Sub-sim "Silent Hunter 3" (pics inside)

Just thought I would check peoples opinions, and give those who don't know about it, a heads up about the upcoming submarine simulator Silent Hunter 3 for the PC. Although the game isn't scheduled for release until early 2005 the details so far look pretty tantalizing - dynamic campaigns, nice realism, spiffy graphics, etc. Included are Type II, VII, IX and XXI subs in 10 versions that are possible to command, along with numerous ships, aircraft and so on.

Having just dug around a bit in German submarine warfare and Allied counter-measures as an aside from my usual Eastern Front stuff, I'm personally very much looking forward to this game...

[ 18. March 2005, 09:03 AM: Message edited by: Heartland ]

 

Looking pretty good.I guess gotta buy this one when it is released. Thanx for the tip!

 

Picked this one up today after some intial hesitation regarding graphics and copy-protection issues. We'll see during the weekend how it turns out. Reviews from hardcore subsimmers and realism nuts seem very favourable to say the least!

For the U-boot nuts but not neccessarily gamers, I'll note that captain Jürgen Oesten was interviewed for the game, and videos with his comments can be found at the site linked above (under Downloads/Videos). Oesten commanded U-61, U-106 and U-861, and ended the war having sunk 19 ships.

 

Peering up at enemy ships (in Scapa Flow possibly?)...




Spotted!




A fine day for sailing.




A not so fine day for sailing!

 

Attack depth!




Torp heading towards merchant ship.




Gunnery work.




Damage status and crew stations for Type XXI.



NOTE: Pics nicked from forums at site linked above...

 

I think it is just out in Finland..( 18.3. is the release date I see)... better go shopping tomorrow...

 

I must say the game is absolutely terrific so far, even though I have only played a few hours.

Started out with some basic naval academy stuff, handling the ship, maneuvering and navigation. Went on to pass exams in gunnery, torpedo firing and whatnot. Decided to throw my lot in with the 7th Flotilla based out of Willhelmshaven for the grand campaign, starting in 1939, just as war breaks out.

For my first mission, my little Type II-A "Einbaum" is sent on a patrol in the north sea off the British/Scottish coast in grid HN47. We board the sub and prepare to depart. Loudspeakers along the pen are blaring out patriotic music, nurses and other well-wishers line the pen, throwing flowers and cheering as we slowly slip out to sea...

The journey to grid HN47 is rather eventless. The poor little sub rolls heavily in the North Sea, making the trip less than enjoyable. We make some stops along the way, diving down and stopping all engines to scan the hydrophone, but no contacts are picked up. Reaching the specififed grid, we are almost down to 50 percent fuel, as the patrol begins at slow speed to conserve fueld. Even relatively close to the Tommies coast (barely visisble in the distance), there is a distinct lack of targets. A couple of days later it is time to head home as the fuel situation is getting "interesting", another uneventful journey so far, when we are about halfway home.

I wonder of herr Dönitz will have my hide for lack of success, or if he considers no targets a valid excuse. From what I have heard of the man, I suspect not!

 

Nice little AAR/review Heartland, thanks! I think I may pick this one up, the detail looks amazing and the gameplay seems great as well. I remember playing Aces of the Deep a few years back and it was awesome, today's technology *should* yield an even better game, we'll see...

 

It certainly feels VERY realistic, "standing" on the conning tower in rolling seas and spray coming up over you. I'm a sucker for dynamic campaigns as well, and this one is great, being sent out on patrols through the war. Also very scalable with regards to realism and difficulty, ie if external cameras are available, dud torpedoes and such.

This forum post has a more eventful patrol of similar range as mine, with many pictures for the curious. Including some serious plotting of intercept courses.

NOTE: Some people are having troubles with bugs and whatnot. Me, I haven't seen a single bug or glitch so far...

 

Is it a requirement having your SWMBO (wife, girlfriend, mommy) throw buckets of cold salt water at you when playing, while you scratch your 12-day beard?

 

That's a nice tip, I'll have to remember that!

