Command Aces of the Deep (Win95) - HexEdit questions

[XenonSurf]

[EDIT: Please skip this first post and start reading the next one , this one is no longer useful, I just keep it for context. Thanks!]



Hello dear subsimers,
I've been able finally to run CAOD on Windows 7 following most of the tips in the 'Tactical' section of the sub games here on Subsim, also resolving all game sound problems. The game runs well and I can focus on gameplay.

In the mentioned 'Tactics' section there is an interesting HexEdit article for the game, it's here:

http://www.subsim.com/ssr/tipaod4.html

I have tested it, I was able to edit successfully most things, but I would like your feedback about the 'Homeport' edition. I have tried everything, but I was not able to change my 3D position in the game, say my homeport, except for the cases where submarines are supposed to leave the port at a certain date (which is cumbersome to try out by trial-error).
What I'm interested in is: I would like to change my 3D position into the Mediterranean Sea with the HexEdit without playing and passing through Gibraltar, like Stephen L. Hildebrand, the author of the article suggests it's possible. I was not able to do that, also by reading the CAOD manual it's written that (non-textually) :
"...you can go in the Med Sea with your boat and dock at La Spezia or Taramis when the ports are available, but you will never be transfered to these ports."
This would mean that a re-location to La Spezia (hex 07 at 4B) and Taramis (hex 0A at 4B) will never work. If I try I get re-located to La Rochelle.

What is your experience? Where you ever able to re-locate to another position, also the Med Sea with the help of these HexEdits? If yes how did you succeed?

Thanks very much, also for telling your ideas and comments
Have any problems for installing the game and playing? Just ask here, I tell you what I did to run fine (my OS is Windows 7 64 Bit).


Meanwhile, my research goes on

[XenonSurf]

Ok, I have finished my analysis and have some interesting things to report, not mentioned in the 'Tips' section about CAOD.

Game installation:
Actually playing the game directly in Win7 x64 will work better than in WinXP, the reason is that the program will get confused about the memory available in XP and crash when you enter the 3D world.

On the other side, it's not possible to directly install from CD-ROM in Win7x64 because x16 bits executables will not run in Win7 x64 or higher. You MUST install the game in Win95, Win98, WinXP, or use VMWARE with these OS to install the game, sorry. When you install, do exactly as in the 'Tips' section, which is: Do NOT run the Computer Test during install, chose 'Install anyway' in the screen where it says you don't have the requirements, and do NOT install the voice-over (doesn't work anyway.).

Once installed, move the game folder to a stick and copy it to your modern OS. You can now deinstall the game in your old OS, you don't need the program there anymore.


Before you play the game, put the game shortcut to these compatibilities:
- Compatibility with Win 95;
- Run with 256 Colors;
- Deactivate desktop layout (4th box);
- Run as admin


After simply moving the game folders to a stick and copying it in Win7 (or Windows Vista, Windows 10, and without installing it) the game will run fine, but will lack sounds if multiple sounds have to be played (e.g. engine sounds + noise of ships passing by when you are underwater). This is very annoying for a sub sim, I'm still searching for solutions. What you can do is renaming the file CLICK1.RAW into BACKUP_CLICK1.RAW, this will avoid some of the sound leaks, but not all unfortunately. I have no solution yet.
Other than this, the 'Online game manual' with the interesting interview videos cannot be played in Win7, if you want to see those you must install AODCD DOS version of the game which is almost identical to CAOD with the update 1.2 and the Expansion Disk (see end of this post where I tell the differences).

About how to install the DOS version AODCD + Update 1.2 + Expansion Disk, see my remote thread here:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=219027

-----------------------------------------------
HexEditing:
I now have concluded tests of Stephen L. Hildebrand's HexEdit method for CAOD, and I have some interesting add-ons:

First, the game will not save 3D positions in a Homeport save, 3D positions after a patrol are saved in the files SIMIN.DAT, SIMOUT.DAT, or your position is saved when you save during a patrol on sea, and these files cannot be edited easily, but it's not necessary, you only need to edit the homeport saves. The way to go is:

Changing your 3D position in CAOD:
First go to all important ports and save *outside*. These will be 'generic saves' which you keep as backup and put in your save folder as GAME00.SAV, GAME01.SAV etc.
You don't actually have to travel to these ports, just start a career where you depart from these ports, go outside and save. For La Spezia and Salamis, you will have to travel there instead (you will never be transfered in the Mediterranean Sea): Just put all realism options to Beginner and deactivate all crosses, then travel there using max TC, save outside the port.

