Harbor recon tactics

Ca[t White · 01-09-16, 04:58 PM

I'm currently doing a photo recon mission of Tokyo Harbor and I would like some advice as to how to do this type of mission. Im running my sub on silent running however, I can't seem to avoid the destroyers and sub chasers. I have read the sh4 guide on how to do a photo recon mission however, I'd like some advice from anyone who has done a mission like this already. Another factor that works against me is diving and surfacing i dont have a lot of room to work with because of the shallow area.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Simmy · 01-10-16, 10:35 PM

Here's what I posted for someone else who had this problem and it worked for him, try it and see....

When this happens to me, I can defeat it one of two ways.
First find out if one is a small sub hunter. Wait until the DD
gets good separation from the small boat. Make sure it is night.
Put your men on the gun, they make it load faster being there,
sound battle stations, surface and gun the hell out of the gunboat.
You shoot the gun. Your way faster and aim for the engine room.
When he goes down, dive and turn away from him as the DD is now
on the way. While the DD is looking for you, continue on and take
your picture.

The second is to simply get as close to shore as possible and still
be completely underwater. Travel dead slow with silent running and
inch your way past them.

Good luck.

Hambone307 · 01-11-16, 03:24 AM

My solution: Pull up the map. Plot course to deeper waters (preferably a choke point between two large land masses). Sink Jap shipping.

If you insist on completing the objective, "hop" from deep spot to deep spot while you are in the escorts baffles. I usually take time to watch them at periscope depth and map out their patrol path. Once that is done, take a look at your map and check the deeper spots and plot a course that takes you to each one as you move into the harbor. Timing and luck is everything with this. Once the escort begins to pass over your plotted course, make your move and either have your sonarman track him or watch him through the scope to observe for any alterations in his patrol. How fast you go is up to you, but the slower, the better. If you don't make it to that hole in time before the escort comes back, turn toward the bugger and present as small a target as possible and hope for the best. Oh, and do this at night if at all possible, you will have to expose your shears in some areas (this happens at a depth of 45-50' if I remember correctly for most subs).

I have used this trick quite a bit and completed 4 recon objectives successfully (I have since ignored them). This has also worked with offloading "agents" in enemy territory. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't work all the time. When it does the satisfaction is better than the renown you get!

captcrane · 01-11-16, 07:41 AM

Tokyo Harbor is the toughest recon mission by far. When I did that mission I avoided all Japanese vessels by staying as much as possible in deep water and of course only moving in darkness even if it meant staying in the vicinity for a couple of days leapfrogging from deep water to deep water. It took 2 days realworld time to complete it and still took heavy damage to complete it. You have to be insane to take on that mission. Hope I get it again!

Sailor Steve · 01-11-16, 09:08 AM

First, a mission like that is a bad joke. There were only a handful of photo recon missions in real life, and every one was of an island they were planning to invade. No Tokyo, ever. That the game even has such a mission is, as I said, a bad joke.

aanker · 01-11-16, 01:58 PM

Like Sailor Steve said, 'a bad joke'. It can be done by puddle jumping and moving in decks awash, however I would refuse it now - once (just for fun) was enough.

Depart (click the map in the office), then click the icon to return to base. I was never been penalized for doing that when playing the Stock campaign.

I use a different set of campaign files now known as 'Guerrilla Submarines Spyron Mod' available on another website that includes real missions conducted in WW II. A Google search will show results if you are interested. I shouldn't advertise another website ( it isn't polite). It is listed here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//arc.../t-201797.html

Happy Hunting!

Ca[t White · 01-11-16, 06:29 PM

Thank you for the sound advice, I was able to complete the mission. I took a step further and returned to Midway to rearm. and I took my boat back into the Harbor and sank two Heavy cruisers that where in anchor, a Battleship and three merchant vessels. at the end of my patrol I was awarded the congressional medal of Honor.

Hambone307 · 01-12-16, 12:57 PM

Hmmm... The Medal of Honor... Thought that was awarded for bravery and heroism...

Time to rearm and head to Tokyo to get that new shiny on my coat!

TorpX · 01-13-16, 04:33 AM

It's good that it worked out well for you CW, but I have to agree with Sailor. Whenever I get a mission like that, I consider that it was 'garbled in transmission', and ignore it.

ColonelSandersLite · 01-16-16, 10:22 PM

In the LP that I did, I infiltrated manila. You might find it worthwhile to look at my tactics there.

Majestik 909 · 01-22-16, 10:46 PM

In my 3 year career, I accepted and completed all missions. I did recon of Fremantle, Colombo, and Port Moresby. In each case I found destroyer patrols easy to avoid by using a coastline approach. You are in shallow water anyways, so I felt such an approach was justified.

On a recent photo mission to Fremantle, I sank a battleship and then hid behind the sunken hulk, whose superstructure was still out of the water. I then came shallow and sank 2 carriers and several destroyers before creeping out of the harbor by nightfall.

With stern tubes, I have created a diversion by torpedoing a moored vessel deep in the harbor and then running out at flank speed while destroyers pound the harbor bottom near the stricken ship.

Majestik 909 · 01-22-16, 10:48 PM

I wonder if I could sail around the cape and venture into Scapa Flow?

