Depth charge settings and escorts

[mike_espo]

I just finished a test scenario with and without Destroyer Agression Mod

It seems that before 1943 or so, that U-boats can simply dive beneath DC maximum depth settings and be impervious to damage.

I had a VIIB, May, 41. vs 3x RN DDs skill setting ELITE. I let them detect me, then dived to 180m ... then just 256x TC... I recieved reports that depth charges were dropped, but I still never received any damage.

I do have Hollywoods Adv damage mod installed and SHIII commader, No RuB or GW mods..

My question is: Is there a mod, or some file tweak or some combo to change depth charge settings early war period: 1939-1943? :hmm:

thanks

[Keelbuster]

I was playing with Tonnage War 1.03 (includes aggression mod???), and i was running at 165m, was getting pinged like hell, and turned my obs periscope back to watch a depth charge sail by me and down (presumably to around 180m) and blow. It seem like they can DC that depth. Do you think you got lucky?

Kb

[mike_espo]

I have run the simulation 6 times. April 1943, 3x RN escorts elite crews, within 1.5km of my boat. Each time I crash dived to 180m, went silent, went to 8xTC, never got damaged Did not even have to maneuver....

What is worse, is that even with elite crews, the escorts leave the scene after roughy 30 minutes This is with the Destroyer Agression mod installed

It changes in the Summer of 1943, then its challenging, but before, its not

I have Destroyer agression mod enabled, and Hollywoods advanced damage mod.

I wonder if in campaign mode its different. In single mission mode, it is not a challenge at all....its almost not worth it, because you have to REALLY screw up royally to get killed by escorts before May 1943

[mike_espo]

Come on guys..... somebody had to notice this....

[irish1958]

During the war what percentage of active u-boats were actually sunk by esorts year by year? This data must be available somewhere. I suspect it was probably very low in the first years of the war, before effective radar and effective air cover.
irish1958

[Khayman]

Originally Posted by irish1958

During the war what percentage of active u-boats were actually sunk by esorts year by year? This data must be available somewhere. I suspect it was probably very low in the first years of the war, before effective radar and effective air cover.
irish1958

Try here http://uboat.net/fates/losses/

No percentage but you could work it out or get a good idea.

[mike_espo]

Originally Posted by irish1958

I suspect it was probably very low in the first years of the war, before effective radar and effective air cover.

1939: 3 U-boats destroyed by escorts or Hunter-Killer groups.
1940: 12
1941: 25
1942: 34
1943: 60
1944: 66
1945: 47

38% of all U-boats destroyed by surface forces were destroyed before summer 1943

This is actually a game play issue: The Germans did not realize the British were setting Depth charge settings too low. We as gamers have the knowledge of history and that historically British DCs were set shallow until 1943 or until more modern charges became available.

There should be some random factor at least for depth charge settings. In NYGM, it says: "The thing that kills games is the lack of uncertainty given the player".

Knowing that DCs are set to max 150m until summer 1943 allows an easy chance to evade damage.

[MarshalLaw]

Well by 1943 Allies ASDIC and radar had improved to the point that it started to turn the tide against the u-boats. Before that it was easier for u-boats to slip away.

However for the most part, most of the u-boat sinkings came from aircraft. Being caught on the surface with a aircraft above was a bad thing. Most u-boat commanders crash dived , than stayed on the surfaced to slug it out. Except for the Flak boats. Even those did not fare that well.

One last thing about the depth. Most allies believed that a u-boat could not survive past 150 meters. My guess is that most of these things were coded in the game. :hmm:

[mike_espo]

Regardless of historical outcomes, we, as gamers know that the escort DC settings are <150m until summer 1943. Therefore, with foreknowledge, the game is not challenging knowing you can easily escape by diving.

All I am asking is there must be an easy way to change the depth settings of the AI escorts before summer, 1943. I cannot believe this is hard coded. I am not a programmer so I cannot do it, but I should think it is a one line code in some file. :hmm:

[dize]

yes yes i feel your pain. tbh i realy wonder why there are still ppl bringing up the ocasional "dc´s werent realy much of an issue before later 43" thing. its not true. the uboat force had regualar losses to underwater attacks from escorts, from day one.

[Heibges]

Something similar happens with the Aircraft. You never see any aircraft for 4 years, then in May 1943 they are hot and heavy.

Silent Service and Silent Hunter had the same flaw. I expect Silent Hunter IV will have the same, because the IJN didn't drop below 300ft.

The is an AI LOST CONTACT TIME in the CFG. I will take a look at it.