Out of munitions and haven even reached patrol !

SteamWake · 05-01-07, 10:17 AM

In my latest patrol I decided to stop and prosecute every contact I came accross.

I am now approaching my patrol area with a grand total of 4 torps 2 in the bow 2 in the stern.

Deck gun ammo is depleted both HE and AP.

Stern AA gun is empty, Bow gun has a few rounds left.

I already know whats going to happen, after I finish this patrol Ill be "assigned" to prosicute shipping at "wherever". Well cant meet that goal unless I sink 10 tons. While possible with the munitions left Ill have to be good AND lucky.

I guess what I should do is sail way over there to re-fit but the shortage of deck gun ammo is frustrating and the crew is not looking foward to the weeks at sea.

Do you guys ignore random contacts to reach your patrol areas with munitions ?

GnarPow · 05-01-07, 10:29 AM

Depends on the target.. I avoid all small taskforces (just like DDs and subchaser) and all fishing boats, junks and sampans...

For all single merchants I come across I use strictly deck gun and once that is out then I stop bothering with other contacts at least until I finish 1 or 2 mission objectives. I can take down any small merchants with an average of 3-8 deck gun shots and the mediums/larges about double that # so it usually leaves a pretty good amount of ammo for killing things. Its all in the aiming with the 4.5" i feel. As well as patience, Pop shots at a slow methodical pace and wait for the damage to take its toll... I've found that just firing shot after shot is very inefficient use of ammunition in comparison with sniping at it and seeing what part is probably best to hit next.. (ie- I put a few shots in the port side and the ship gets a good list going but isnt sinking, so I drive around to the starboard side and put a few into that side so the damage is more spread)

AhhhFresh · 05-01-07, 10:38 AM

I do my best to complete missions, but I don't really care about them so much... when I run out of torpedoes I go home to end patrol, whether I have completed the objectives or not.

This is mainly because I have been trying to play "ironman" since 1.2, and endless refitting it too time consuming (and dangerous in terms of losing lots of playtime).

Bane · 05-01-07, 10:42 AM

I avoid small task forces and fishing boats, but engage all other targets of opportunity as they present themselves. If I don't make it to the patrol zone, but still sink my fair share of tonnage I consider that job well done.

SteamWake · 05-01-07, 11:35 AM

Ive read here that not completing missions can lead to carrier path issues.

Bilge_Rat · 05-01-07, 01:59 PM

The contact factor may depend on the difficulty. I started a new campaign from Pearl on "very hard" and did not see a ship or map contact close enough to intercept until I got to my patrol area next to Honshu.

AVGWarhawk · 05-01-07, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Ive read here that not completing missions can lead to carrier path issues.

Yes and no. I have not completed missions, went after convoys and got new missions. What it might do is cut your career short as you are not fulfilling the missions assigned. Probably the biggest career path issue is not completing assigned missions, possible you get slammed dunked even though you have 100,000 tons. Just a guess here on that. I recommend every effort to complete a mission, even if you have to refit and go finish it.

At any rate, I go after anything that floats. If I run out of torps and return to base for a refit, you get the same area to patrol again. I went to Celebes Sea three times and the same spot also. Third time, I sunk plenty of warships and in the meantime a message came across that Fremantle was my new port of call. I motored on down for a reload and was offered up a new sub. Now I'm in PH starting my fourth patrol in the USS Drum.

7Enigma · 05-01-07, 10:30 AM

Nope, I do just like you. Everytime I start a patrol I say to myself, "Now this time get to the first order area, THEN start going after ships". I just can't do it! After 10-20 patrols I always wind up expending 3/4 or more of my munitions prior to even beginning the first order....

Sailor Steve · 05-01-07, 10:33 AM

For SH3 there was a mod that decreased random single ships to 20% of stock, then reduced radio reports on them to 20% of normal as well. It made for a much more realistic experience.

Hopefully SH4 will have something similar soon. As with all previous subsims (except SH2 in which everything was scripted

), there are WAY too many random ship encounters.

Hartmann · 05-01-07, 03:28 PM

I think that could be interesting a campaign mod like others in sh3 with more realism in contacts and targets abundance.

05-01-07, 10:17 AM	#1
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Out of munitions and haven even reached patrol ! In my latest patrol I decided to stop and prosecute every contact I came accross. I am now approaching my patrol area with a grand total of 4 torps 2 in the bow 2 in the stern. Deck gun ammo is depleted both HE and AP. Stern AA gun is empty, Bow gun has a few rounds left. I already know whats going to happen, after I finish this patrol Ill be "assigned" to prosicute shipping at "wherever". Well cant meet that goal unless I sink 10 tons. While possible with the munitions left Ill have to be good AND lucky. I guess what I should do is sail way over there to re-fit but the shortage of deck gun ammo is frustrating and the crew is not looking foward to the weeks at sea. Do you guys ignore random contacts to reach your patrol areas with munitions ?

05-01-07, 10:33 AM	#9
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	For SH3 there was a mod that decreased random single ships to 20% of stock, then reduced radio reports on them to 20% of normal as well. It made for a much more realistic experience. Hopefully SH4 will have something similar soon. As with all previous subsims (except SH2 in which everything was scripted ), there are WAY too many random ship encounters. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-01-07, 03:28 PM	#10
Hartmann Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grid CH 26, Spain ,Barcelona Posts: 1,857 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	I think that could be interesting a campaign mod like others in sh3 with more realism in contacts and targets abundance. __________________ But this ship can't sink!... She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Strength and honor

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05-01-07, 10:29 AM	#2
GnarPow Gunner Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 96 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Depends on the target.. I avoid all small taskforces (just like DDs and subchaser) and all fishing boats, junks and sampans... For all single merchants I come across I use strictly deck gun and once that is out then I stop bothering with other contacts at least until I finish 1 or 2 mission objectives. I can take down any small merchants with an average of 3-8 deck gun shots and the mediums/larges about double that # so it usually leaves a pretty good amount of ammo for killing things. Its all in the aiming with the 4.5" i feel. As well as patience, Pop shots at a slow methodical pace and wait for the damage to take its toll... I've found that just firing shot after shot is very inefficient use of ammunition in comparison with sniping at it and seeing what part is probably best to hit next.. (ie- I put a few shots in the port side and the ship gets a good list going but isnt sinking, so I drive around to the starboard side and put a few into that side so the damage is more spread)

05-01-07, 10:38 AM	#3
AhhhFresh Mate Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 52 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I do my best to complete missions, but I don't really care about them so much... when I run out of torpedoes I go home to end patrol, whether I have completed the objectives or not. This is mainly because I have been trying to play "ironman" since 1.2, and endless refitting it too time consuming (and dangerous in terms of losing lots of playtime).

05-01-07, 10:42 AM	#4
Bane Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 119 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	I avoid small task forces and fishing boats, but engage all other targets of opportunity as they present themselves. If I don't make it to the patrol zone, but still sink my fair share of tonnage I consider that job well done.

05-01-07, 11:35 AM	#5
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Ive read here that not completing missions can lead to carrier path issues.

05-01-07, 01:59 PM	#6
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,855 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	The contact factor may depend on the difficulty. I started a new campaign from Pearl on "very hard" and did not see a ship or map contact close enough to intercept until I got to my patrol area next to Honshu.

05-01-07, 10:30 AM	#8
7Enigma Helmsman Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 103 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nope, I do just like you. Everytime I start a patrol I say to myself, "Now this time get to the first order area, THEN start going after ships". I just can't do it! After 10-20 patrols I always wind up expending 3/4 or more of my munitions prior to even beginning the first order....