I have done all this for Wilhelmshaven, La Rochelle, Brest, Bergen, Trondheim, La Spezia, Salamis.

Everytime you use these 'generic saves', the game 'remembers' the last 3D world position and will spawn you there next time you leave a port (whatever port). Only starting a new career or loading a save where you are on patrol will overwrite this and also (re)start you in the correct port. You can use this behavior to your advantage, let's see how.

Example: From Trondheim you want to start your next patrol in La Spezia, but you don't want to travel there with your sub which is too dangerous, instead you want to simulate that you take command of your sub in La Spezia and that first you are brought there via Luftwaffe... Then do these steps:

1) Finish your patrol by entering the Trondheim port and save.

2)
With this Trondheim port save, make all HexEdit changes you want as adviced by Stephen in his article


http://www.subsim.com/ssr/tipaod4.html

The good news is: All these edits, and also what I explain here below will also work in AODCD, the DOS version!


Especially, you want to edit your new homeport, your new sub. Changing your patrol area is futile because BDU will give you a new one before you depart on patrol. If you still insist doing this, you would have to Hexedit it once you leave port, but it's just a writing in your logbook, nothing more I think.


Optional: You can edit the date at which you want to start your new patrol:

In the save file, edit the values at the hex adresses 2A and 2B

2A: xy
x = increases/decreases the date by 16 days if you rise or lower the value by 1 unit in Hex sequence.
y= don't touch this.

2B: xy
x = don't touch this, it will crash the game otherwise.
y = increases/decreases the date by approx. 8 monthes if you rise or lower the value by 1 unit in Hex sequence.

This is without the additional days you stay in port for repairs, supplies etc.

3) Load the 'generic save' for La Spezia, enter port.

4)
Now just load again your Trondheim save and depart on a patrol, you will see you will start from La Spezia
It can happen that the BDU is transfering you to another homeport, but that really doesn't matter, dock where you want...
That's it enjoy!


How to enable the Type XXI u-boat in CAOD in single missions:
The new Type XXI u-boat is missing in the selection list for single missions, but there is a trick to activate the sub:
Go in the menu for single missions, chose convoy encounter, make your setup that you would do with a type XXI u-boat (but you have to chose another one, the XXI is not in the menu), then start the sim and quit.
Go open your file SIMIN.DAT with a hex editor, and change the value of Hex adress 41 to the value 07 (which is for the XXI).
Restart game and single mission menu for convoy encounters, you will see the tab for the sub choice empty - leave it so, don't change it - make other settings, chose your realism and go! You will play with the Type XXI


-----------------------------------------------

Differences betwenn Command Aces of the Deep (Win95) and the DOS version AODCD + update 1.2 + expansion disk:

The games are identical with these differences:
- Better grafics in CAOD
- Flawless install of AODCD DOS under Dosbox with Defend Reloaded 1.33, CAOD cannot be installed on modern OS.
- Sound problems in CAOD during game, no problems in AODCD
- CAOD has a manually usable deck gun, not so in AODCD where it only works automatically if ordered so
- You cannot save single missions in CAOD, you can do it in AODCD (but see my trick above)
- Sub XXI can not be chosen in CAOD in single missions, you can in AODCD (but see my trick above)
- Weak planes in AODCD (only small one-seaters like Wildcat etc., Liberators or such are NOT a piece of cake); strong planes in CAOD
- The very interesting online manual and videos of CAOD cannot be run in Win7 or higher, they are included and work in AODCD
- In CAOD the sonar of the type XXI u-boat is broken making the sub useless; it works perfectly in AODCD
- In AODCD there is no traffic in the Mediterranean Sea during patrol missions, there will be traffic in CAOD instead
- Escorts, Destroyers can spot you easily even 5000+ yards away at night and foggy weather in AODCD in middle 1941 (radar or bug?)


