Conference rusure::nintendo

You should be attacking on the surface at night.  That is your problem.
If you will notice, you aren't looking through the periscope when on
the surface, but rather through the binoculars.  If you are looking
through them and then dive at night, you will still be able to see.
You will have to resurface if you move to another screen, as you
found out.  I think that the fact you can still see when you dive at
night is a bug in the game.

I have found that at night if you keep a small profile and move no fast
than 10 knots, you can usually close to between 3000 and 2000 yards.
More than enough to use the deck gun.  I locate the warships and blow them
out of the water before they can react.  Usually, even then they will scatter
in all directions and usually miss me.  I then can get my licks in on the
convoy with the torpedoes.  Of course, if you didn't get all the escorts
you will have to be watching for them to come back.

I played tonight and actually had the escorts lose me after I sunk the
convoy and I was then able to get them while they were cruising around
in circles.

So in my opinion, the best way to attack is surface during the night and
submerged during the day.

I love this game, but I thought I was the only one that had it.  What I
really like is that it's never the same twice, if you're using the
War Scenario.  Hummm... Think I'll go sink some more ships.  My all time
high score is W.G.S.C. with 75,428 tons sunk.

For those of you curious, this is a simulation of a WWII submarine.

Adm. Chip
    

  I also have Silent Service and I agree that it is one of the best games I've
  played on my Nintendo.  The graphics are very good and I love the War Patrols
  scenario.  You hunt the Pacific for enemy convoys that include tankers, troop
  transports, cargo ship, large destroyers, and kaibokans (small destroyers).
  You get 80 rounds for your deck gun and and something like 6 aft torpedoes and
  10 bow torpedoes.  Once those destroyers spot you or your fired torpedoes
  they come after you like bandits.  You have to blow them out of the sky or
  else either blast you with their deck guns (if you are on the surface) or
  drop depthcharges (if you are submerged).  You can fake an oil slick to get
  away from them if you need.

  I enjoy it very much.  I'd give it a 9 out of 10.

								-dlp-
  Only drawback is there aren't any aircraft carriers 8^(.

     This sounds like a great game !
     How would someone go about getting one ? I havn't seen
    anything like it down here in South Carolina.
    
    Maybe someone has one they want to part with ? (different note)
    
    Jim

    I'm in Charlotte, and I got it at Toys-R-Us.  You may want to try
    there.
    
    Chip

Hi, I just got this game last night, and I am very impressed.  There are so many
different scenarios, it doesn't look like I'll be bored with it soon.  This
reminds me a lot of the game Gato, except this is much better.

By the way, has anyone taken the time to figure out what they're saying in
Morse Code after you enter your initials on the Hall of Fame screen?

- Jim

    Er...uh.  It seems to me it repeats whatever "name" you enter.
    
    RH

Yeah, that's what I thought...  but when I don't enter my name, it still beeps
some message at me.  Maybe it's your rank?  I'll check it out tonight.

- Jim

    
    Is this a suitable game for a 6 year old ?
    I know it has peaked my interest, but after all
    I did buy the system for my son ? RIGHT ?
    
    Anyway, I have been playing RED STORM RISING on a PC.
    It is great, but $$ey.
    
    Rick A

>>> By the way, has anyone taken the time to figure out what they're saying in
>>> Morse Code after you enter your initials on the Hall of Fame screen?
    
    Er, um, since I have a piece of paper from the FCC certifying that I am
    able to understand MORSE code (and, by the way, practice using it), I
    would, um, be more than willing to borrow your copy of SILENT SERVICE
    for a day and verify what morse code message(s) is being sent....  :-)
    Seriously!

    The morse message is " WELL DONE " then your name in morse follows.
    This is a super game and I play for hours at a time and have set
    up the dual contols on a board so that there held together for
    convinence.  
    
    You only can use the periscope during Dawn, Daylight and Dusk. Night
    time use is ruled out to low light gathering ability of the scopes
    optics.
    
    The battle bonoculers donot suffer from low light conditions and can
    be use for night time surface attacks.
    
    Have fun NIFHB, Gerry W.G.S.C.

    Hi all
    
        Is this game played against the computer only, or can you play
    against another opponent as well.
    
                                                     Stan

    Computer only, but it's the best I've ever seen.  I've yet to have the
    same thing happen twice in the War Scenario.  Just because you rated
    W.G.S.C in one session, doesn't mean your done with the game.  You may
    find the next time you play you may rate a Lt. JG!
    
