When can I get surface radar??????

[propbeanie]

Some of the boats, it starts being installed July 1942, but progresses all the way into mid-1943, depending upon the boat. S-Boats do not get radar. It looks like October 1942 would be "average"... Also, "Visual" in the game on a clear, calm day in FotRSU might be as far away as 12.5k yards or more... I have a tendency to shy away from warships myself. Keep your head down...

[aanker]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

Some of the boats, it starts being installed July 1942, but progresses all the way into mid-1943, depending upon the boat. S-Boats do not get radar. It looks like October 1942 would be "average"... Also, "Visual" in the game on a clear, calm day in FotRSU might be as far away as 12.5k yards or more... I have a tendency to shy away from warships myself. Keep your head down...

This is what I've been using for my US boats (backed up with some+/- evidence)
CV's, BB's, CA's & CL's were top priority targets.

Radar:
Air: SD - - Jan 42
Surface:
A Scope - Dec 41
SJ - - - - Aug 42
Imp SJ - - Dec 42
PPI - - - - Sep 43

Newer boats outfitted first.

[chazsi]

Great Info

Many thanks!!

[Ichthyos]

also, I was looking in the files, and it looks like some boats never do get surface radar as an upgrade package.

for example, Tambor does not appear to have an upgrade package that includes surface radar; only air.

I don't know if that limits it from getting surface radar or not in the long term, but my Tambor is in late April 1942 and has not been offered surface radar yet.

could be you need to switch boats?

[aanker]

Originally Posted by Ichthyos

also, I was looking in the files, and it looks like some boats never do get surface radar as an upgrade package.

for example, Tambor does not appear to have an upgrade package that includes surface radar; only air.

I don't know if that limits it from getting surface radar or not in the long term, but my Tambor is in late April 1942 and has not been offered surface radar yet.

could be you need to switch boats?

You should be able to buy it with Renown, probably in early - mid 1942.

I know for a fact that the TAMBOR class boats had both Air Search and Surface SJ and later SJ Improved radar.
Example: USS Tuna (SS-203) - one of my favorite boats.

Happy Hunting!

[Sniper297]

Common rookie mistake number 1 -

"May 1942 - FOTRSU Mod"

Guy buys a subsim game, never played one before, so the first thing he does is download one of the "super mods" which are specifically designed to make the game more difficult. Then plays the game on the highest difficulty setting.

Better would be to spend a month or two playing the game on an easy setting with all the training wheels, then after learning the basics try the more advanced stuff.

"There seems to me to be NO WAY to "get in position" with no surface radar. If the warship isn't coming directly AT YOU, there's no "catching" it or getting in position."

That sentence tells me you're a rookie. Standard maneuver for WWII subs was the "end-around". On first contact you need to figure out the target's course and speed, then maneuver your boat to get ahead of him without being detected, submerge on or near his track and wait for him to come into range. You don't head for where he IS, you head for where he's GOING TO on the surface at full speed, staying just outside detection range.

That's why it's best to start with the basic game on easy level - mods like Trigger Maru, RSRD, or FOTRSU disable a lot of the training wheels. The basic game with map contact updates displays the target's course and a detection range circle, and has a lot of plotting tools to figure out the best interception course.

Learn the tactics, then try the super mods.

[Ichthyos]

You should be able to buy it with Renown, probably in early - mid 1942.

just to confirm:

I got offered sj radar in june, and sj1 in July at Pearl. might be a month or two lag in SE Asia core.

it's definitely very nice, and extends my detection range by nearly 50%.

Edit:

actually, I just got transferred back to Fremantle (to get a Balao), and there was no SJ1 upgrade there, but the standard SJ comes already equipped on the Balao.

[max-peck]

Just FYI.
Boats do not start the war with surface search radar. although a lot of them do start with air search radar (depending on what mods you are running, and what boat you are in, your mileage may vary here)

If I remember correctly, most boats become eligible for the surface radar in June of 42. So head back to your port just before then.

You are right. Once you get the surface radar you can change from being an ambush predator, to being a pure hunter.

Surface search radar is what made the us submarine fleet so deadly and effective in the Pacific theatre in ww2

Good hunting mate ,😀