepared to do the same thing again. You can usually guess whether a Mavis type, or Betty or Zero, by their speed, with some experience, or if they are in singles or double-groups. The Mavis almost always are initially by themselves and have radar, though it is primitive and short-ranged early, so is easier to avoid, though they do have greater staying-power, and might do a half-dozen fly-bys, if they suspect they have a contact. The Betty might be single, or in groups, have radar later, and medium staying power, so maybe 3 or 4 passes, while the zero are almost always in doubles, and have only enough fuel to give you maybe two passes - unless you're close to an airbase. In any case, if they see you, they call their cousins, their brothers, and any other relative within range to come help hunt you. All they have to do is approximate your location, and then figure if you stay down and do 3 knots, you can only be so far before dark. If you stay on the surface, they might figure 20 knots, but it is still a relatively small circle to look in for something as large as a submarine. In other words, don't be seen, and be wary of places like the Shortlands or St George's pass or Truk and the like, where there a quite a few assets to call upon to just absolutely pester you after you've been spotted. Change course each time is key.