    			Range - 2500
    			Angle - 2
    			Fire 1
    			Fire 2
    
    			BOOM BOOM
    
    			Enemy Ship SUNK!!!
    
    I love this game!

    Interesting tactic that might help a high risk submerged attact.
    
    Set your heading directly into the convoy, Get in range 3000 to 2000
    yds. Id the destroyers and sonar ships and make note of the course.
    put scope bearing on the cargo, tankers and troup ships. All reverse
    full, fire all four bow tubes. Come about 180 deg while you are
    tracking the destroyers and sonar ships. All full ahead, when the
    pusuing ships are 2000 yds or less shoot one fish in each. Left or
    right rudder come about for the bow shots and finish each off.
    
    One fish in each will bring their hull speed to 4 nots. You can out
    run them if you want and go for the convoy but i usually put them away
    for fun.
    
    Dont surface to finish them, their deck guns are still active and they
    easly put you out.
    
    When the tough work is done surface, set hdg for the fleeing convoy
    gracefully lob four inch shells into them from 3000 yds, their easy.
    
    
    Another way, track the convoy on the surface from 6000 yds or so
    depending on the skill level set they will not see you. Set a paralle 
    heading at 1/2 speed, 10 knots, but try not to close to much in doing
    so. Over take the convoy by about 6000 to 7000 yds and got to full
    speed seting a 90 deg heading across their path and submerge. All
    stop take their bering as they close, half speed revers to slow their
    8 knot progress to 2 knots. Pick out the center of the convoy and lay
    in the fish at 4000 to 3000 yds. Dont wait for them to hit come about
    90 deg full speed and leave them crippled. Shadow the crippled convoy
    now moveing at 4 knots, they dont know where you are and the destroyers
    scatter but you have most if not all the cargo, tanker or troop ships
    crippled. Pic one heading away from the destryers now on the horizon.
    Follow and finish of but continue cheking the horizon for the
    destroyers that will begint to close, you can do this on the surface.
    When the destroyers and sonar begin to close, you can elect to run and
    usually get over taken by the destroyers 28 to 30 Knot hull speed or
    what I like to do is all stop turn into their bearing and tke them
    out with bow and or aft tubes.
    
    This is GREAT FUN but I played untill one am yesterday and got blown
    away. You cant master this, it is a very real simulation that is not
    predictable and I lOVE IT.
    
    A Demoted w.g.s.c to Ensign ( at least I didnt get thrown in the brig )

Ok I give,

	I love this game but am having difficulty aiming the aft torpedoes.  
I've only been able to do it by tracking the ships on the map and taking pot
shots.  Total inaccurate so far.  Is there an easier way to do this?  I thought
the periscope would work, but that makes the whole ship turn.

	Thanks,

	tom

    
    
    Are you using both the right and left controllers ?
    If I remember from this weekend when I rented the game,
    the left-right controls on the player 2 controller moves
    the periscope image while the heading (?) remains the same.
    This way you can get a torp heading. Yes ?
    
    Check with the ensign.
    
    Luck,
    
    Rick A

    I think you have the controls confused.  The arrows at the bottom are
    for controlling the submarine.  Up, down, left, and right.  To adjust
    the periscope or binoculars you just place the arror either on the
    right or left side of the periscope/binoculars and press the a button.
    The periscope should turn.  The only thing that the second controller
    does is adjust the windage of the deck gun, release debris, and blow
    the emergency tanks.
    
    Hope this helps... Chip

    
    Nope. I do not think so ?
    I remember (now I just rented it for a night) the right/left
    controls on the player 2 controller moving the per/binc image.
    It comes to mind because I remember saying to myself, "Great !
    Now I have found the target. How do I get the sub to face the
    target and get a good torp shot ?" I had to change heading to 
    match the number I saw in the scope. Yes ?
    
    Rick A

   .16 had it right.

   The only thing that the second controller does is allow you to change the 
   deflection of the deck gun, release debris, and blow the emergency tanks.

   To fire the aft torpedoes, you must be at such an angle to the target(s).
   If you you are facing forward to a target the computer will assume you want
   to fire the bow torpedoes.  If you have the rear of the sub (doesn't have to
   be exactly in line) facing the target it will assume you want to fire the
   aft torpedoes.  To get the targets in view, you have two options. First,
   if you are submerged and go to the top pf the screen and press either side
   of the periscope, it will turn (360 degrees if you'd like). Second, if
   you are on the surface, go to the top of the screen and press either side
   of the binoculars and get the targets in sight that way.  Either way, as
   long as you have your bow aimed AWAY from the target, it will fire AFT
   torpedoes. You can also use the deck guns this way (if you are on the 
   surface).

