Getting Started with SH4

Aoogahman · 07-20-18, 10:08 AM

Hello Folks,

I'm new to the Subsim forum and just wanted to say hello, which I guess I already did.

Anyway, I installed SH4 Gold a few weeks ago and have been totally immersed in the manual and the American Submarine School since. I made up a strip with the F-key commands and taped it just above the keys in case of memory lapses, which I consider highly likely to occur.

Most of my time was spent in the navigation tutorial; that's where I tried out all of the assorted commands to get a general feel for how things work. It took me three or four tries before I could comfortably (i.e. very little panic) plot my course to the flag pole, crank up the time compression, and complete the mission.

Artillery training went well after a few tries (6-7). Same with the torpedo mission.

It wasn't until I got to the CONVOY ATTACK that I ran into serious difficulty. And that was mostly because I didn't pay enough attention to the mission statement (I later noted that it was full of good clues - like "Use the submarine capabilities at maximum"). My first try was a totally frustrating experience - nothing made any sense! Then I read online that others were unable to finish it and that there was something wrong with the tutorial, they couldn't get past the destroyer screen. Well, at least they found the destroyer screen.

On my second attempt, after a few nights of not sleeping well while mulling this over and planning it out in my subconscious mind, or maybe it was my conscious mind if I was awake, I found the screen, they found me (double pings), and I had to do something. So I went deep, then deeper, until I heard the report about passing through a thermal layer - Perfect! So I kept going till I couldn't here any pinging, went to AA Standard for a while and passed under the screen. When I came to periscope depth the whole convey was right in front of me; the closest were two large tankers. I was able to put one torpedo in the first one, and three in the trailing one and got my 10,000 tons. Cool! I felt great, had a party, and slept like a log that night.

So finally, I'm happy to be with the crew on Subsim, and look forward to heading off on the Midway mission, I think.

Aktungbby · 07-20-18, 11:40 AM

Be more aggressive and not so full of ahooogah!...

...and again: Welcome aboard!

THEBERBSTER · 07-20-18, 03:42 PM

A Warm Welcome To The Subsim Community > Aoogahman
Subsim <> Make A Donation <> See The Benefits <> Support The Community
SH3 – 4 - 5 Tutorials And Other Information Links In My Signature Below

cdrsubron7 · 07-20-18, 03:55 PM

Welcome aboard, Aoogahman. Happy to have you with us.

The Berbster's tutorials are the best. You can't go wrong when looking at them. Got questions, don't be afraid to ask, there always someone here with an answer, more than than one most of the time.

Rockin Robbins · 07-20-18, 05:57 PM

My advice would be to learn boat handling first. Keep automatic targeting and learn how to position your boat, what setups work best for shooting torpedoes, get a feel for destroyer detection of your boat, get crash dives, leveling off at the depth you want, silent running, running decks awash, planning an approach and all the nuts and bolts of being where you need to be when you need to be there.

Then after boat handling is automatic, it's time to go to manual targeting, if you're interested, and learn how to make booms! I'm also not a believer in "realism mode" where you basically put a paper bag over your head and pretend it's realistic. Leave map contacts on. You get too much information, but you don't have to use it.

Make your own sightings for bearing and range, plot those and use those for handling your navigation. I don't think the devs did a good job of separating navigation from situational plots and you give up too much when you shut down map contacts.

Aoogahman · 07-23-18, 12:57 PM

Thanks for the warm welcomes and the sage advise. Especially the part about just learning how to drive the boat and leaving the auto-targeting on. The manual targeting can wait till later. I'm all for that at this stage.

I had already looked over some of The Berbster's stuff and found it very helpful and a good resource for future needs. Thanks for the reminder.

One oddity I've noticed so far is the instrument layout at the conning tower steering station. From left to right there 's a depth gauge where the port MOT should be, a Rudder Angle Indicator, the gyro repeater (where the starboard MOT should be), and finally, out of reach, the starboard MOT. Way different from the layout at the control room station, which is the way it ought to be, at least in my experience. Anybody know a good reason for this or it just some details that slipped through the cracks during development?

