[REL] RFB/Real Fleet Boat for 1.5

[LukeFF]

Yep, it's one of the cool things the devs added to 1.5: the ability to upgrade the sonar equipment. Early on in the war, you will have to rely heavily on your bridge watch to spot targets, because sonar doesn't track that far, and the early SJ radar has a max range of just over 7 miles. Come ~September 1943, though, and things start to really improve. JP-1 sonar and SJ-1 comes online, the problems with the Mark 14 get fixed, and the wakeless Mark 18 is introduced as well (albeit in very small numbers at first).

S boat fans...well, let me just say, get used to being the red-headed stepchildren of the fleet. No JP sonar, no SJ radar for the S-18s until November 1942 (and no SD radar ever), and SJ and SD radar for the S-42s starting only in March 1943.

Another nice little feature we did was make the Mark 10 cost 100 renown points each for the fleet boats. We wanted to mimic the reality of fleet boats taking Mark 10s on patrol but at the same time depict how this wasn't a common occurance. However, the biggest issue with this was trying to find a solution to a player just skirting around the Mark 14's problems by just loading up on Mark 10s each and every patrol. This solution still allows the player to load up the Mark 10 on the fleet boats but at a high cost. Of course, for the S boats they will remain free.

[AlmightyTallest]

This is excellent!! I can't wait for this new RFB!

I posted an article under the New Torpedoes thread about upgrading to Torpex warheads on the Mk 14 here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...=132982&page=2 will there be any consideration for purchasing upgraded MK 14's with Torpex warheads as opposed to the standard TNT type? Although the MK 14 may be rather unreliable at first, having the option to get one with a harder hitting warhead may compensate a bit.

[kylesplanet]

It looks like the RFB team has been putting in overtime! I'm really looking forward to the release, it sounds like a lot of improvements have been made.

[AVGWarhawk]

S boat fans...well, let me just say, get used to being the red-headed stepchildren of the fleet. No JP sonar, no SJ radar for the S-18s until November 1942 (and no SD radar ever), and SJ and SD radar for the S-42s starting only in March 1943.

Poor buggers...they did do some things! I will be starting in the S when the time comes

[tedhealy]

Sounds great, I suppose I'll have to knuckle under and shell out the 10 bucks for 1.5 soon :hmm:

Done and done, bring on RFB for 1.5

[Weather-guesser]

This is sounding really good. Are we talking days or weeks for the release if you dont mind me asking? The coming soon is a big tease.

[CDR Resser]

I am looking forward to this release almost as much as the original release of the sim.
Sounds like it will make a lot of interesting improvements.

Respectfully Submitted;
CDR Resser

[LukeFF]

Originally Posted by AlmightyTallest

I posted an article under the New Torpedoes thread about upgrading to Torpex warheads on the Mk 14 here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...=132982&page=2 will there be any consideration for purchasing upgraded MK 14's with Torpex warheads as opposed to the standard TNT type? Although the MK 14 may be rather unreliable at first, having the option to get one with a harder hitting warhead may compensate a bit.

Thanks for the link. I'll have to see if it's possible to have a Mark 14 with slightly less power early on in the war. The Mark 10 is already set up to be less powerful than the Mark 14.

[AlmightyTallest]

No problem LukeFF, glad I could contribute to this mod in some very small way

[LukeFF]

Not a problem. I never even knew there was a version of the Mark 14 without Torpex, lol. Nonetheless, there will be a power adjustment to the torpedoes in this next release. Knowing that Torpex is 50% more powerful than TNT has allowed me to adjust the Mark 10 and the other torpedoes (other than the Mark 14/23) to more realistic levels. It will be one more factor to weigh in when deciding if to load up on Mark 10s instead of Mark 14s: does one take the more powerful but more flawed torpedo or the one that is less powerful, slower and shorter-ranged but more reliable?

[AlmightyTallest]

That sounds Great LukeFF, I'm assuming that other later torpedoes used during the war like the Mk 18 or Mk23 used only Torpex warheads though?

Also, found some info on Periscopes, quoted from this source from the USS Bergall SS-320

http://www.bergall.org/320/patrol/torpedo.html

PERISCOPES: Number 1 is the approach scope. It breaks the surface at 62' 5". It also contains ST radar. I am a little fuzzy on how this works, but it could get a range to the target. Number 2 is the attack scope and breaks the surface at 67' 5". Both have horizontal lines in them where if you have an estimate of the target masthead height, you can count the number of horizontal lines it crosses and get a rough idea of the target range. #2 also has what is called a stadimeter, much like what is used on surface ships, where you match up two images and get a range estimate. TDC: (Torpedo Data Computer) usually located in after end of conning tower on port side. It has automatic input of the submarine course and speed. All other inputs are introduced manually (if I remember correctly !) It also has a section for the target.

Interesting that the two periscopes have slightly different heights if its true, it would allow us to have both scopes up, particularly the attack scope up without having the observation periscope get in the way since it's claimed to stand 5' higher.

Also, from this same submarine is detail on the 5" guns here:

http://www.bergall.org/320/patrol/deckguns.html claiming only 75 rounds among other interesting facts from the men who served on her during the war.

Any chance we could get those Mk 28 homing torpedoes on the fleet boats in 1945?

[M. Sarsfield]

Any chance we could get those Mk 28 homing torpedoes on the fleet boats in 1945?

Keltos created a Mk. 28 Mod and they are available in mid/late 1944.

I wish we had the ST radar on the observation scope. Would be nice to get radar range with only the scope popping out of the water.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by M. Sarsfield

Keltos created a Mk. 28 Mod and they are available in mid/late 1944.

I wish we had the ST radar on the observation scope. Would be nice to get radar range with only the scope popping out of the water.

Just surface a bit.

[bluedingo]

Originally Posted by AlmightyTallest

http://www.bergall.org/320/patrol/deckguns.html claiming only 75 rounds among other interesting facts from the men who served on her during the war.

Can you actually get similarly sized guns in the game? And wow how a 65-pound shell must hurt if it drops on you.

[M. Sarsfield]

5" guns are available later in the war/game. The old V-class boats, like Narwhal, had two 6" deck guns.