   Do not use the controller on the bottom.  That is for changing your heading
   only (and for diving and surfacing).

   Hope this helps!

								-dlp-

    Some helpfull ways to go about bow and aft torpedo use.
    
    A trick is to use scope up and down selection. This always resets your
    visual bearing to your bow heading turn 180 deg in either direction,
    left or right and you will swap bow heading for aft heading. Hit the
    revers and you are now going back wards in to what you were going
    forward in to. 
    
    Another way. Take a visual bearing of the target, lets say it 100 deg
    for easy math. lets say your heading is 50 deg and you want to swap
    ends to bring the aft tubes in play. Just add 180 deg to your heading,
    new heading would be 230 deg. Come about with right rudder because we
    are adding,come to 230 heading continually rotating your visual bearing
    keeping the target in sight.
    
    If your heading was over 180 deg then subtract 180 from you heading and
    use left rudder.
    
    Most of the time I reset the visual bearing to the bow and come about.
    
    Interseting virtue of your sub is that it has a very tight turning
    circle. This means you can come about quicker that the pursuing ships.
    If you are submerged and the ships are less than 2000 yds and closing
    come about left or right at full speed, this will put both bow and
    aft tubes in target about equall time. Rotate the scope keeping your
    targets in sight and when it lights up pop em.
    
    Most of the time this works very well, The ships attemtp to out circle
    you to get depth charges over you head but cant.
    
    Every now and the though, becuse of the their original course the get
    to cross over you and the game show you mercy by the message "
    PERISCOPE SIMULATION TEMPORARALY DISCONTINUED " or something like that.
    
    Its much better that " YOUR SCOPE AND CONNING TOWER HAS JUST BEEN RIPED
    OF OF YOUR SUB "
    
    N1FHB - GERRY, Going down for the third time with all aboard.

    I agree that this is a great game.  Regarding the earlier discussion
    of moving the periscope or binoculars, both are right.  There is a
    discussion of heading and bearing in the instructions.  Heading is
    where the boat is going, Bearing is where you are looking.  To change
    the heading, use the left and right arrows at the bottom of the
    periscope/binocular battle station view.  To change the bearing you
    have two options, move the pointer to the left or right handle on
    periscope and press the A button on the player 1 controller.  You
    can also move the periscope with the left and right control pad
    on the Player 2 controller.  Great game.
    

    Ok, I just checked and you can indeed change the scope bearing with
    the second controller.  I think however that doing it this way only
    serves to complicate the game.  It may be of help though if you
    were playing with someone else, who had control of the second
    controller.

Thanks for the  tips!  Now I can go home and try them out this weekend.

Happy Hunting!

tom

    CONTROLER HELP.
    
    Get a board and cut a resess with chisels to be just large enough to
    fit both controlers side by side and maybe a resses for a pocket
    calculator.
    
    I did this with a scrap piece of 3/4 thk by 6 in wide pine board and
    it sits on my lap keeping the contolers together but easly takeing
    them off for other game use.
    
    The main contorler is on the right side because I'm right handed, using
    the right index finger on the arrow movement and the little finger on 
    the "A" button for firing and selecting arrow options.
    
    The left index finger is always on the the left controlers pad which
    operates both periscope and battle binocular rotation as well as dec gun
    deflection up and down.
    
    With this arrangement and a little practice you can simultanioulsy
    operate heading, scope rotation, torpedo and dec gun firing and
    selecton button for different screens. Makes it a lot more fun.
    
    I have the Nes contoller but this arrangement with the dual controlers
    on the lap board is better. The Nes controller would requier you to
    manually switch between contol one and two for all the commands and
    is much to slow because of that.
    
    If anyone needs a diagram of the LAP board let me know and Ill make one
    here in the notes, it was very easy and needent be to fancy. The only
    critical thing is to get the resess deep enough to keep the controllers
    from sliding around. I made my dept almost that of the thickness to the
    wires comming out the back of the controller and it holds them in even
    if the board tips up.
    
    The comment about the calculator is for planning headings in and out
    of battle which I do for the fun of it and then see if it really
    happens the way I planned.
    
         " WHAT DO YOU MEAN " BOW TORPEDO CANT FIRE " oups 
    
    N1FHB -Gerry
    
    
    
    
    

    I am new to DEC and to notes so please excuse the mistakes.
    