07-20-18, 10:08 AM	#1
Aoogahman Seaman Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Florida Posts: 31 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Getting Started with SH4 Hello Folks, I'm new to the Subsim forum and just wanted to say hello, which I guess I already did. Anyway, I installed SH4 Gold a few weeks ago and have been totally immersed in the manual and the American Submarine School since. I made up a strip with the F-key commands and taped it just above the keys in case of memory lapses, which I consider highly likely to occur. Most of my time was spent in the navigation tutorial; that's where I tried out all of the assorted commands to get a general feel for how things work. It took me three or four tries before I could comfortably (i.e. very little panic) plot my course to the flag pole, crank up the time compression, and complete the mission. Artillery training went well after a few tries (6-7). Same with the torpedo mission. It wasn't until I got to the CONVOY ATTACK that I ran into serious difficulty. And that was mostly because I didn't pay enough attention to the mission statement (I later noted that it was full of good clues - like "Use the submarine capabilities at maximum"). My first try was a totally frustrating experience - nothing made any sense! Then I read online that others were unable to finish it and that there was something wrong with the tutorial, they couldn't get past the destroyer screen. Well, at least they found the destroyer screen. On my second attempt, after a few nights of not sleeping well while mulling this over and planning it out in my subconscious mind, or maybe it was my conscious mind if I was awake, I found the screen, they found me (double pings), and I had to do something. So I went deep, then deeper, until I heard the report about passing through a thermal layer - Perfect! So I kept going till I couldn't here any pinging, went to AA Standard for a while and passed under the screen. When I came to periscope depth the whole convey was right in front of me; the closest were two large tankers. I was able to put one torpedo in the first one, and three in the trailing one and got my 10,000 tons. Cool! I felt great, had a party, and slept like a log that night. So finally, I'm happy to be with the crew on Subsim, and look forward to heading off on the Midway mission, I think.

07-20-18, 11:40 AM	#2
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 30,030 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Be more aggressive and not so full of ahooogah!......and again: Welcome aboard! __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!!

07-20-18, 03:42 PM	#3
THEBERBSTER Growing Old Disgracefully Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Hythe - Southampton Posts: 9,609 Downloads: 1133 Uploads: 0	A Warm Welcome To The Subsim Community > Aoogahman Subsim <> Make A Donation <> See The Benefits <> Support The Community SH3 – 4 - 5 Tutorials And Other Information Links In My Signature Below __________________ LSH3-2015 <> TUTORIALS <> ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW <> ALL IN ONE PLACE SH4 <> TUTORIALS <> HOW TO DO IT <> INFORMATION <> DOWNLOAD LINKS SH5 <> TUTORIALS <> HOW TO DO IT <> INFORMATION <> DOWNLOAD LINKS Always Here To Help A Fellow 'Subber' \| Need An Answer to A Question Just Send Me A PM

07-20-18, 03:55 PM	#4
cdrsubron7 Sink'em All Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 2,150 Downloads: 305 Uploads: 1	Welcome aboard, Aoogahman. Happy to have you with us. The Berbster's tutorials are the best. You can't go wrong when looking at them. Got questions, don't be afraid to ask, there always someone here with an answer, more than than one most of the time. __________________ Head Deep and Keep'em Astern" - LtCDR Samuel D Dealy SHIV Guide \| Imperial Japanese Navy \| US Submarines

07-20-18, 05:57 PM	#5
Rockin Robbins Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DeLand, FL Posts: 8,900 Downloads: 135 Uploads: 52	My advice would be to learn boat handling first. Keep automatic targeting and learn how to position your boat, what setups work best for shooting torpedoes, get a feel for destroyer detection of your boat, get crash dives, leveling off at the depth you want, silent running, running decks awash, planning an approach and all the nuts and bolts of being where you need to be when you need to be there. Then after boat handling is automatic, it's time to go to manual targeting, if you're interested, and learn how to make booms! I'm also not a believer in "realism mode" where you basically put a paper bag over your head and pretend it's realistic. Leave map contacts on. You get too much information, but you don't have to use it. Make your own sightings for bearing and range, plot those and use those for handling your navigation. I don't think the devs did a good job of separating navigation from situational plots and you give up too much when you shut down map contacts. __________________ Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks, Slightly Subnuclear Mk 14 & Cutie, Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun, EZPlot 2.0, TMOPlot, TMOKeys, SH4CMS

07-23-18, 12:57 PM	#6
Aoogahman Seaman Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Florida Posts: 31 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the warm welcomes and the sage advise. Especially the part about just learning how to drive the boat and leaving the auto-targeting on. The manual targeting can wait till later. I'm all for that at this stage. I had already looked over some of The Berbster's stuff and found it very helpful and a good resource for future needs. Thanks for the reminder. One oddity I've noticed so far is the instrument layout at the conning tower steering station. From left to right there 's a depth gauge where the port MOT should be, a Rudder Angle Indicator, the gyro repeater (where the starboard MOT should be), and finally, out of reach, the starboard MOT. Way different from the layout at the control room station, which is the way it ought to be, at least in my experience. Anybody know a good reason for this or it just some details that slipped through the cracks during development?