So... Difference between subs?...

CybrSlydr · 03-18-10, 12:15 AM

Gotta admit... One reason I'm not a big fan of SH4 or the whole American Pacific sub thing is...

It doesn't feel like the subs are any different than each other.

They look mostly identical, they have pretty much identical armaments...

Am I going crazy?

magic452 · 03-18-10, 01:08 AM

The Gato was such a successful design that there wasn't much you could or needed to do to it.
It fit the Pacific Theater so well as to range, armament, speed, etc. there was little need to change except quicker and deeper dive capability.
The Balao and Trench were little more than slight improvements rather than new designs. Could have been called Gato B and C models. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

U boats had to adapt to different operating theaters and conditions.

Magic

Capt. Teach · 03-18-10, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CybrSlydr

They look mostly identical, they have pretty much identical armaments...

Am I going crazy?

Heheheh that reminds me of that movie "Zoolander" ....
"Has anyone noticed he has one look? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"

TH0R · 03-18-10, 03:44 AM

Not all of them have identical armaments. Pre Gar/Tambor class boats have less than 6 bow tubes, and this makes a whole lot of difference during the attack. Also, there is very little difference in conning towers in the beginning as well. Later in war when conning towers start to get refitted for lower silhouette, that is when the boats look at their best IMO.

Besides that, there are differences in top speed, and of course, the most important one - crush depth. Balao and Tench will give you much more manoeuvring space down at 450 ft, than Porpoise at 250ft IIRC.

danurve · 03-18-10, 08:13 AM

I just got a Gato from a Porpoise. Yes it does have better guns except the AA is sheilded by metal so you can't seem to use it against any small boats. I like the upgraded radar.
Funny thing about identical subs, in SHIII my favorite was the VIIB & VIIC/41. Could realy care less about the others, didn't like any of the type IX sonar magnets. So in that game you basicaly has two classes to choose from and then the normal upgrades. Seems like IV is an improvement over that.

Keelbuster · 03-18-10, 10:36 AM

I've got a Porpoise right now...really looking forward to the 10 tubes on the Gato. It kinda sucks how US subs had such shallow crush depths, but then against Japanese ASW and with the thermal layer thing, maybe we don't need to go so deep...

03-18-10, 12:15 AM	#1
CybrSlydr Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Beverly, OH Posts: 263 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	So... Difference between subs?... Gotta admit... One reason I'm not a big fan of SH4 or the whole American Pacific sub thing is... It doesn't feel like the subs are any different than each other. They look mostly identical, they have pretty much identical armaments... Am I going crazy? __________________

03-18-10, 01:08 AM	#2
magic452 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Reno Nevada USA Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	The Gato was such a successful design that there wasn't much you could or needed to do to it. It fit the Pacific Theater so well as to range, armament, speed, etc. there was little need to change except quicker and deeper dive capability. The Balao and Trench were little more than slight improvements rather than new designs. Could have been called Gato B and C models. If it ain't broke don't fix it. U boats had to adapt to different operating theaters and conditions. Magic __________________ Reported lost 11 Feb. 1942 Signature by depthtok33l

03-18-10, 03:44 AM	#4
TH0R XO Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Croatia Posts: 420 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	Not all of them have identical armaments. Pre Gar/Tambor class boats have less than 6 bow tubes, and this makes a whole lot of difference during the attack. Also, there is very little difference in conning towers in the beginning as well. Later in war when conning towers start to get refitted for lower silhouette, that is when the boats look at their best IMO. Besides that, there are differences in top speed, and of course, the most important one - crush depth. Balao and Tench will give you much more manoeuvring space down at 450 ft, than Porpoise at 250ft IIRC. __________________ *My IL2 stuff:* LEVEL BOMBING MANUAL v2.0 \| 'MUSTANG'

03-18-10, 08:13 AM	#5
danurve The Old Man Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,481 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 3	I just got a Gato from a Porpoise. Yes it does have better guns except the AA is sheilded by metal so you can't seem to use it against any small boats. I like the upgraded radar. Funny thing about identical subs, in SHIII my favorite was the VIIB & VIIC/41. Could realy care less about the others, didn't like any of the type IX sonar magnets. So in that game you basicaly has two classes to choose from and then the normal upgrades. Seems like IV is an improvement over that. __________________

03-18-10, 10:36 AM	#6
Keelbuster Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: BA 72 Posts: 1,092 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I've got a Porpoise right now...really looking forward to the 10 tubes on the Gato. It kinda sucks how US subs had such shallow crush depths, but then against Japanese ASW and with the thermal layer thing, maybe we don't need to go so deep... __________________