    I have been Playing since Jan and last night decided to try war
    patrols.
    I can not get from the general Pacific map to the Battle Stations .  Am
    I doing something wrong or is it the game.
    

    Just move the circle around the screen until the screen turns red.
    The circle is your sub.  When the screen turns red press the A button
    and you will be in the screens where you can fight.  After you sink the
    convoy, or decide you don't like the setup and want to look for more
    ships, just select the lower left side of the control room screen.
    The is "Resume Patrol", or something like that.  Anyway, it will put
    you back on the screen where you move the sub searching for convoys.

    
    Thank You 
    
    I tried that but I did not wait for the screen to turn red.
    
    
    Jerry.
    

    
    	I think the designers of Silent Service are trying to simulate
    a real Conning Tower situation where one person is the Captain on the
    scope (Controller 2) while the other person is the Exec. This person
    would function as the Diving officer, Chief Engineer and the Navigation
    Officer.  I was using the system this way with my kids and except for
    the switching back and forth, it works out OK.  It gives two people
    a change to play and keep track of things when they get hectic.
    

    I would like some of your experiances on the game.  I have found that
    it is very hard to escape once the destroyers lock in on you.  I can
    very high numbers if I just hang in there and shot the torpedoes down
    their throat.  If I miss, I am in trouble.  When you take the boat
    deep, I cannot see the ships but they always seem to find me.  Is that
    a feature when you go very deep, you cannot see the destroyers on the
    screen ?  I can hear them coming in but cannot see them on the screen.
    I dodge around but eventually get it.  I have tried moving and staying
    still.  The highest score I had was by shooting all the destroyers with
    torpedoes and saving the Deck Shells for the Convoy.  This means about
    4 torpedoes per Destroyers to cover them well.  Please give your
    strategy for beating the game.

    Stealth
    
    What helps alot is to, track the convoy from about 8k yds or less and
    identify its tonnage. How many cargo, troop and tanker tons are there.
    
    Figure out the convoys escort's, destroyer and or sonar escorts. This
    can be done on the surface and during daylight.
    
    Find out by looking at the ships clock what part of day you are in, AM
    or PM, If AM you may want to consider aborting the mission, day light
    surface attacks are risky and submerged attacks almost always requier
    a convoy bering into your heading. This is due to your 5 knot submenrged
    1/2 speed and the convoys usual 8 knot surface speed. I know
    you can do 10 knots submerged but you have just one hour of flank 
    submerged energy to sustain this speed and almost always this is too
    short a time to make up any significant distance at a 2 knot gain.
    
    Anyway if its PM, shadow the convoy staying in the 8 to 6 k yd range.
    You can set a parallel bearing or what I usually do is track behind
    them. Do this untill dusk and begin to close. When night falls close
    to 3k yds or less. Id the cargo, tankers and troop ships but before you
    pop em calculate a 180 escape bearing. If there is a destroyer it has
    to be taken out with the first two fish because it can make a 28 knot
    head way and you can do only 20 on the surface.
    
    So pop the destroyer with the first two fish and start your turn into
    the escape heading. As you are turning at full speed, rotate your scope
    and pop all the target ships you can, Dont worry about not enough
    turpedos in the bow, as you come about your aft torpedos will come to
    bear and they will fire on command.
    
    Run like crazy on the surface any you will out run the sonar, they can
    do only 18 knots and will give up. You can pop them with the deck gun
    during the chase if you need to.
    
    This requiers good timing and is a lot of fun even if you get done in
    but usually a night suface attack puts most things in your favor.
    
    Another fun thing is to get with in 4 k yds and match the convoy speed 
    and pop them with the deck gun untill the figure where you are, it
    takes them awhile and at times in the destroyer has headed for the
    horizon at flank speed to get away and leave the convoy ships crippled
    and at the mercy of my guns but dont get gready because the destroyer
    will figure out where you are and can out run you for sure.
    
    Have fun and good hunting   
    

    During war patrol it is possible to sink or destroy a ship with out
    using guns or torpedo. I found this out during one mission when, after
    incountering a convoy and dealing with it ran out of both shells and
    torpedo.
    
    What you do is, by looking at your map and get the ship to turn into 
    the land, yup, you can do this be comming in close and the ship will
    steer away, stay in close and dogedly force the ship to steer aground.
    
    It will be counted and sunk.
    
