Sub Combat in AE

[Pascal_slith]

Will it be possible to give submarines more realistic orders like 'shadow' detected surface ships/TF or 'shadow and night attack' or simply 'shadow and attack'? This would be closer to how subs with high relative surface speeds would have acted against ships/TFs that were slower (esp. merchant/transport convoys)....

[wild_Willie2]

No, the engine is not advanced enough for these kind of orders....

We are lucky to get patrolzones and mid movement intercepts into the game engine (which is basically a DOS game on steroids).... Maybe if there will ever be a WITP2....

You can also reason that as subs are ALREADY folowing TF's to attack them (yes they do that even without orders) it's already in the system.... Just not in the way you like it..

[Pascal_slith]

At this rate we'll see WITP 2 when I'm retired in 20 years... Unless I win the lottery? [:D]

[John Lansford]

Do you mean that subs will follow TF's in AE or that they do this already in WitP?

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

Do you mean that subs will follow TF's in AE or that they do this already in WitP?

Computer controlled Submarine TF's already did this in WITP.

[bradfordkay]

As far as I can tell, this occurs only if the sub is already on computer control when it sights that TF. I have tried switching subs from human control to computer control when they're in the same hex with a sighted TF and have never had them follow that TF - but it could just be my bad luck with die rolls that is preventing this...

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

As far as I can tell, this occurs only if the sub is already on computer control when it sights that TF. I have tried switching subs from human control to computer control when they're in the same hex with a sighted TF and have never had them follow that TF - but it could just be my bad luck with die rolls that is preventing this...

Yes, noticed (and tried) the same. Always attributed this to my own bad luck as well.

[John Lansford]

Hmmmp.  It seems every time I put my subs on CC they took off for Hong Kong or some other enemy controlled port, even if they had perfectly good patrolling areas already...

[Flying Tiger]

Hmmmp.  It seems every time I put my subs on CC they took off for Hong Kong or some other enemy controlled port, even if they had perfectly good patrolling areas already...

 
Yeah, i gave up on computer controlled subs too - they all end up stacked uselessly in some chinese port!! But... if the game engine is already capable of following enemy TFs with subs why not include a 'follow enemy TF' or 'hold position' tab - if told to follow then the sub TF will act like it is computer controlled, if told to hold position it will just stay on picket. Sounds simple!!

[Pascal_slith]

ORIGINAL: Flying Tiger

Hmmmp.  It seems every time I put my subs on CC they took off for Hong Kong or some other enemy controlled port, even if they had perfectly good patrolling areas already...

Yeah, i gave up on computer controlled subs too - they all end up stacked uselessly in some chinese port!! But... if the game engine is already capable of following enemy TFs with subs why not include a 'follow enemy TF' or 'hold position' tab - if told to follow then the sub TF will act like it is computer controlled, if told to hold position it will just stay on picket. Sounds simple!!

I agree. It is stupid that following TFs only works under computer control.

[jeffs]

Will subs have the ability to kill enemy subs? The USN whacked many an IJN sub this way.

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: jeffs

Will subs have the ability to kill enemy subs? The USN whacked many an IJN sub this way.

Sub vs. sub combat is in.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: Kereguelen

ORIGINAL: jeffs

Will subs have the ability to kill enemy subs? The USN whacked many an IJN sub this way.

Sub vs. sub combat is in.

woot! woot! I can't wait for this feature. I am very pleased to see that it was added since it did happen historically. Of course, we may soon find that the most effective Japanese ASW weapon is her sub force at the start of the war. At least the Japanese player will have something to do with his subs besides haul mines to enemy ports, and even the short ranged RO boats will be quite useful for ASW defense. Brings me back to "Run Silent, Run Deep" by Ned Beach. In that novel the crack Japanese ASW outfit, lead by a chap the allies nicknamed Bungo Pete, bagged several US subs by operating a convoy consisting of a Q-ship fitted with cellulose, a single destroyer, and an RO class sub. The sub would stay submerged in trail, the American subs would make a run on the AK, usually at night on the surface, and the RO would torpedo the sub.

If you have never read "Run Silent, Run Deep" then you are missing one of the best WWII sub novels ever written. Of course, as good as that book is, there are several books written about real subs in the Pacific that are every bit as thrilling; even more so because the story is real. I would suggest:

Clear the Bridge! by O'Kane (exec of the Wahoo and skipper of the Tang)
Wahoo! also by O'Kane
Thunder Below by Fluckey (Captain of the Barb)

end thread hijack.