Notes:

1)
In both versions CAOD and AODCD the 'report convoy' (Kontaktmeldung) to BDU is possibly broken: If you report a convoy then its reported course will be erroneous with the consequence of sending all wolfpacks into the wrong direction. Maybe this error has something to do with the inexperience of your crew, but I don't think that the devs have made that game part so complex, so it's most likely a bug. Also this will not change if I'm directly close to a convoy ship and then send a report (with the contact cross of the ship illuminated at maximum for best data).
The workaround is: if in your first report, the convoy course is almost the right one, then don't send other reports. If instead your first report is totally way-off, then a 2nd or 3rd report etc. will not change it, that's too bad. However if AI subs enter the area close to the convoy they will report the convoy position correctly this time (you get a radio message), so hope that at least 1 AI sub will join in, the others will then join also to assist you

2)
In CAOD, you can also use the menu on the top, you must do so if you want to see the outside view centered on your target or on your torpedo. In AODCD you hit F10 once to show your torpedo view and again F10 to switch to target view.
However do not chose this view at the very moment where your torpedo will hit the target, if you do the game will crash (in CAOD, not in AODCD). The same happens when you follow a plane in this view, the game will crash at the moment where the plane drops a bomb, so do not use this view at that moment (in CAOD).

3)
If you want to patrol the Mediterranean Sea to find ships or convoys you will have to play with CAOD. in AODCD you will only get action in the Med Sea in single missions, not during the campaign, even if you can pass the Gibraltar Strait and head to friendly home ports, you will not encounter any ships or convoys.

4)
You can move your savegames between AODCD and CAOD - and vice versa - if the games were saved in port. Games saved during patrols cannot be exchanged between the 2 programs. So you can switch to AODCD with your Type XXI u-boat where its sonar plays perfectly, just move your hompeport save to the other game version and go on playing! Same if you want to patrol in the Mediterranean Sea: Switch from AODCD to CAOD!

5)
After reading all this, which of the 2 games should you chose to play today, CAOD or AODCD fully upgraded? A difficult question this one because you must chose between much better grafics but weak or absent sound effects (CAOD) and a difficult install procedure (not everyone has WinXP or VMWARE at disposal to do the install); or AODCD where the only flaw is that is has weak planes and no manual deck gun, but everything else working well, inclusive the install procedure. To my taste, AODCD is better even if the grafics are inferior (not too much for the 90s standard however) and you have the excellent online manual working with the videos. But make your own choice if you can, this article will give you the power to do so...

I hope all this is helpful to you, enjoy Subsim.com and the games !
XenonS


-----------------------------------------------

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by XenonSurf

Ok, I have finished my analysis and have some interesting things to report, not mentioned in the 'Tips' section about CAOD.

Game installation:
Actually playing the game directly in Win7 x64 will work better than in WinXP, the reason is that the program will get confused about the memory available in XP and crash when you enter the 3D world.

On the other side, it's not possible to directly install from CD-ROM in Win7x64 because x16 bits executables will not run in Win7 x64 or higher. You MUST install the game in Win95, Win98, WinXP, or use VMWARE with these OS to install the game, sorry. When you install, do exactly as in the 'Tips' section, which is: Do NOT run the Computer Test during install, chose 'Install anyway' in the screen where it says you don't have the requirements, and do NOT install the voice-over (doesn't work anyway.).

Once installed, move the game folder to a stick and copy it to your modern OS. You can now deinstall the game in your old OS, you don't need the program there anymore.

After simply moving the game folders to a stick and copying it in Win7 (or Windows Vista, Windows 10, and without installing it) the game will run fine, but will lack sounds if multiple sounds have to be played (e.g. engine sounds + noise of ships passing by when you are underwater). This is very annoying for a sub sim, I'm still searching for solutions. What you can do is renaming the file CLICK1.RAW into BACKUP_CLICK1.RAW, this will avoid some of the sound leaks, but not all unfortunately. I have no solution yet.
Other than this, the 'Online game manual' with the interesting interview videos cannot be played in Win7, if you want to see those you must install AODCD DOS version of the game which is almost identical to CAOD with the update 1.2 and the Expansion Disk (see end of this post where I tell the differences).