                   Have fun

    RE: .29
    
    If the destroyer disappears from the screen then the sonar has been
    damaged, check your damage report!!  The best tactic I have found is to
    try and have your stern tubes toward the destroyer and be at flank
    speed.  Let him close to within 800 yards and then fire 2 fish.  That
    should send him down to Davey Jones' locker.
    
    Ping ping .. BOOM!

    
    RE:406.31
     
    I TRIED FOUR TIMES AND EVEN RAN A WHOLE CONVOY INTO THE GROUND, BUT 
    NONE OF THEM WHERE EVER COUNTED. DO THE SHIPS HAVE TO BE ON FIRE FIRST
    OR ARE YOU ON A SPECIFIC SCREEN TO GET THEM TO COUNT ?
     
    JUST CURIOUS MY HIGH SCORE IS 84600, ANY HIGHER ?

    I rented this ovber last week-end - - I loved it, my wife hated it,
    "Too boring" she said.  I can understand that the maneuvering part when
    you get behind a convoy is "boring" to someone who is not "hunting".
    
    Anyway, I might get it for my birthday, my son wants me to get SMB3 for
    my b'day, I'll probly get SMB3 8^| (I guess it's an ok alternate)
    
    
    Steve

    Boy this game sounds great!  Can someone who has it please give
    an overview of the game? Goals, senario(s) sounds like there is more
    than one, difficulty levels if any, typical length of game, game
    save feature if any etc?  Thanks in Advance. Art

    The game starts off with three basic selections.  The first is for
    practice.  There are 4 ship available for target practice.  The
    second is a selection of short battles based on real situations.
    The third is a War Patrol which lasts about 50 days.  You start
    from Midway, Brisbain or Freemantle.  You leave port and sail the
    Pacific until a Combat situation is encountered.  The next situation
    is similar to the second selection which is a short battle of a few
    hours.  You may elect to not take this short battle but look around
    for another short battle.  When you select a short battle, You are in
    the Conning Tower of a sub.  You can select different screens such as
    Periscope/Binoculars, Maps, Control Panel, Quartermasters Log or 
    Damage report.  You use all the screens to determine what is going
    on.  The main screen is the Periscope/Binoculars which has controls
    for heading/diving/surfacing, clock, Target tracking info which
    includes Target speed, target heading, target class and weight, range
    etc.  You use these screens to fire torpedoes or a deck gun.  There
    are sounds such as sonar, guns, engines, etc.  Difficulty changes
    by selection of your beginning rank and other situations.  The
    situations are Dud torpedoes, Zig/Zagging convoys, Expert destroyers
    poor visibility, etc.  The end of the mission you are then ranked
    up or down from your initial rank.  A fun game for an ex-submariner.
    

    
    I bought this game last week and agree with these earlier replies, this
    is a very fun game. Last night I went from sinking 41,000 tons in one
    war patrol game to getting sunk in the first battle of another war
    patrol game. I have a few questions that hopefully one of you more
    seasoned veterans can answer. In the instruction book when talking
    about the War Patrol selection, it mentions that every sub is different
    and that you should get to know your sub's characteristics. How are
    the subs different? It dosen't look like they hold any more weaponry
    then the next and one dosen't appear faster then the next that I can
    see. Also I have noticed a few times that I can't fire my deck guns
    when I wanted. I was on the surface and was within range of my target
    Could this be one of those differences, like possibly this sub had a
    slow crew (or operator) or something? I have seen this a couple of
    times but don't remember what patrol I selected.. Any ideas??
    
    Thanks,
    Steve
    

    In the instructions it mentions that you can safely return to the
    base when the sea turns green.  Can someone let me know what I need
    to do to accomplish this?  If I wait in front of the base or in
    it, I always get a message saying I was lost at sea.  Also, if you
    successfully return to base do you get a new supply of ammunition?
    Last night I sunk 94,000 tons that's my high.  Great game.
    
    Thanks for any help you can give me.
    
    Bob

    re:-1
    
    Bob,
    
    I did the same thing as you did with regards to the sea turning green
    and returning to base. The sea will only turn green when you enter the
    base that I can see. When you do that, your war patrol ends and 
    you get your rank and enter the hall of fame (or whatever it is
    called). I don't think there is anyway to get a new supply of weapons
    or get repairs done (if you selected the Base repairs only at game
    start up). 94,000 tons is great.. I think my highest was only 52k.
    
    Steve

    
    One thing I forgot to mention is, when you enter the base and the sea
    turns green you have to hit the A button..
    
