Need a hand on tweaking SH3 Commander for VIIC/42

[JScones]

Originally Posted by trebby

1. I would like to have the Option in say september 1943 to aquire a VIIC/42 in an career....
2. Also I would like to have the Option to start the war in 1939 in an IXB (no historical objections, my age warrants it anyway lol) without any renown first.

Right, consider the SUBMARINE* blocks in Basic.cfg as look up lists only. SUBMARINE0 determines when each of the Type IIs become available, SUBMARINE1 determines the Type VIIs and so on. In stock SH3 these dates apply to *all* Flotillas.

SH3Cmdr overcomes this SH3 limitation by allowing (by default, realistic) availability dates to be set for each Flotilla. This is controlled by "U-boat availability.cfg". You'll see for each SUBMARINE block sub-blocks relating to the 1st, 2nd and 7th Flotillas (no other Flotillas have been modelled yet). These values are copied into the game depending on what Flotilla you are in (or want to start a career in). If you are in, say, the 7th Flotilla, the values starting with 904_ are copied into the game. But don't be confused by this workaround - it's still Flotilla.cfg that determines what sub types each Flotilla gets and what sub you start in for each year of the war. So, you need to pick a Flotilla first...

For the purposes of this demonstration, let's say that you want the VIIC/42 to be available to the 1st Flotilla in 9/39...

In "U-boat availability.cfg" (or "Basic.cfg" if you are not using SH3Cmdr), look for the following block:

[SUBMARINE1]
902_NbVersion=4
902_Version0=0 ; VIIB
902_Name0=VIIB
902_Month0=6
902_Year0=1941
902_Version1=1 ; VIIC
902_Name1=VIIC
902_Month1=3
902_Year1=1941
902_Version2=2 ; VIIC/41
902_Name2=VIIC/41
902_Month2=6
902_Year2=1944
902_Version3=3 ; VIIC/42
902_Name3=VIIC/42
902_Month3=6 <- CHANGE TO 9
902_Year3=1945 <- CHANGE TO 1939
902_DaysSpentInBase=45

This sets up the VIIC/42 to be recognised as an available sub in 9/39. But this change alone won't get you the sub. You need to link it to a Flotilla in "Flotilla.cfg". So, in "Flotilla.cfg", under "Flotilla0=902", look for the following:

Date00=1939
Month00=9
Starting00=Yes
TypeSub00=0; IIA <- CHANGE TO 1; VIIC
VersionSub00=0 <- CHANGE TO 3

Now you have set the VIIC/42 *as the starting sub* in the 1st Flotilla in 9/39. And it does work - I've done it many times for testing purposes. You can apply this logic to get any sub in any Flotilla at any time (although depending on the Flotilla you may need to also alter the associated NbUboats*, Uboat*_0, Uboat*_1 etc values). So, want an XXI in 1939, easy. An IXB, likewise. Renown cost: nothing.

Note that these changes do not get you the extra bits and pieces...they still become available at the appropriate dates. However, with this knowledge I'm sure you can determine what needs to be changed if you want them all in 9/39 also.

Originally Posted by trebby

3. Lastly, I want to start as an Oberleutnant instead of a Leutnant as my LI is outranking me and I have a hard time convincing him...
(I think historically at least Oberleutnant was given U commands anyway, mostly Kapitän-Leutnant or "Kaleunt")

The quick way is simply to bump up *_menu.txt entries 170 to 174 (in "Menu static.txt" if using SH3Cmdr). That is, remove the ranks to the *left* of the semicolons. Haven't tried it myself, but it's only labels so couldn't see why it wouldn't work. If it does work, then don't forget to change values 190 to 194 in SH3Cmdr_*.txt to ensure that your Personnel File ranks remain in sync.

FYI though:
1. There were a few Lt's in command of U-boats throughout the war, although the majority were ObLt's;
2. Kaleun, whilst being a contraction for the rank of KptLt, was also a title given to any U-boat Commander, regardless of rank held.
3. Install RUb and whilst you spend the first patrol as a humble Lt, you will be promoted to ObLt at the completion of it.