Action in the North Atlantic

[Beedo]

Is there a good strategy for using SSGN subs (from all playable mod)? I was trying out the Ohio class and was only able to beat the first asw patrol I ran into, though I did take a hit. Second patrol came and annihilated me. I do well with SSN's but SSGN's seem to require different tactics being larger and slower and I am at a loss as to what to do. I am playing 1984 campaign.

[ChrisTayeb]

Originally Posted by Beedo

Is there a good strategy for using SSGN subs (from all playable mod)? I was trying out the Ohio class and was only able to beat the first asw patrol I ran into, though I did take a hit. Second patrol came and annihilated me. I do well with SSN's but SSGN's seem to require different tactics being larger and slower and I am at a loss as to what to do. I am playing 1984 campaign.

By nature SSGNs are here to deliver the blow, not really to fight other much faster SSNs, however after hours of playing you may find that what you would consider as cons can turn pros, SSGN seems to hold very well in very deep waters and are usually quiet enough (assuming you don't make mistakes that would betray your position) to stay out of combat, in a Typhoon class or Borei, or Ohio class you wanna be the sub that sneaks by rather than the sub that targets everything that moves.
I guess mods have gave us the opportunity to play them for either the challenge of some single missions or to see how it would be to fight SSN's/SSK missions with an SSGN instead, but in the end reality is that these are two types of subs built for complete different purposes. For instance a USS Ohio class or a HMS Vanguard doesn't care about getting close to a target, it has a patrol area that is assigned and she would go to shallow water if she gets a firing order, that would mean procede to fire a Nuclear ballistic missile, neither of these would ever receive an order to chase/hunt a couple of fast subs carrying spec ops.

[Beedo]

I see, that makes sense. Didn't really think of the limitations with the missions being handed out like I am playing an SSN (because I should be according to the logic). I like to hit random on the sub select for the campaign but this will not work if I end up with an SSGN and am getting missions like you say! I wonder if there will ever be the capability to have missions be more catered to the type of sub we are currently playing, that would be great.

[XenonSurf]

SSGNs are not designed to fight other submarines and usually are escorted by more attack subs like the Akula class. Their job is to reach undetected a key position from where to fire ballistic missiles. Today its unclear if such 'missions' would be useful to any extend, so for me these are cold war tactics that don't fit in today's strategies because of lacking appropriate enemies (besides a nuclear attack would be backfiring to the aggressor in the longer term).


I have played SSNGs in the Russian mod in past game versions by editing the missions I will receive, I set a very low probability for typical attack sub missions and get a 65-85% probability for 'Navy Seals' or TLAM missions which reflect best SSGN missions. Editing some ports to be infiltrated for TLAM attacks is also possible but more complicated, although totally unreallistic: ballistic missiles can strike from far away, no need to infiltrate any port...

It would be nice to have escorts, but in this regard the game is limited. SSGNs are very noisy, they can't hide and you need to chose the runaway tactic if you encounter attack subs. At the current game state playing SSGNs isn't realistic at all - but possible.

[Beedo]

Cool I had no idea that was possible to adjust! Which file can I edit to change the mission probabilities?