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gus -> (10/11/2003 3:05:04 AM)
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To be fair you can't really compare WWII historical results, especially the battle cited, with UV sub & ASW behavior for a number of reasons,
First, sub & ASW doctirne as practiced in UV by most of my opponents and myself is completely ahistorical. Subs, especially Aliied S-boats, may be used far more aggressively than IRL and quite successfully I might add. Players also use them en masse and think nothing of moving them all over the map racing from one patrol zone to the next to take advantage of sighting rpeorts. On the flip side it can be argued quite effectively that ASW for both side is optimally executed via the use of large hunter killer groups instead of assigning these boats to normal convoy escort duties. Both of these behaviors combined effectively put subs and merchants in harms way so of course the 'effectivness of subs and ASW is grotequely skewed out of proportion. I believe the submarine system in PacWar while flawed in different ways was a much more accurate portrayal of this part of the war and the weapon suystems involved but I am probably a minority of one in that regard.
Also comparing WWII German sub doctrine and tactics in the Atlantic with the situation in the Pacific theater will only cloud the issue further as it is effectively comparing apples and oranges. The Germans were playing a completely different game than everyine else. The only nuggets of wisdom that one can coallesce from comparing these two theaters is that the Allies learned some very valuable lessons in both ASW and modern submarine doctrine from going toe to toe with the U-boat menace while the IJN did not, adapt or die as they say.
NB It can also be argued that most of the ahistorical behaviors in UV can be attributed to players taking advantage of the system and pushing units beyond their histroical capabilities. This certainly covers sub and ASW behavior as mentioned above but also can be applied to mine warfare, air combat and most of the other bug bears that UV players grouse about as well!
-g
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