01-09-16, 04:58 PM	#1
Ca[t White Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 107 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	Harbor recon tactics I'm currently doing a photo recon mission of Tokyo Harbor and I would like some advice as to how to do this type of mission. Im running my sub on silent running however, I can't seem to avoid the destroyers and sub chasers. I have read the sh4 guide on how to do a photo recon mission however, I'd like some advice from anyone who has done a mission like this already. Another factor that works against me is diving and surfacing i dont have a lot of room to work with because of the shallow area. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

01-11-16, 03:24 AM	#3
Hambone307 Planesman Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 188 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	My solution: Pull up the map. Plot course to deeper waters (preferably a choke point between two large land masses). Sink Jap shipping. If you insist on completing the objective, "hop" from deep spot to deep spot while you are in the escorts baffles. I usually take time to watch them at periscope depth and map out their patrol path. Once that is done, take a look at your map and check the deeper spots and plot a course that takes you to each one as you move into the harbor. Timing and luck is everything with this. Once the escort begins to pass over your plotted course, make your move and either have your sonarman track him or watch him through the scope to observe for any alterations in his patrol. How fast you go is up to you, but the slower, the better. If you don't make it to that hole in time before the escort comes back, turn toward the bugger and present as small a target as possible and hope for the best. Oh, and do this at night if at all possible, you will have to expose your shears in some areas (this happens at a depth of 45-50' if I remember correctly for most subs). I have used this trick quite a bit and completed 4 recon objectives successfully (I have since ignored them). This has also worked with offloading "agents" in enemy territory. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't work all the time. When it does the satisfaction is better than the renown you get! __________________ ____ I can't tell if I have found a rope or lost my horse.

01-11-16, 09:08 AM	#5
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	First, a mission like that is a bad joke. There were only a handful of photo recon missions in real life, and every one was of an island they were planning to invade. No Tokyo, ever. That the game even has such a mission is, as I said, a bad joke. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-11-16, 01:58 PM	#6
aanker Pacific Thunder Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yellow Sea Posts: 1,896 Downloads: 236 Uploads: 14	Like Sailor Steve said, 'a bad joke'. It can be done by puddle jumping and moving in decks awash, however I would refuse it now - once (just for fun) was enough. Depart (click the map in the office), then click the icon to return to base. I was never been penalized for doing that when playing the Stock campaign. I use a different set of campaign files now known as 'Guerrilla Submarines Spyron Mod' available on another website that includes real missions conducted in WW II. A Google search will show results if you are interested. I shouldn't advertise another website ( it isn't polite). It is listed here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//arc.../t-201797.html Happy Hunting! __________________ " Bless those who serve beneath the deep, Through lonely hours their vigil keep. May peace their mission ever be, Protect each one we ask of thee. Bless those at home who wait and pray, For their return by night and day."

01-12-16, 12:57 PM	#8
Hambone307 Planesman Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 188 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	Hmmm... The Medal of Honor... Thought that was awarded for bravery and heroism... Time to rearm and head to Tokyo to get that new shiny on my coat! __________________ ____ I can't tell if I have found a rope or lost my horse.

01-10-16, 10:35 PM	#2
Simmy Planesman Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 180 Downloads: 187 Uploads: 0	Here's what I posted for someone else who had this problem and it worked for him, try it and see.... When this happens to me, I can defeat it one of two ways. First find out if one is a small sub hunter. Wait until the DD gets good separation from the small boat. Make sure it is night. Put your men on the gun, they make it load faster being there, sound battle stations, surface and gun the hell out of the gunboat. You shoot the gun. Your way faster and aim for the engine room. When he goes down, dive and turn away from him as the DD is now on the way. While the DD is looking for you, continue on and take your picture. The second is to simply get as close to shore as possible and still be completely underwater. Travel dead slow with silent running and inch your way past them. Good luck.

01-11-16, 07:41 AM	#4
captcrane Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 139 Downloads: 184 Uploads: 0	Tokyo Harbor is the toughest recon mission by far. When I did that mission I avoided all Japanese vessels by staying as much as possible in deep water and of course only moving in darkness even if it meant staying in the vicinity for a couple of days leapfrogging from deep water to deep water. It took 2 days realworld time to complete it and still took heavy damage to complete it. You have to be insane to take on that mission. Hope I get it again!

01-11-16, 06:29 PM	#7
Ca[t White Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 107 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	Thank you for the sound advice, I was able to complete the mission. I took a step further and returned to Midway to rearm. and I took my boat back into the Harbor and sank two Heavy cruisers that where in anchor, a Battleship and three merchant vessels. at the end of my patrol I was awarded the congressional medal of Honor.

01-13-16, 04:33 AM	#9
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	It's good that it worked out well for you CW, but I have to agree with Sailor. Whenever I get a mission like that, I consider that it was 'garbled in transmission', and ignore it.

01-16-16, 10:22 PM	#10
ColonelSandersLite Captain Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 481 Downloads: 74 Uploads: 3	In the LP that I did, I infiltrated manila. You might find it worthwhile to look at my tactics there. __________________ My SH4 LP

01-22-16, 10:46 PM	#11
Majestik 909 Planesman Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	In my 3 year career, I accepted and completed all missions. I did recon of Fremantle, Colombo, and Port Moresby. In each case I found destroyer patrols easy to avoid by using a coastline approach. You are in shallow water anyways, so I felt such an approach was justified. On a recent photo mission to Fremantle, I sank a battleship and then hid behind the sunken hulk, whose superstructure was still out of the water. I then came shallow and sank 2 carriers and several destroyers before creeping out of the harbor by nightfall. With stern tubes, I have created a diversion by torpedoing a moored vessel deep in the harbor and then running out at flank speed while destroyers pound the harbor bottom near the stricken ship.

01-22-16, 10:48 PM	#12
Majestik 909 Planesman Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: California Posts: 195 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I wonder if I could sail around the cape and venture into Scapa Flow?