Usn Surface Mission #1
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:15 pm
A few tips to help out the beginners, of which I still am, especially when it comes to surface vessels.
First of all, read this thread for good advice on sinking subs. You'll find other threads on the subject but this is a good start.
Next, when you start the mission, press the P key to pause the game. I always do this to:
1. Read the message log in the lower left of the control panel screen.
2. View my initial surroundings.
3. See my starting settings, such as engine speed, direction, etc.
You should see in front of you a sunken ship's bow/stern sticking out of the water. That's the Wren, sunk by an RGN Uboat, which you should be able to see on the surface beyond the Wren and slightly port of your bow.
(This is a good time to tell the developers that it's pretty realistic to find the sub just sitting there while the player's USN patrol boat is well in range of meeting out the punishment the Uboat deserves. I as a human player, would set that sub's engines to flank and crash dive ASAP).
Press P again to unpause the game. Find that sub on the tactical map and select it by clicking on its dot. Hold down the CTRL key and click on all 4 gun icons (excluding the depth charge icon). Let go of the CTRL key and click fire. This will direct all of your ship's guns to attack the sub.
Press the T key once to start up your engines at 1/3. Veer to port so you're broadside to the sub and more of your guns can start hitting the surfaced sub.
The sub may try firing torps at you. In this case, throttle to flank and go to external view (F5), find the fish trails and steer clear of them.
If you move far enough away from the sub, it might partially surface again. Again, this seems absolutely stupid to me but, if that's what the AI want, then give it to them. This will allow your guns to soften the sub up even a little more before you do it in. Dropping to 1/3 speed again will improve your guns accuracy but just listen out to the incoming alarm and be prepared to get out of their way.
At some point after you've fired enough on the sub, it may surface more often, smoking away. Nows the time to head his way. Try not to go head on in its direction because it can then fire at you. Rather, note its location, the tactical display's trail of its dot and the assume course it's taking. Try approaching it from its port or startboard side. Do not apprach from its stern - remember it has aft tubes.
If your guns did enough damage, the sub may be bobbing up and down like a cork or it may have its scope constantly above water. In this case, you might greatly enjoy ramming the sub to sink it. This will only slightly damage your hull but it's worth the pleasure.
If the sub dives, as you approach near it's last location (you may still see air bubbles on the surface) set your TAC display to 500m and drop engines to 1/3. The quieter you are, the better you can hear what's going on below.
If the sub's dot on the TAC looks like a boat triangle marker, it's very near the surface. Go over it from its stern to bow, speed up to flank, and drop charges at 20m and then at 50m. If the sub's dot is somewhat blurry, drop to 95m. If the dot is very blurry, drop at 150m or more.
After the drop, stay at flank speed, notice the sub's dot and veer hard to port or starboard to keep coralling it (yes, like cattle) in circles around that area. This will often cause the sub to circle back to where your charges dropped and lead to the sub's demise.
This is not a sure-fire method and it takes practice and shifting speeds and a certain amount of luck and intuition. You'll get better the more you play.
Keep in mind that there's a 2nd sub in this mission, if you haven't noticed by now.
If you've run out of charges after failing to sink the sub, go back to distancing yourself from the sub's location, waiting for the sub to surface and your guns will again begin firing on it. Do this long enough and the sub(s) should be minced meat after several runs.
First of all, read this thread for good advice on sinking subs. You'll find other threads on the subject but this is a good start.
Next, when you start the mission, press the P key to pause the game. I always do this to:
1. Read the message log in the lower left of the control panel screen.
2. View my initial surroundings.
3. See my starting settings, such as engine speed, direction, etc.
You should see in front of you a sunken ship's bow/stern sticking out of the water. That's the Wren, sunk by an RGN Uboat, which you should be able to see on the surface beyond the Wren and slightly port of your bow.
(This is a good time to tell the developers that it's pretty realistic to find the sub just sitting there while the player's USN patrol boat is well in range of meeting out the punishment the Uboat deserves. I as a human player, would set that sub's engines to flank and crash dive ASAP).
Press P again to unpause the game. Find that sub on the tactical map and select it by clicking on its dot. Hold down the CTRL key and click on all 4 gun icons (excluding the depth charge icon). Let go of the CTRL key and click fire. This will direct all of your ship's guns to attack the sub.
Press the T key once to start up your engines at 1/3. Veer to port so you're broadside to the sub and more of your guns can start hitting the surfaced sub.
The sub may try firing torps at you. In this case, throttle to flank and go to external view (F5), find the fish trails and steer clear of them.
If you move far enough away from the sub, it might partially surface again. Again, this seems absolutely stupid to me but, if that's what the AI want, then give it to them. This will allow your guns to soften the sub up even a little more before you do it in. Dropping to 1/3 speed again will improve your guns accuracy but just listen out to the incoming alarm and be prepared to get out of their way.
At some point after you've fired enough on the sub, it may surface more often, smoking away. Nows the time to head his way. Try not to go head on in its direction because it can then fire at you. Rather, note its location, the tactical display's trail of its dot and the assume course it's taking. Try approaching it from its port or startboard side. Do not apprach from its stern - remember it has aft tubes.
If your guns did enough damage, the sub may be bobbing up and down like a cork or it may have its scope constantly above water. In this case, you might greatly enjoy ramming the sub to sink it. This will only slightly damage your hull but it's worth the pleasure.
If the sub dives, as you approach near it's last location (you may still see air bubbles on the surface) set your TAC display to 500m and drop engines to 1/3. The quieter you are, the better you can hear what's going on below.
If the sub's dot on the TAC looks like a boat triangle marker, it's very near the surface. Go over it from its stern to bow, speed up to flank, and drop charges at 20m and then at 50m. If the sub's dot is somewhat blurry, drop to 95m. If the dot is very blurry, drop at 150m or more.
After the drop, stay at flank speed, notice the sub's dot and veer hard to port or starboard to keep coralling it (yes, like cattle) in circles around that area. This will often cause the sub to circle back to where your charges dropped and lead to the sub's demise.
This is not a sure-fire method and it takes practice and shifting speeds and a certain amount of luck and intuition. You'll get better the more you play.
Keep in mind that there's a 2nd sub in this mission, if you haven't noticed by now.
If you've run out of charges after failing to sink the sub, go back to distancing yourself from the sub's location, waiting for the sub to surface and your guns will again begin firing on it. Do this long enough and the sub(s) should be minced meat after several runs.
