Submarine stealth?

[Qetesh]

I'm very close to purchasing this game. I've spent a good deal of time reading the manual, and watching a variety of gameplay and tutorial videos. It seems perhaps an inordinate amount of the game is presently dodging and/or outmanuevering enemy torpedoes, deploying noisemakers, and creating "knuckles" to help in evasion. I realise some of that sort of thing can be exciting, but is it not logical to desire complete stealth, and the ability to carry out (some) missions completely undetected?

[Racer D]

A sub is stealthy until it does something like firing a torpedo. Sure you can sit around dead in the water and no one will be the wiser.

But don't expect Ivan to just hang around if there is a torpedo in the water or one of his ships blows up.

They will fire back. And you will have to avoid.

You can desire stealth all you want but how are you going to blow up the merchants in that Ivan surface group? You will have to fire a torpedo at some stage.

Or better: you can't stay stealthy after you just pumped out 8 Tomahawks. There will be a nice smoke trail leading exactly to your position. You gonna have to run for your life then.

[DarkFire]

Yep. Bear in mind though that the two campaigns ('68 and'84) demand a very different play style. The easier '84 campaign is totally about being as stealthy as possible. If you end up dodging torpedos and depth charges then something has already gone horribly wrong. The aim of every mission is very much a total surprise attack against whatever your target happens to be that day, or in the case of a special forces delivery mission, for the enemy to never know that you were ever there at all.

The '68 campaign is different, largely due to older and less sensitive sonar and the universally terrible Mk.37 torpedo. That campaign demands much more aggressive tactics, and the increased speed and agility of the earlier boats helps because at many points you *will* end up playing hide and seek with enemy torps.

Personally I prefer the '84 campaign as I like more modern subs and technology. The way to succeed is absolutely to not rush in all tubes blazing but to take the time to build situational awareness and tactical positioning before you attack at the time and place of your chosing. For the '84 campaign, at least with one of the more modern boats, if you're dodging toropedos then to be blunt tactics need to change.

If you want to play stealthily, then you'll do very well at Cold Waters.

[Team Triss]

Originally posted by ReesRacer:

I'm very close to purchasing this game. I've spent a good deal of time reading the manual, and watching a variety of gameplay and tutorial videos. It seems perhaps an inordinate amount of the game is presently dodging and/or outmanuevering enemy torpedoes, deploying noisemakers, and creating "knuckles" to help in evasion. I realise some of that sort of thing can be exciting, but is it not logical to desire complete stealth, and the ability to carry out (some) missions completely undetected?

If that's your takeaway, then the people you were watching were bad at the game.

In 1968 you're likely to get fired on because you've got to get into knife fight ranges to compensate for your crappy sonar and weapons, but if the enemy knows you're there in 1984 you're either very unlucky or you dun goofed.

[wolf.jaa]

Its worth it.
First. If you love submarines. If you love sub games. If you love/like somewhat realistic submarine sim games. you will love CW. in my humble opinion. to date. this is the best ever published in the market of sub sim games. and ive played them all. in short. this game is an extnsion of the original 1980's era Red Restorm rising (microprose) submarine simulation. with more bells and whistles with a 2D GUI front end built into it. I played the old RSR for years even on DosBox. Seawolf. Dangerous Waters. RSR. SSN (Tom Clancy). Sub Command. and your garden variety of WWII sub sims. Nothing compares to this. Some people use the term 'realistic' and 'authentic' which is kinda funny as again, its a game and I say if you want authentic and realistic then dont use things like 'Time Lapse (F9 key) its a great buy. its a wonderful game. use your imagination. use your creativity. like watching Lord of the Rings. you imagine yourself in those situations and those events and thats what makes it fun. :)

[Brygun]

Okay... Let's take this to basics...

When the stealth works you get a clean no-risk kill. We pat ourselves on the back saying "well done".

When the stealth isn't perfect, when the enemy isn't fooled, when the counter measures are countered... we go !@#$* Bloody #$(!)#( Amazing! Shouting and screaming "Did you see me dodge that!" A lot of noise is made about the evading.

Plus...

If the game's reality wasn't without risk it becomes a click-to-smile purchase.

[Racer D]

Look, the game is to be stealthy yes. If you need to kill of a replenishment vessel, move quietly between the escorts until you have a shot.

But once you shoot, they know you are there so you will have your rush and your knuckles and noisemaker etc.
It's a real rollercoaster ride. What you see in those YouTubes is not untrue.

[pegasus]

All in all, it is a bit strange that firing a torp always makes a lot of noise because there are always 2 ways to fire a torpedo. Loud: High pressure air blows the torpedo out quick and quiet: Let the torpedo swimout on its own power. Even the S189 (build 1960) in the museum of wilhelmshaven had wireguided torpedos that did swimout under there own power. It had to because the second torpedo reload was already in the same tube behind it. Air pressure ejection was only in case of problems.

[Racer D]

The MK37 swims out and the MK48 does not.

If I am not mistaken the 1984 MK48 did not have swinout capability but the later ADCAP does.

[Nemo]

I killed myself on my first 1968 play because of that swim out on the mk37. I ran right into it going, dubbyateeffmate?

[MAKIN_BACON45]

While the 1968 campaign can become hectic at times, playing it stealthily can be very rewarding, just like the 1984 campaign. Most enemy SSNs (Novembers and Victor Is) can outrun your torpedos, so it's important to get as close as possible and fire when your own sub is in their baffles.