Best starting point...?

[Penelope_Grey]

In your opinions the experienced SH4 people, what is the best year to start a career in SH4?

[mookiemookie]

Depends on what kind of war you want to fight.

in 1941 out of the Asiatic fleet you'll see a lot of transports and task forces as Japan invades the Philippines. Lots of shallow water fighting.

In 1942 through 43 and even on into 44, you'll be doing a lot of fighting in the far flung islands like the Gilberts and Solomons. There's some opportunities for some big targets there, as Truk was the major forward base for the Japanese fleet.

In my experience, Pearl Harbor patrols in pretty much any year are usually sent to Empire waters. If you like taking the war right to the enemy's doorstep, that's what I'd pick.

I'm running out of Brisbane in mid 1944 right now and I'm being sent to a lot of places around the Philippines and the Luzon Strait. Deep water, lots of traffic. Fun!

1945...eh...not much left to do then. I don't think I'd start a career there.

[Penelope_Grey]

thank-you for the reply. Muchly appreciated.

I've recently been dabbling with SH4 now and again... time permitting... and with a patch 1.4 on the horizon Im hopeful that little discrepancies in the game will be corrected to a point where the game is perfectamundo.

Things like crewmen shouting even though the damage was repaired a week ago becoming a thing of the past... too good to pass up...

I have done a few war patrols and the odd single mission, but not lauched into a full blown career yet. I am die hard Atlantic for sure... but wouldn't turn my nose up at the pacific side of things either!

Anyway I'll always be a U-boat girl, but... since SH4 is starting to move again thought I'd have a quick meddle with it.

The interface of SH4 is my biggest gripe but its not undoable. Cheers for the respose! I reckon when Im ready of course, as Im so used to in SH3 taking the fight to their front door... I'm gonna go with a Pearl Harbour base and start in 1941.

[Takeda Shingen]

Personally, I always liked the desperation of 41/42. It is probably most akin to 44/45 in the Atlantic theatre: Things are not going well. So, I usually start in December of 41 in with the Asiatic Fleet.

[Rockin Robbins]

Glad to have you aboard in SH4 land, Penelope!

[AVGWarhawk]

Are you playing the vanilla version? If so, this could be a good thing so you can see what it is out of the box. Then load up ROW and RSRD. See what it has become.

Anyway, I start in 41 in the Asiatic fleet. Closer to the action! Usually the S-class. Fun little boat.

[Penelope_Grey]

Im sorry AVG, but... ROW? RSRD?

I never play vanilla version either, I play stock or base game... can't call it vanilla you see because IS a flavouring and therefore means that its not plain.

Yeah, definately likeing the idea of asiatic boats in 1941, but... having tried the S-class... god alive.... they have good underwater range.... very comparable to a U-boat but... it takes like... 2 days to recharge their batteries from 50% back to 100%

I usually have a few single missions and war patrols here and there. nothing too taxing, Im waiting for that final patch and hoping its the correction we all deserve.

[AVGWarhawk]

can't call it vanilla you see because IS a flavouring and therefore means that its not plain.

Oh sure, throw logic in my face. See is I care:rotfl:

ROW is Reflections on the Water (stickied on the mod forums)
Total overhaul of the environment! Unbelievably realistic! Beautiful sky and sea effects! Must have mod.

Run Silent Run Deep(Stickied on the mod forums)
This is just the first layer of 41-42. Historical shipping lanes as well as ship type. Greatly enhanced with better messages and objectives. In other words, you do not see 4 Yamato battleships in one patrol or see super convoys. Sure the Japanese had large convoys but nowhere near what the Atlantic had seen. Mostly 3-4 merchants and a few DD. Most times no escort at all. They liked to hug the coastline to keep in shallow waters. Not the greatest of places for a submarine.

