Should've done this a long time ago!!!! :D

ddiplock · 07-12-11, 06:59 PM

Since my last career decided to go the way of the dinosaur and corrupt, I decided to start a new career in 44 rather than go all the way through 41 to 44.

This time I had external view off for the first time. I've always had external view on because I LOVE the graphics, but it gives you a huge tactical edge.

What a difference it makes, so much more immersive, so much more claustrophobic!!! You make so much more use of the tools the submarine has, namely the periscope and the hydrophones with external view off.

I came across a large Japanese convoy off New Guinea in heavy seas, raced ahead of them and submerged. Cut across their path and singled out a decent 8000 merchant in the group that I could back with a rear shot. The convoy was only being escorted by sub chasers......no destroyers, just speedy little sub chasers.

I successfully torpedoed and sunk the merchant I had singled out, popped the scope down and then proceeded to.......run silent run deep to a depth of 555ft!!!

Now I'm not entirely sure what happend here, the sub chasers kind of seemed to converge on me but I don't think they ever really got a proper fix. There were a few pings from the sonar, and then they seemed to go quiet and start throwing DC's every which way. A few landed close, but then for some reason they started setting them really shallow. They would drop them in and literally some four seconds later they would explode. I have no idea why they would of been doing that, methinks the AI was playing up, either that or the heavy seas, and all of them buzzing round together their own engine noise drowned me out and prevented them from getting a proper fix.

I do find it odd however that they barely used their sonar, literally it was the occasional bit of pinging and then they stopped for good and just started lobbing DC's around. They never tried to get a fix on me with sonar again.

Despite that, without external view it was a good experience. I was constantly changing course, using my hydrophones, keeping them to my stern as much as possible, listening to them stopping their engines for 10 seconds or so, then they'd start up again. Bah, I have NO idea what they were playing at, but they failed to sink the Billfish that's for sure. It was a good little game of proper cat and mouse between Billfish and the sub chasers. Not being able to see where they are with ext view off brings it all down to your ability to evade the enemy!!

I actually felt better when I was able to surface and look out at my surroundings on the bridge when the attack was over. Great experience. I think I will be playing with external view off from now on!!

07-12-11, 06:59 PM	#1
ddiplock Samurai Navy Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 552 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	Should've done this a long time ago!!!! :D Since my last career decided to go the way of the dinosaur and corrupt, I decided to start a new career in 44 rather than go all the way through 41 to 44. This time I had external view off for the first time. I've always had external view on because I LOVE the graphics, but it gives you a huge tactical edge. What a difference it makes, so much more immersive, so much more claustrophobic!!! You make so much more use of the tools the submarine has, namely the periscope and the hydrophones with external view off. I came across a large Japanese convoy off New Guinea in heavy seas, raced ahead of them and submerged. Cut across their path and singled out a decent 8000 merchant in the group that I could back with a rear shot. The convoy was only being escorted by sub chasers......no destroyers, just speedy little sub chasers. I successfully torpedoed and sunk the merchant I had singled out, popped the scope down and then proceeded to.......run silent run deep to a depth of 555ft!!! Now I'm not entirely sure what happend here, the sub chasers kind of seemed to converge on me but I don't think they ever really got a proper fix. There were a few pings from the sonar, and then they seemed to go quiet and start throwing DC's every which way. A few landed close, but then for some reason they started setting them really shallow. They would drop them in and literally some four seconds later they would explode. I have no idea why they would of been doing that, methinks the AI was playing up, either that or the heavy seas, and all of them buzzing round together their own engine noise drowned me out and prevented them from getting a proper fix. I do find it odd however that they barely used their sonar, literally it was the occasional bit of pinging and then they stopped for good and just started lobbing DC's around. They never tried to get a fix on me with sonar again. Despite that, without external view it was a good experience. I was constantly changing course, using my hydrophones, keeping them to my stern as much as possible, listening to them stopping their engines for 10 seconds or so, then they'd start up again. Bah, I have NO idea what they were playing at, but they failed to sink the Billfish that's for sure. It was a good little game of proper cat and mouse between Billfish and the sub chasers. Not being able to see where they are with ext view off brings it all down to your ability to evade the enemy!! I actually felt better when I was able to surface and look out at my surroundings on the bridge when the attack was over. Great experience. I think I will be playing with external view off from now on!!