About how to install the DOS version AODCD + Update 1.2 + Expansion Disk, see my remote thread here:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=219027

-----------------------------------------------
HexEditing:
I now have concluded tests of Stephen L. Hildebrand's HexEdit method for CAOD, and I have some interesting add-ons:

First, the game will not save 3D positions in a Homeport save, 3D positions after a patrol are saved in the files SIMIN.DAT, SIMOUT.DAT, or your position is saved when you save during a patrol on sea, and these files cannot be edited easily, but it's not necessary, you only need to edit the homeport saves. The way to go is:

Changing your 3D position in CAOD:
First go to all important ports and save *outside*. These will be 'generic saves' which you keep as backup and put in your save folder as GAME00.SAV, GAME01.SAV etc.
You don't actually have to travel to these ports, just start a career where you depart from these ports, go outside and save. For La Spezia and Salamis, you will have to travel there instead (you will never be transfered in the Mediterranean Sea): Just put all realism options to Beginner and deactivate all crosses, then travel there using max TC, save outside the port.

I have done all this for Wilhelmshaven, La Rochelle, Brest, Bergen, Trondheim, La Spezia, Salamis.

Everytime you use these 'generic saves', the game 'remembers' the last 3D world position and will spawn you there next time you leave a port (whatever port). Only starting a new career or loading a save where you are on patrol will overwrite this and also (re)start you in the correct port. You can use this behavior to your advantage, let's see how.

Example: From Trondheim you want to start your next patrol in La Spezia, but you don't want to travel there with your sub which is too dangerous, instead you want to simulate that you take command of your sub in La Spezia and that first you are brought there via Luftwaffe... Then do these steps:

1) Finish your patrol by entering the Trondheim port and save.

2)
With this Trondheim port save, make all HexEdit changes you want as adviced by Stephen in his article


http://www.subsim.com/ssr/tipaod4.html

The good news is: All these edits, and also what I explain here below will also work in AODCD, the DOS version!


Especially, you want to edit your new homeport, your new sub. Changing your patrol area is futile because BDU will give you a new one before you depart on patrol. If you still insist doing this, you would have to Hexedit it once you leave port, but it's just a writing in your logbook, nothing more I think.


Optional: You can edit the date at which you want to start your new patrol:

In the save file, edit the values at the hex adresses 2A and 2B

2A: xy
x = increases/decreases the date by 16 days if you rise or lower the value by 1 unit in Hex sequence.
y= don't touch this.

2B: xy
x = don't touch this, it will crash the game otherwise.
y = increases/decreases the date by approx. 8 monthes if you rise or lower the value by 1 unit in Hex sequence.

This is without the additional days you stay in port for repairs, supplies etc.

3) Load the 'generic save' for La Spezia, enter port.

4)
Now just load again your Trondheim save and depart on a patrol, you will see you will start from La Spezia
It can happen that the BDU is transfering you to another homeport, but that really doesn't matter, dock where you want...
That's it enjoy!

-----------------------------------------------

Differences betwenn Command Aces of the Deep (Win95) and the DOS version AODCD + update 1.2 + expansion disk:

The games are identical with these differences:
- Better grafics in CAOD
- Flawless install of AODCD DOS under Dosbox with Defend Reloaded 1.33, CAOD cannot be installed on modern OS.
- Sound problems in CAOD during game, no problems in AODCD
- CAOD has a manually usable deck gun, not so in AODCD where it only works automatically if ordered so
- You cannot save single missions in CAOD, you can do it in AODCD
- Sub XXI can not be chosen in CAOD in single missions, you can in AODCD
- Weak planes in AODCD (only small one-seaters like Wildcat etc., Liberators or such are NOT a piece of cake); strong planes in CAOD
- The very interesting online manual and videos of CAOD cannot be run in Win7 or higher, they are included and work in AODCD.
- Escorts, Destroyers can spot you easily even 5000+ yards away at night and foggy weather in AODCD in middle 1941 (radar or bug?)


Notes:

1)
In both versions CAOD and AODCD the 'report convoy' (Kontaktmeldung) to BDU is possibly broken: If you report a convoy then its reported course will be erroneous with the consequence of sending all wolfpacks into the wrong direction. Maybe this error has something to do with the inexperience of your crew, but I don't think that the devs have made that game part so complex, so it's most likely a bug. Also this will not change if I'm directly close to a convoy ship and then send a report (with the contact cross of the ship illuminated at maximum for best data).
The workaround is: if in your first report, the convoy course is almost the right one, then don't send other reports. If instead your first report is totally way-off, then a 2nd or 3rd report etc. will not change it, that's too bad. However if AI subs enter the area close to the convoy they will report the convoy position correctly this time (you get a radio message), so hope that at least 1 AI sub will join in, the others will then join also to assist you

2)
In CAOD, you can also use the menu on the top, you must do so if you want to see the outside view centered on your target or on your torpedo. In AODCD you hit F10 once to show your torpedo view and again F10 to switch to target view.
However do not chose this view at the very moment where your torpedo will hit the target, if you do the game will crash (in CAOD, not in AODCD). The same happens when you follow a plane in this view, the game will crash at the moment where the plane drops a bomb, so do not use this view at that moment (in CAOD).