I have not messed with mods like Real Fleet Boat or Trigger Maru because I like the stock mix of really good DD and really bad DD. You will find subject matter concerning Japanese and ASW describing such contact between subs and destroyers. Although, towards the later years of the war the Japanese got in the ballgame concerning ASW measures. A bit to late though. Anyway, the ships will zig zag unlike the stock game and will change speeds when you are detected, etc.

The S class battery charge I believe to be realistic. This particular boat was way behind the times and what Germany did the coastal Uboat II. Heck, you are given the TDC and the S class was really a point and shoot boat.

Oh, one more thing, you should find plenty of dud torps ( had 4 premature on one attack ) and watch out for the circle runner. Nothing like your own dog turning on you and taking a bite out of your leg. US torps at the beginning of the war just were not up to the task. A little help from some unexploded German torps found on the beaches of the US East Coast helped a bit!

I'm glad you are giving it a chance. Just a babe in the woods but it will mature into a excellent sim as SH3 has. And, now that you are fooling around with files making a mod or two, who knows what you might dream up for SH4.

[John Channing]

The other thing you have to remember is that this is NOT SH3. The Campaign works very differently. You must complete as many objectives as you can on each patrol (fuel and ordnance permitting). Once you complete your initial objective, radio in a patrol report. You will get a second objective. Complete this and then radio in again.

You cannot go off freelancing like you could in SH3. That will get you retired very quickly... regardless of tonnage.

JCC

PS. Start in Manilla in '41. If you do a good job in the S Boat you will be upgraded after about 3-4 patrols. It really makes you appreciate the better classes of boat as you move up through them. It will also make you a better skipper and avoid a couple of outstanding issues with the code (pending 1.04 fixes). If Manilla falls during your patrol go to Surabaya. If that is gone try Fremantle.

[MONOLITH]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Run Silent Run Deep(Stickied on the mod forums)
This is just the first layer of 41-42. Historical shipping lanes as well as ship type.

AVG, how inaccurate is the map that came with the game in regard to shipping lane correctness?

I guess this question applies to both stock and RSRD.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by MONOLITH

AVG, how inaccurate is the map that came with the game in regard to shipping lane correctness?

I guess this question applies to both stock and RSRD.

You will have to ask Tater and Lurker for better explanation. As for stock there is just way to many ships just all over the place. Battleships are like a dime a dozen. RSRD has placed shipping lanes were the need be and were the Japanese were heading in 41-42. There is many routes and this is the reason Lurker is doing each year individually. They were busy heading south for oil and resources in 41-42. This mod addresses this activity. I know Tater made waypoints for ships that are historical in nature and he also has these ships hit a port, stay a day or so and then head out again. Therefore one could hang out just outside the port for a day or so waiting on them. Also, historically accurate. Raiding or waiting with the ports was something the skippers did. Somewhere Lurker posted all the ship routes he sit up. All the waypoints layered etc. Quite good.

[MONOLITH]

I was working on placing a good map on the command table with routes and air coverages. I'd like to make the routes actully match what occurs ingame.

[Captain Vlad]

If you like warship encounters, starting in Manila is fantastic. Short transit times. IJN Capital ships all over the damned place. Sudden base shifting. Encounters in ridiculously shallow water.

Starting at Pearl you get long transit times. Fewer warship encounters (at least for me). Lots of merchant contacts, lots of convoys, and the fun of looking through the periscope and seeing Japan itself.

Both have their virtues.

[-Pv-]

What I have enjoyed with Pearl base is it puts me in WWII with the damage and wrecks (not to mention the huge friendly traffic.) Each time I visit Pearl it looks different. I have had a lot ot different kinds of missions in many Pacific locations. Japan homeland is a rich target environment with aggressive aenemy air. As has been mentioned, my experience is also not much warship traffic. Fuel management is a major aspect of my patrols and long storms make transits more dicy.
-Pv-

[letterboy1]

I'm using parts of Trigger Maru (to increase danger of enemy AI) and the Natural sinking mechanics, so unrealistically frequent and large convoys are still difficult to attack. However, I'm keeping my eye on RSRD for my next career.