Harbor Attacks: Why no planes?

AhhhFresh · 05-17-07, 10:35 AM

This question occured to me when, after an easy night attack on a harbor, I surfaced to gun down a sampan and junk (for no good reason really). I was well away from the harbor itself and it was the dead of night (02:00 ish). I had forgotten how slow an S-boat is, and led myself on a merry chase after two close to worthless targets; gradually closing the distance.

Only a few minutes in and a Zero is coming in from behind, right on my track... at night! I crash dive, but continue to pursue deep. After 30 minutes I surface again, only to be chased down by a Betty.

Why doesn't this happen in harbors? You would be a sitting duck I'd imagine. Assuming the ships at anchor spot your periscope and start lighting up the sky with tracers... why don't they send in planes?

It seems that they'll only call in planes if they see you on the surface... but when you can't dive deep and your sub should be clearly visible from the air... it seems like an obvious way to make harbor attacks much much more challenging.

Is there anyway to modify what circustances prompt an air attack in the files we have access to? Or is it hard coded?

Chock · 05-17-07, 10:41 AM

This is something I've remarked upon too. Definitely would be an improvement to stop all the ridiculously easy kills you can get on Jap flat-tops.

Even if you submerged in a shallow harbour (or harbor, if you prefer), you'd still be very visible from the air in daytime, and an air attack would almost certainly mean a kill in those circumstances.

I'm hoping that a patch addresses this.

AhhhFresh · 05-17-07, 10:53 AM

I think even at night it could be very effective given all of the light sources available.

It would be nice if to attack a harbo(u)r you had to get in undetected, had only a few minutes to unload all of your torpedoes and had to haul ass out to deep water before the bombs started dropping.

As it is, you are practically invulnerable as long as you don't surface. Your persicope could be high out of the water making a wake like Nessie at flank speed and they don't bother to call in any air support.

05-17-07, 10:35 AM	#1
AhhhFresh Mate Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 52 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Harbor Attacks: Why no planes? This question occured to me when, after an easy night attack on a harbor, I surfaced to gun down a sampan and junk (for no good reason really). I was well away from the harbor itself and it was the dead of night (02:00 ish). I had forgotten how slow an S-boat is, and led myself on a merry chase after two close to worthless targets; gradually closing the distance. Only a few minutes in and a Zero is coming in from behind, right on my track... at night! I crash dive, but continue to pursue deep. After 30 minutes I surface again, only to be chased down by a Betty. Why doesn't this happen in harbors? You would be a sitting duck I'd imagine. Assuming the ships at anchor spot your periscope and start lighting up the sky with tracers... why don't they send in planes? It seems that they'll only call in planes if they see you on the surface... but when you can't dive deep and your sub should be clearly visible from the air... it seems like an obvious way to make harbor attacks much much more challenging. Is there anyway to modify what circustances prompt an air attack in the files we have access to? Or is it hard coded?

05-17-07, 10:41 AM	#2
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	This is something I've remarked upon too. Definitely would be an improvement to stop all the ridiculously easy kills you can get on Jap flat-tops. Even if you submerged in a shallow harbour (or harbor, if you prefer), you'd still be very visible from the air in daytime, and an air attack would almost certainly mean a kill in those circumstances. I'm hoping that a patch addresses this.

05-17-07, 10:53 AM	#3
AhhhFresh Mate Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 52 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I think even at night it could be very effective given all of the light sources available. It would be nice if to attack a harbo(u)r you had to get in undetected, had only a few minutes to unload all of your torpedoes and had to haul ass out to deep water before the bombs started dropping. As it is, you are practically invulnerable as long as you don't surface. Your persicope could be high out of the water making a wake like Nessie at flank speed and they don't bother to call in any air support.