Convoy attack: Newbie looking for help...badly

[Noisy Hunter]

Premises:
a/ I'm a sub rookie. 1st post and 1st sub game ever
b/ Manual is a disgrace for a complex simulation as SHIV
c/ I'm a realism zealot; playing at 100% difficulty (I do this with all my games...)
d/ I like this game a lot


I've started the game going through the submarine school missions. Because the manual does not help at all to teach you tactics nor gives you any technical background in order to learn this game in a methodical way, I'm searching this forum for tips/tutorials and movies.

I'm doing fine with the TDC (It must be said that the torpedo attack tutorial should have an option to have the cruiser on a random bearing/range/speed; I'm wondering how I will do with a torpedo attack in a patrol attack :hmm: ).

My problem with the next "lesson" = convoy attack however:
not matter what I do: the escorts keep finding me; if I use the sonar or not, if I dive to 100 feet as soon as the lesson starts or not, If I use the sonar or not, If I keep my periscope up or down; it all does not matter. They find me, ram me or throw depth charges at me.

How can I throw these guys off and still get my bearings on the convoy?

Any help, suggestions are more than welcome.

Cheers to all

[GuillermoZS]

Hi, well, I´m not an expert but I guess the "tutorial" starts right after you have been detected so whatever you do the escort will come after you... Your best chace here is to sink the destroyer. Escorts in this game make a terrible mistake: if they detect you they will come directly heading to you at full speed so head the sub to them and fire a magnetic detonator fish when she´s at 500m more or less, if they don´t sink they will just try to go away.

Hope this helps!

[NefariousKoel]

For starters, the final "lesson" starts you off too close to the convoy.

In Career Mode you will have had more distance and time to make decisions on your attack run. I wasn't too impressed with starting off being sighted either. That's poor planning and the "lesson" should be adjusted.. unless it was a lesson in evading which I doubt.

The biggest points about manual TDC that I'd mention is..
1) Speed, AoB, and Range in order of importance
2) Before firing, resubmit range to TDC to update your bearing to target
3) Only use the Slow and Contact settings on the fish
4) The W and Q hotkeys are your friend in firing a fanshot of multiple torpedoes in a
semi-quick way. Use Q to open your first tube, after firing it hit W and Q to switch to the next and open the tube all while you adjust any settings (most notably contact detonator). Do the same for each extra you fire at the same target.
5) When learning manual TDC, use the pause key during certain time-consuming
parts.. such as after locking the target in the scope and opening the ID manual. You can still use certain things (such as flipping through the ID manual) while the game is paused. It helps you get the process down at a fair pace of your own while learning and gradually getting to the speedy and efficient killer you know you'll become.

Hopefully someone here will create a "Beginner's Guide" as they have for many of the previously featured sub sims on this board. I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Be patient and ask all the questions you can.

We were all new to this at some point.

[Noisy Hunter]

thanks

I didn't know you started the lesson dectected...

I've cursed the game manual a lot during my unsuccesful sessions so far.
I would love to see a beginner's guide
Maybe I'll look for a guide for SH3 and work from there.

Cheers all!

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Noisy Hunter

Maybe I'll look for a guide for SH3 and work from there.

That would be my advice, as most of the same tactics that work there will work here as well. Heck, if you can avoid the destroyers in the GWX mod for SH3, you can avoid pretty much anything the Japanese can throw at you!