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ORIGINAL: Simonsez

New to game, but have been lurking in the forums for quite some time now. For what it is worth....[8D]

Welcome Simonsez! We are just getting our feet wet using the Reluctant Admiral mod. SEVERAL changes vs. stock mods. We were just commenting on the differences we have noticed...

Both of you have mentioned that ASW attacks seemingly are succeeding more often at this point in the game. Keep an eye on the Detection Level (DL) of your subs. As DL increases, enemy subs will begin to appear on the map as evidence of their existence accumulates to your forces. As a direct result, ASW attacks will naturally start to achieve more consistent hits.

Very true, however playing as the Allies I have both noticed turn to turn the detection level varies widely, much more then "stock" scenarios.

To decrease DL of your own subs, move your subs around a bit (don't sit in one place), set them up on patrol patterns or leave the area for a bit and come back at a later time once some of the DL "wears off".

Already Done, Larry was commenting recently about the advantages of three "stop" patrols over two 'stop" patrols. I believe the answer is a straight line pattern (two stop) or an area pattern (three stop) the sub performs based on the selected area. The other thing you might have seen is me staying in Makassar port for multiple turns. I was doing it in retaliation for Larry sitting his subs outside ALL of my outlying ports - Japanese subs are MUCH more capable than thier USN counterparts early in the war!

To increase DL of enemy subs, allocate dedicated ASW naval patrols and allocate dedicated ASW air search missions (experienced players appear to recommend low altitude settings such as 3,000 to 6,000 feet for ASW - mileage may very). Once a sub is located, persecute it until you hit it, kill it or drive it away. From what I've read ASW is pretty poor on both sides until later in the game when technology evolves and upgrades can be applied. Don't expect a chance encounter in the early game to result in a damaged sub too often.

True - just the Japanese air has the ability to build up experience in thier backyard more quickly than Allies as we get beaten up and destroyed in 42... Or you have the Hobson's choice of drydocking your DD's in Jan & Feb of 42 to upgrade your ASW. and watching the IJN run roughshod over any AP/AK/AKL's running around. Keeping the DD's out of drydock generally is worse IMHO because the experience the Japanese player gets while you eventually still have to drydock the survivors of the escort runs.

Furthermore, subs are easier to detect and attack in shallow water (obviously) and apparently the early Japanese Depth Charges have a rough time hitting subs in deep water as they tend to explode at relatively shallow depths - see allot of exploding above target messages in the combat reports.

Agreed - just not as many failures of the IJN in the Reluctant Admiral mod, I'm not complaining though, its much more realistic so far.

Other factors. Damaged subs are supposedly easier to detect - makes sense. Aggressive ASW TF commanders can also increase the effectiveness of ASW patrols. Trained ASW Search pilots can also increase the effectiveness of ASW air search patrols.

I've barely scratched the surface of the game in playing against the AI (hope to have time to enter PBEM at some point), but the depth of this game as you are seeing, is truly overwhelming.

Simonsez please feel free to post anytime. Your situation is similar to mine, I started my first 2 PBEM's this summer after playing the A.I. for almost 2 years.

I'm very fortunate to have Larry as my opponent - skilled is he in the map & paste visuals![sm=bow.gif]
I try to keep some humor and more of a narrative in my first try writing an AAR.

Several experienced players cautioned us to do seperate AAR's so each would get more advice without upsetting OPSEC gameplay. We have decided to do this as a joint AAR and I'm pretty happy with it. especially with over 8K reads and several have commented here both giving and asking advice - which is what Larry and I started out to do.

Regards,

Simonsez