Shipping Lanes
 

Is there a map with common shipping lanes for the game? Preferably one optimized for RSRD.

I have yet to encounter any shipping, despite frequent dives to use the sonar.

Most supermods add a shipping map by dragging your radio out, as it's attached to it. However, that is a common shipping lane map. Someone actually made some maps for RSRD traffic based on the year recently, but I can't find it, but will look some more.

More helpful tools for RSRD is to know historical traffic, routes, ect. This is a great link. Study the dates, routes, ect and you can't miss. Sometimes it's better to pick a ambush point, rather than go looking where the actual battle took place.
http://www.historyanimated.com/pacificwaranimated/

Pay attention to the invasion campaigns as they're well scripted, such as Java, the largest of the game found off Java late Feb to early March.

The Solomons campaign is perfectly scripted by RSRD, you can easily do the battle of Coral Sea, battle of Saco, Battle of Santa Cruz, ect...You'll get flash messages for Santa Cruz in the game, but have to find the others.

Thanks, that link will help greatly. :yeah:

If you find the RSRD maps it'll be highly appreciated. I'd like to actually sink something in this game. :haha:

there is a map of shipping lanes that came with the game it can be found at http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.4902

What month and year are coming up, bet I can put you on to something...

Really once you get use to RSRD it can become clockwork. I can do battle with large convoys almost one after the other and find every battle. Still, I go looking for new things and find plenty.

Your best bet is to start out of Manila. There are several large invasion forces. Most go attack the one north at Lingayen gulf, but my favorite is the one north of the San Bern straits. Just leave Manila and head to 124.15E X 12.50N..outer edge of the San Bern and wait....be careful some smaller things happen before the bigger deal that could spoil your day. Can't recall the day, but probably late Dec to early Jan, but just head there from port and wait...don't fall prey to the small TF...wait...

When you lose Manila and head to Surabaya, get there mid Feb and refit, dock if you get there earlier if you have damage, but the big Java force will be at 110E X 6S late Feb. If you attack it and get away and can refit before Sura falls there is another large invasion force to the right of Merak at 106.10E X 6S...think March 2.

Later, check your history another large invasion force heads for Christmas Island...

If you need some good locations, let me know and I'll give you some clues.
Early war there are many large invasion forces, 20-60 merchants...plus escorts.

Here is the Port Moresby invasion force. I was out of torps from the battle of Sea, but you can get the coords and locations for the battle of Coral Sea where I sunk both carriers.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...002316_156.jpg

One of the Java forces..
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...033142_937.jpg

Battle of Santa Cruz..large one, chased this TF for days.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...041118_049.jpg

Battle of Savo..
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...041526_580.jpg

Battle of Midway
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...014631_593.jpg


Typical convoys
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...121803_250.jpg
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/u...1100_000-1.jpg

Okay, Thanks I'll try these out. :yeah:

Here's the map info. Not sure if he has a version for RSRD alone, so read all the info.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...75#post1452375

Great link!!!:up:

Thanks for the link.

Since I was in the middle of a mission when I added it, I just kept at my mission.
Ended up running into a large minelayer accompanied by two destroyers. All 4 of my torpedoes missed. Whoops. :cry:

Decided to head back to Manilla and try again next mission. Ended up running into a task force. Was taking fire and damage before I could even see the enemy. By the time I crash dived it was already too late. Ended up resting on the ocean floor forever. :wah:

First of all, thanks to the people who posted links to the shipping charts. This will really help my game. Just a glance at those charts showed that I was simply looking for love in all the wrong places. :damn:

One of the posters mentioned pull down maps. I am running RFB + RSRD. Do they have pull down charts?

Seeing the map contacts on and looking at those groups makes me want to start some experiments again... a flaw in SH4 is that we cannot use "scripted" TFs, because of a few problems, but the "random" groups only allow even spacings (port/starboard equal to fore/aft spacing), and the spacings are too small for IJN TFs—the max is 2000m.

CV spacing in the IJN was typically 7000m, for example (with a guard DD astern of each CV a couple ship lengths).