3)
After reading all this, which of the 2 games should you chose to play today, CAOD or AODCD fully upgraded? A difficult question this one because you must chose between much better grafics but weak or absent sound effects (CAOD) and a difficult install procedure (not everyone has WinXP or VMWARE at disposal to do the install); or AODCD where the only flaw is that is has weak planes and no manual deck gun, but everything else working well, inclusive the install procedure. To my taste, AODCD is better even if the grafics are inferior (not too much for the 90s standard however) and you have the excellent online manual working with the videos. But make your own choice if you can, this article will give you the power to do so...

I hope all this is helpful to you, enjoy Subsim.com and the games !
XenonS


-----------------------------------------------

Regarding planes, I get Sunderlands in AOD early in the war. I too much prefer AOD over the buggy CAOD.
Thanks for the post !

[XenonSurf]

Updated my post above with these points:


- In AODCD (DOS) there is no traffic in the Med Sea during campaign, you can enter Med Sea and head towards 2 friendly ports, but it's vain because you will find no convoys or single ships whatever. You have to play single missions if you want action in the Med Sea.

- Homeport saves can be moved between CAOD and AODCD (DOS). Saves in open sea cannot be moved.

- In CAOD the Type XXI u-boat sonar is broken, but not in AODCD (DOS).

- Added a trick to play Type XXI u-boat in single missions in CAOD.



XS

[UnderWaterGamer]

Very useful! Though my prefered version is the dos one, I still like CAOD because of it's useful deck gun station that will prevent the incompetent crew of wasting shells in AoD (deck gun in AoD good at 1km or less).

Regarding the interchangeable port save game files in both version, I will be more than happy to try once I return from patrol in AoD in my long range type IXb.

Also, can you please specify the name of the Hex utility program? I would like to change a few things in AoD

Thanks for all the info

Happy Hunting!

[XenonSurf]

To open and read dat files, you need any program that shows the content in Hex format, I think the free Notepad++ can do it, as well as showing XML format. It should also have the advantage to work with several text documents at the same time.



I use the text editor UltraEdit, this one is not free but very handy.


There are a lot of free 'Hex Editors' as open source programs, just find one.
------------


I'm currently analyzing what the 2 files SIMIN.DAT and SIMOUT.DAT do for ship targets you find in the 3D world or if they are interchangeable between the 2 programs. I still hope to finally get a perfect CAOD by exchanging or modding all possible files...but this is likely hopeless...

[UnderWaterGamer]

Have Noptepad ++, I will try the Hex editing when I get the time.

Regarding the weak planes, I to like John get Sunderlands early in the war and for once I think AoD nails it completely when it comes to anti-aircraft warfare for subsims : the powerful 20's where, when aimed with a good crew, historicaly very good at shooting down planes. Currently reading a french book about submariners in WWII by Jean-Jacques Antier and in it, U-boat commanders say that the bullets would literally chew the plane and it's unfortunate pilot.

All this to say that weak planes are very realistic

[John Pancoast]

I never bother, in any sub sim, to fight planes. Always dive. Working a deck gun has never interested me either; an ai crew doing it is fine with me.

[XenonSurf]

There are bomber planes (Sunderlands?) which are very performant in AOD, they can drop 3 bombs in 1 overfly. Recently I was spotted by one even when going only half speed, I was too late to dive, if you dive when the plane drops its bomb you may sink. My deck man manged to destroy the plane, but its 3 bombs were dropped anyway, I had a direct hit that destroyed my aft diveplane, my diesel machines were damaged for 11 hours in 2 different sections.
All in all I was very fortunate, a direct hit could have ended the game for me


The most dangerous airplane, at least for me, is the Catalyna. This plane will drop acoustic torpedos that you will have a very hard time to evade, even if you can see them on the map. I have tried with a Bold but stupidly I didn't change my depth quick enough, so I got hit. Your turn rate is not quick enough at 7 knots...It was during my experiments, so I got no damage, but with realistic settings it would have been the end, or out-of-action for my sub...

