Junks, Sampans, and Fishing Boats

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Thrair

Surely not every single one of the damn things was a spy for the Japanese and equipped with a radio.

Yes, it is annoying. Historically, in the Philippines and China a lot of them were simply native fishing and inter coastal vessels who didn't have any desire to tangle with a US submarine. However, the game engine doesn't differentiate sampans by nationalities. They're all Japanese.

However, the Japanese did rely on small ships like these for purposes of moving cargo. Mainly because late in the war, purpose built cargo ships were getting scarce and boats like these could operate in really shallow water and slip through the cracks in anti-shipping patrols.