Although I'm more considering dressing my girlfriend up as a commanding officer to give me a good chewing up when (if) I return to base.

Blew up another small merchant yesterday, in my small IIA sub, in the shallow waters off Southend. With one torpedo remining I spotted an old destroyer doing the rounds and decided "what the heck". Quick set up of firing solution and...los!

What a freaking boneheaded thing to do during daytime...torpedo was old steam-powered T-I version, leaving a nice fat trail, and of course missed the fast-moving ship. When I had to log off for the evening, I had avoided a couple of depth-charge attacks while desperately squirming around in a depth of only some 40 meters or so. Hardly anywhere to go. It will be interesting to see if I can get away from the nasty and persistent (but clearly inexperienced as he should have killed me already) destroyer.

 

Well well, kapleun Heartland lives still!

The nasty Royal Navy V&W Destroyer made a very good attempt though, backed up by some torpedo boats. Twisted with the chap for over an hour (game-time), taking care to change course and depth as he came barreling in for depth-charge attacks. The early sonar of the destroyer was actually quite useful for this, as it (historically) was unable to ping just before going over my little U-26.

Used quick bursts of speed to evacuate the immediate area and move towards deeper water, while the destroyer was deaf following charges. Initially maintained this too long, allowing him to pick me up again on his hydrophone. Learned to go quiet earlier after the first runs, and eventually he started dropping charges further away and groping around blindly. Great feeling as the rumble of charges started getting more and more distant... A narrow escape with some structural damage.

Headed back to Willhelmshaven to catch some flak for sinking a neutral Norwegian merchant. Ooops. Should have checked the flag more carefully before sinking that last ship.

Still, enough reputation and influence to score a new commission, a shiny Type VII-B designated as U-46. Yay! Faster! More torpedoes! Longer range! Ordered to patrol briefly off Hartlepool, then planning to set course round north, to the convoy approaches north of Ireland in grid AM. (Also decided to go from letting my weapons officer enter data into the targeting computer, to doing this manually).

Inbound to my patrol grid there is suddenly an alarm from the lookout, during the dark hours. Warship spotted! A crash dive later the target is identified in the attack scope as another V&W destroyer on patrol...and its going to pass right in front of us. Too good an opportunity to resist, and this time two electric eels are loaded in the front tubes to make detection that much less likely. Course change to set up a side shot against the enemy when it passes at around 600 meters, silent running ordered and target data collected...

Head over to the electro-mechanical targeting computer and starts twisting knobs. Tube 3 selected with electro eel, open tube. Target bearing set to zero degrees, speed previously estimated to 14 knots, angle on bow 90 degrees starbord. Torpedo is set for shallow run and direct impact rather than deeper and magnetic. As the destroyer passes the zero degree bearing mark, the eel is ejected from tube 3 and eases towards the target at 30 knots - scope down and wait for impact while watching chronometer! Course and speed change ordered, as well as a dive deeper in order to exit the area. The estimated impact time passes on the chronometer...nothing...

The destroyer continues past, oblivious to the close brush he had with fate (torpedo passed in front of his bow, must have estimated his speed as higher than it actually was).

To be continued...maybe...

 

looks good i love to grab the sub in BF1942 and go hunting ships or grab the SBD and hunt subs.
though this one looks a bit more involved.
I wonder if there is a mission where you have to transport a all those goodies to Japan as that would be a bit of a ride

 

Nope, haven't seen that mission around!
There are a few single missions that come with the game in addition to the dynamic campaign. These include prowling around during the sinking of the Bismarck, sneaking into Scapa Flow, and a few others.

I'll note that there is a mission editor that comes with the game. I'm not sure if the game map stretches to Japan...but if it does, I'm sure someone will make the mission.

Incidentally, the grandson of one of the German sailors on that mission to Japan is posting on the SH3 forum, and has told a few nice stories related from his granddad (Wolfgang Hirschfeld)...

 

I still have that. It was pretty neat. I thought the intro was awesome!