SHCE need help from you vets?

[MarkShot]

I have recently been playing three games in rotation: AOD, SHCE, and SH3/GWX2.

I have been having problems with one particular aspect of SHCE. On the whole, I like the game engine very much. For example:

(1) Challenging escorts (except too easy to hit with torpedoes).

(2) Decent weather and sea state modeling.

(3) The interface due to increased screen real estate is somewhat more ergonomic than AOD.

I found evasion and escape as much fun and as challenging as AOD and SH3/GWX2. However, not finding the attacks very satisfying.

In both AOD and SH3/GWX2, I can establish very careful tracks of convoys. That is not to see that it is without challenges, since especially in AOD, there are many zig-zags and GWX2 has apparently been improved in this area as well. Even still it is possible to stay with a convoy for hours to days and work the optimal time and place to attack.

In SHCE, this just is not the case. I am not generating meticulous tracks. Instead my attacks are turning out to be random hasty affairs. Why?

(1) The game play is divided into separate maps. The maps are fairly small and can be transitted in 1-2 days unlike the other games.

(2) AOD provides your convoy plot necessary for intercept. SH3/GWX2 has an extensive set of map tools for plotting your own tracks and intercepts. SHCE has not tools.

(3) SHCE has a high degree of TF surface groups. TFs move very fast; as fast as 30kts leaving little opportunity to intercept. SHCE convoys tend to travel much faster than AOD and SH3/GWX2 convoys. SHCE convoys can travel from 8kts close to 20kts. Sea state modeling in SHCE can cause a reduction of surface speed of as much as 25%; thus, 20kts down to 15kts.

(4) Early war radar sets tend to pick up contacts a very close ranges of 8,000-13,000 yards. This leaves little times to gather data for plotting. Also, the most straight forward radar intercept technique of simply turning into the contact produce very poor and unpredictable intercepts. A more refined technique of requiring two data collections requires the sub to lay to for 15-30 minutes. This time lost that is a problem with a fast moving contact contact; chances of an intercept is greatly reduced. Also for daytime radar contacts, you often establish visual contact shortly after radar contact. At which point, you must deal with the potential of the enemy seeing you.

(5) Many of the intercepts happen close to the coast line as opposed to blue water which limits the time and space for options to engage.

(6) Some maps are largely shallow areas with just barely enough water to run at PD. Attacks made under these conditions are dominated by avoiding having your boat trapped and once again option are limited.

(7) Enemy traffic is unrealistically heavy. Even when I study the map (I have shipping charts), there is so much traffic that you may end up with multiple contacts or not the type you had been expecting.

All of the above factors conspire to make most attacks a hastry scramble right after first contact is reported. This is very different than my preferred techniques used in other games where I spend a long time learning about the convoy, producing a very accurate track, positioning to the optimum point to attack in front submerged, etc... When I attack methodically, I achieve good results with minimal risk to my boat. SHCE gives me more of an instant action sub encounter feel.

As I have said, I like this game engine very much. If I could just do a better job of setting up for attacks, then I think I would be enjoying the game greatly. Instead now, I am quite frustated not being able to conduct the attack the drill the way I like to do it.

PS1: I know that I could try custom mission, I have 400+ custom missions, but I prefer to play the campaign.

PS2: I know that there are utilities which will allow to pick my map for my next war patrol. Thus, I try to limit my action to open blue water maps. However, I prefer taking random maps and I, in fact, want to play shallow ops, since they present a unique form of problem.

PS3: I know about the high periscope which will increase my visual spotting range.

So, can anyone offer me any tips as to what I am doing wrong? I really want to make my attack more calculated and therefore more rewarding and run. Thanks!!!