Trigger Maru vs RFB for a SH4 newbie

[swdw]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

RFB has been built (correct me if I'm wrong, swdw or Luke) on "historical accuracy" for Japanese ASW. They basically took the numbers and concluded that the Japanese were marshmallows who couldn't sink a sub. Therefore they are pretty harmless. At least that was my experience with RFB in the Beery days.

Actually, a lot has changed with the latest release of RFB. Giving an opinion of RFB based on the 1.2 or early 1.3 release is selling the mod short.

Because it utilizes Peto's extened evasion mod, you have varying levels of ASW, just like in the Pacific. The IJN ASW ran the gamut from almost inept to the "Bungo Pete" commanders.

Now you have no idea until you're in the middle of it what you're running into. DC attacks can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 8+ hours.

With the RFB shell strength, you aren't going to surface and try to shoot it out with a DD . . . you'll lose. With good seamanship you might be able to take out a small miesweeper or subchaser.

There are changes to the sonar and radar that have changed your ability t detect ships (no more hydrophone use on the surface at a flank bell) . Crew abilities are now more realistic.

Crew members are more easily injured in RFB than TM. As far as hull durability, I think the RFB boats are slightly less durable than the TM counteparts. Couple that with the extended evasion mod and now getting DC'd, even by a rookie, means you are running a higher risk of damage.

The torpedo mod in the latest release wil tick you off as much as Mush Morton was when playing before the fixes in 1943.

So RR, if you want to comment on RFB, please give the new version a try. Reporting impressions on a version almost a year old is like giving your impression of the TM release last July.