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by XenonSurf

There are bomber planes (Sunderlands?) which are very performant in AOD, they can drop 3 bombs in 1 overfly. Recently I was spotted by one even when going only half speed, I was too late to dive, if you dive when the plane drops its bomb you may sink. My deck man manged to destroy the plane, but its 3 bombs were dropped anyway, I had a direct hit that destroyed my aft diveplane, my diesel machines were damaged for 11 hours in 2 different sections.
All in all I was very fortunate, a direct hit could have ended the game for me


The most dangerous airplane, at least for me, is the Catalyna. This plane will drop acoustic torpedos that you will have a very hard time to evade, even if you can see them on the map. I have tried with a Bold but stupidly I didn't change my depth quick enough, so I got hit. Your turn rate is not quick enough at 7 knots...It was during my experiments, so I got no damage, but with realistic settings it would have been the end, or out-of-action for my sub...

Yeah, the Catalina and those torpedoes are tough !

[UnderWaterGamer]

Sunderland are very dangerous at the beginning of the war but for some reason they try to depth charge me while I'm on the surface when they have depth charges, I guess they try to drop them on my deck!

AoD also masters the art of realism when it comes to aircraft tactics, small planes (F4 wildcats mostly) will, once they have you spotted, overfly you once or twice to make a few holes and then fly around you at the limit of your AA gun's range and call in a destroyer. Then two different scenarios may happen:
1)You submerge and try to escape at flank speed (unlikely if the destroyer is already chasing you).
2) you stay surfaced and face the destroyer but then proceed to diving, receiving a few wados in the process.

Also to avoid damage from the aircrafts bombs/gunning overflys:
-I usually travel at full speed and then crank it up to flank when the aircraft is closing in (~500m)
-I do "drastical course changes" of 90°+ when the aircraft is closing in too (same~500m)

Hope this can avoid you a lot of work for the repair party!

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by UnderWaterGamer

Sunderland are very dangerous at the beginning of the war but for some reason they try to depth charge me while I'm on the surface when they have depth charges, I guess they try to drop them on my deck!

AoD also masters the art of realism when it comes to aircraft tactics, small planes (F4 wildcats mostly) will, once they have you spotted, overfly you once or twice to make a few holes and then fly around you at the limit of your AA gun's range and call in a destroyer. Then two different scenarios may happen:
1)You submerge and try to escape at flank speed (unlikely if the destroyer is already chasing you).
2) you stay surfaced and face the destroyer but then proceed to diving, receiving a few wados in the process.

Also to avoid damage from the aircrafts bombs/gunning overflys:
-I usually travel at full speed and then crank it up to flank when the aircraft is closing in (~500m)
-I do "drastical course changes" of 90°+ when the aircraft is closing in too (same~500m)

Hope this can avoid you a lot of work for the repair party!

Dropping depth charges at a surfaced sub was a common tactic actually. If they're set shallow which they usually were, no sense in waiting.

[UnderWaterGamer]

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

Dropping depth charges at a surfaced sub was a common tactic actually. If they're set shallow which they usually were, no sense in waiting.

Thanks for letting me know! Once more AoD gains my respect when it comes to realism!

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by UnderWaterGamer

Thanks for letting me know! Once more AoD gains my respect when it comes to realism!

AOD is really an incredible sim. 25 years later, I still am playing it. I also seem to recall a sub(s) being sunk by a depth charge hitting it directly from the air (Blair's books).
Though I doubt that was the pilot's intention as much as just how things happened.
Aircraft sunk almost as many subs as escorts/hunter-killer groups, etc.

[UnderWaterGamer]

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

AOD is really an incredible sim. 25 years later, I still am playing it. I also seem to recall a sub(s) being sunk by a depth charge hitting it directly from the air (Blair's books).
Though I doubt that was the pilot's intention as much as just how things happened.
Aircraft sunk almost as many subs as escorts/hunter-killer groups, etc.

True, planes where big threats for U-Boats, and the arrival of radars would make the already tired crews look out for aircrafts at night. Though in AoD I let the crew on the AA's day and night like in SH1