1.5 Patch

[dm001]

I am just getting into Silent Hunter IV, noticing a few annoying bugs. I am considering getting the Uboat expansion to enable me to use the 1.5 patch, but I would like to know what the patch actually fixes before I get it.

I am looking for a fix for the following issues:

- False sonar contacts
- Surface sonar in the first place
- Being able to be outside when the ship is submerging (kills the realism stone dead)

If these are addressed in the 1.5 patch or a community mod/patch, can anyone let me know? Thanks.

[razark]

Welcome aboard!

Originally Posted by dm001

- False sonar contacts

Not sure what you are referring to. Can you provide more detail?

Originally Posted by dm001

- Surface sonar in the first place

If you mean the fact that the boat can detect sonar contacts while on the surface, it's not really a bug. The U.S. boats could use hydrophones on the surface to some extent. It's way too efficient in the game, but they got the general idea correct.

Originally Posted by dm001

- Being able to be outside when the ship is submerging (kills the realism stone dead)

Do you mean the crew appearing on deck while submerged? Or the player remaining on the bridge when the boat is going under?

I've had both happen with 1.5, but one is a bug with some easy solutions, the other is just a bug.

[dm001]

To clarify the false sonar contact issue:

In the mission I am on at the moment, I have had two incidents of getting a reported sonar contact at long range. The sonar man says its a merchantman, I follow the contact, and what ever way I turn, or whatever speed I am going, it is always either moving away or constant distance, I assume this is a bug? I am playing with 100% realism so I have no way of verifying if something is actually there or not. However I strongly suspect its a bug. I am on version 1.4 at the moment.

[Gerald]

[dm001]

Originally Posted by dm001

I have had two incidents

Make that four. I am doing 3 knots to save fuel, and the false contacts seem to only appear at night. Any thoughts?

[razark]

Originally Posted by dm001

Make that four. I am doing 3 knots to save fuel, and the false contacts seem to only appear at night. Any thoughts?

Not something I've ever run across.

You might try playing with contacts on or external cameras and figuring out what is really happening.

[Hylander_1314]

The ghostship maybe?

[dm001]

I'm saving my games with replays will that let me review the whole mission? I hope so, I have a doozy of a vid if thats the case. Managed to shoot down a Jap recon plane and it was bicycle clips time as it crashed within a few feet of my port side.

I've just read up about the 'ghostship'. Has anyone actually seen it? And did anyone who has get all these weird sonar contacts?

This is actually my first ever career mission on SHIV. Could this be a mission specific bug?

If it helps, my mission was to deliver a spy, commanding USS Pickerel, 1941, start, very hard level campaign with 100% realism. Finished Spy mission, now saving fuel and trying to get to Jawa. Now I think of it the first two contacts happened when I was just going at ahead 1/3, so I don't think its to do with lack of engine noise or something.

[Sailor Steve]

WELCOME ABOARD!

Sorry I wasn't here earlier.

Originally Posted by dm001

I've just read up about the 'ghostship'. Has anyone actually seen it?

Many people have seen it over the past four years, and there are screenshots galore.

I'm sorry I can't help with the "false contacts" problem. I've never had anything like that happen.

[Ducimus]

FYI: SH4 does not like being minimized. Avoid alt tabbing if possible. Weird things can happen if you multitask. CO2 bug being the best example.

[razark]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Many people claim to have seen it over the past four years, and there are photoshops galore.

Corrected, based on my years of playing the game.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by razark

Corrected, based on my years of playing the game.

You're saying all the screenshots are fake?

[razark]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

You're saying all the screenshots are fake?

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. It's all a hoax, like the Yamato, or Japanese carriers in a career game.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by dm001

To clarify the false sonar contact issue:

In the mission I am on at the moment, I have had two incidents of getting a reported sonar contact at long range. The sonar man says its a merchantman, I follow the contact, and what ever way I turn, or whatever speed I am going, it is always either moving away or constant distance, I assume this is a bug? I am playing with 100% realism so I have no way of verifying if something is actually there or not. However I strongly suspect its a bug. I am on version 1.4 at the moment.

I wouldn't necessarily assume this is a sonar bug. I have never heard of such a thing but, then again, I've never played version 1.4. There is however, the distinct possibility that the target really is moving away from you. Next time you have the opportunity, after you get a sonar contact (you should at least have the sonar lines), use the ruler tool to draw a line from the tip of the contact to your sub. This should give you an estimate (albeit rough) of the target distance. Wait about 10 minutes and repeat the process. Then, draw a line from the tip of the first contact, intersecting through the tip of the second contact and you'll have an estimate of the target's course. Then you'll be able to tell, with some degree of certainty, if the target really is moving away from you.
BTW, welcome to the Pacific.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by razark

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. It's all a hoax, like the Yamato, or Japanese carriers in a career game.

Does your statement ONLY SH4 or involving the SH3 even as you have undoubtedly also