First Real Career

[Falkirion]

1) What am I supposed to learn from this?

That you're never safe, even in the middle of the night on high seas, I had a similar encounter off Japan recently, I heard a convoy of three merchants plus a guard of 4 DDs. I decided to let it pass, suddenly one of the DDs turns out to be a patrol from the mainland and closes to within 400 yards before he finally goes away. If you get a contact dont run high TC, always pause check where the contact is in relation to you and monitor for a few minutes to determine a rough course, then decide if you want to chance a look or leave it alone. Leaving it alone, especially if its a warship is generally a better option.

2) How do you handle your searches in 1941? By this I mean Time Compression, sonar sweeps (I don't think any boats get surface radar in 1941, right? That was developed in 1942, wide-spread in 1943; or do I have my dates wrong?), visual sweeps, surface running vs. periscope depth vs. running deep, etc.

Surface running vs periscope vs running deep. I prefer surfacing at night to recharge the batteries I nearly flatten during the day running between periscope and deep at 3 knots. Thats just my way though. I preform hydrophone checks every 2 hours but generally leave it up to the sonarman to alert me to any contacts that come close enough to intercept.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Falkirion

I nearly flatten during the day running between periscope and deep at 3 knots.

Try running at 2 to 2.5 knots... I know it sounds silly but... just try it.

[doulos05]

Well, second attempt same result, or nearly so. Same basic setup: S-Boat, patrol east of the Celebres Sea, only I was in a position when the Fox came out re: the invasion of Burneo to head to the East coast (approximately where the invasion happened). I shadowed a large task force for about 14 hours (15+ warships and a merchant) however high seas and driving rain prevented me from getting a solid visual on them. I closed to within medium range of the escorts according to my sonar operator (not sure how close that is, but my noob guess is ~4000-5000 yards. Can someone give me an idea of what range bands my sonar operator is reporting contacts in?) but unfortunately I mis-judged their course (well, actually not so much the course as their distance from me) and was unable to intercept.

Next day, I'm running on the surface to recharge because I ran my batteries down to about 20% pursuing (I made better speed submerged because of the rough seas so I stayed there to try to intercept). "Radar contact, unknown, bearing 185, long range, very fast". I pop over to the map and sure enough, there's the gray square. It's 1941, I only have air search radar. I pop up on deck, thinking "But it was raining just an hour ago!" (Game time, I was keeping a close eye on my Time compression). To my dismay, the skies have cleared and just as I climbed through the hatch onto the deck, the watch reports "Aircraft spotted, bearing 190." Popping back to the map, my fears are confirmed. This isn't a PBY. "Crash Dive!" We dive and spend 10 minutes submerged.

On our way back to the surface, as soon as the radar activates, more contacts aft. A quick plot of the contacts reveals I must be sitting right under a major airway for the japs. These two look like they'll pass about 10 nautical miles port and starboard of us, so I opt to remain surfaced as long as possible to recharge the batteries. "Radar contact, bearing 180, long range!" Well, there's no missing this one, "Crash dive!" Since it's already 1500, I decide it's best to try to ride out the rest of the afternoon submerged, hoping for safer sailing under the cover of darkness. I order us to 80 ft and make ahead 1/3. No sonar contacts through the afternoon.

At 1830, we rig for red and so I assume that we're near to the cover of darkness Not a whole lot of option, my batteries are at 1% despite my conservations from earlier. Still no sonar contacts, so I bring us to periscope depth. Two sweeps show no visual contacts, I put us on the deck. "Radar contact, bearing 35, long range. Radar contact, bearing 250, long range." The last enemy patrol on it's way back home. I can't submerge, no battery. And I can't fight them, no AA gun. So I order all stop and hope that the 5 nautical miles between me and their closest approach will be enough. It wasn't. "Crash Dive!" But it's too late, at 40 ft, the batteries fail, slowing our dive just in time for... *BOOM* *BOOM* Ok, hopefully the damage isn't bad. Report of flooding aft... Deck gun destroyed, wait how were the crew of the deck gun injured? We're under 46 ft of water, it's not like they're standing beside it! Diesel engines destroyed!? NOOOOOO!

The flooding wasn't major, the deck crew will survive, and the planes called off their attack after a few minutes with no more serious damage. But, with no batteries and no diesels... it was game over

My conclusions?

1) My intercept skills need work. I should have been able to intercept that task force. The rough seas should have given me an edge in the attack, since it would restrict their visibility and speed without hindering my sonar or submerged speed. However since I misjudged the intercept, I could not position myself for an attack, even though the angles would have been perfect had I managed to (given their position and course and my position, I should have intercepted them at a near-perfect 90 degrees.) I'm sure someone has done a guide on sonar-only intercepts, can someone direct me to that?

2) Planes suck.
3) Much as I want to start at the beginning and play to the end, I probably need to do the reverse of that. Starting in 1945 with a Balao class sub is probably far easier because the boat is faster, the torpedoes and deck guns are more effective, you have surface and air search radar, PPI, AA guns in case you're stuck on the surface, etc, etc. I probably need to begin by attempting the scenarios, then the single patrols, then the career (although I'm most excited about the career, that's why I started there)
4) Planes really do suck.

Does anybody have any other tactical or game-play advice based on my latest blunder(s)?

[Arclight]

1. Er... you don't need batteries to dive. If you need to disappear from view for a while, just sink down to preferred depth and wait it out. Only thing you need to keep an eye on then is oxigen.

2. Planes do indeed suck.

[Heinz_McDurgen]

Yeah, I've been getting into this this past week due to having shoulder surgery last week. I've played a few careers, none ending well. A plane shot up one of my ships and my most successful run fell 400nm short of a re-fueling point. Still trying to get the hang of it though.

[kylania]

Originally Posted by Heinz_McDurgen

Yeah, I've been getting into this this past week due to having shoulder surgery last week. I've played a few careers, none ending well. A plane shot up one of my ships and my most successful run fell 400nm short of a re-fueling point. Still trying to get the hang of it though.

Welcome to Subsim Heinz! If you end up using one of the mods like Trigger Maru Overhauled it comes with a "Estimate Range at Current Speed" which can be helpful in keeping track of how far you can get. I usually keep things at Standard speed, but based on this thread next time I'm gonna try the 9-9.5kts and see if that does help.

Keep up the careers and try some of the mods out there, they can really change the game.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Heinz_McDurgen

I've played a few careers, none ending well.

Actually most dont

Its a dangerous game we play

Keep on pluggin at it youll get better with practice.

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