    Steve
    

    I find that I really like to play the "realistic" game.  This is level
    3, with all the options turned on.  The difficulty rating of such a
    game is 7.  Unfortunately, I find the Japanese tactics infuriating.
    
    Aren't they stupid?  There's at least three tactics I can think of that
    the *real* merchant marine and escorts should use, that would be much
    more realistic and lead to a more challenging game.  
    
    *Warning* I am not a submarine warfare historian.  If the tactics I
    propose don't make sense, perhaps some of you WGSC's out there can let
    me know.
    
    1) Fire at the periscope.  When an escort is charging at you in
    daytime, I find that submerging just below the surface and setting up a
    firing solution almost always works.  Let them get to ~1500 yards, and
    pop 'em with one or two fish.  Boom!
    
    A *real* destroyer, seeing a periscope out of the water, shoots at the
    periscope!  If the sub can't see you, he can't shoot you...  I can
    understand that sometimes a destroyer's crew might not be able to spot
    the 'scope, so the destroyer just charges in blindly.  (Nobody said
    being a destroyer captain was easy.)  But they *never* fire at a scope
    in the game, and I'm sure this isn't because they don't know I'm
    looking at them.
    
    2) Convoy scatter.  Run into a convoy during the day, and they're
    moving away from you faster than you can catch them?  Easy - you're
    going to have to fight the destroyers anyway, so make them come to you. 
    Surface and charge the convoy.  When your sonar tells you that the
    destroyers are after you, submerge and blow them away as they come in. 
    (See complaint #1.)  Then resurface, and continue charging the convoy. 
    They will conveniently stay in a huddled mass, so you can blow them
    away with your deck gun, with no problem.  (I generally close to 500
    yards or so, and drop in the shots without having to worry about
    deflection.)
    
    *Real* merchantmen don't stick together after they're escorts are all
    dead.  They head out in opposite directions.  The sub might get one or
    two of the ships, but not all of them.
    
    3) Q-ships.  I have no idea if the Japanese actually used any of these,
    but I know the Allies did.  A Q-ship looks just like a cargo ship. 
    Unfortunately, those boxes on the deck of the ship are empty - they're 
    actually just camoflauge for a large cannon or two...
    
    Imagine getting to 500 yards using the tactics I outlined above, when
    one of the cargo ships starts shooting back.  Ouch!
    
    
    Of course, the enemy destroyers do seem to have one advantage.  I've
    never seen a depth charge fail to damage my sub enough to start me
    sinking like a rock.  Even full forward speed with dive planes up will
    not stop me from descending - so I blow tanks, pop up like a cork and
    generally end up being rammed.  (I have occasionally managed to shoot
    down a destroyer when in this cirumstance, since my rate of fire seems
    much higher than his, at close range.)
    
    Anybody ever been depth-charged, and survived, without being forced to
    surface?  What's the secret?
    
    Heck, anybody been chased by a destroyer that they couldn't sink,
    because they were out of weapons, and escape?
    
    - Chris
    

          
    I have a word of warning for people considering buying this game.
    Here's my story:
    
    I bought this game at a local Toys R' Us and rushed home to play it,
    only to have it malfunction immediately during any submarine
    simulation. The beginning menu's were fine, but after I selected any
    one of the three modes of play, the screen would start to break up and
    evetualy "freeze" or lock up. All my other games worked o.k., and after
    retuning to the retailer three times, I was no better off. I then tried
    it on a neighbor kid's controller deck and it worked fine.
    
    I called the 800 number on the bottom of the control deck (Nintendo)
    an after a brief conversation, learned that there have been numerous
    complaints about this game concerning similar symptoms. The Nintendo
    rep refered me to Ultra, the game pack maker for resolution. I called
    Ultra, and learned that this problem is being exhibited on older game
    controllers. It seems that there is a compatability problem with the 
    program code and older decks, and although he needed my controller
    serial # to cofirm this, he declined to furnish the affected serial#
    range. It may be worthwhile to note that I got my controller sometime
    around the first year that they were introduced.
    
    Anyway, the Ultra rep assured me that I could get a refund or
    replacement cartridge directly from Ultra, as Toys R' Us will not
    refund money on opened game packs. He advised me that a replacement
    cartridge would very likley not solve the problem  as I had
    already replaced it three times from the retailer. He further advised
    me that they were actively pursueing the problem and should have a
    resolution in 2 to 3 weeks.
    
    Ultra can be reached at 1-708-215-5111
    
    John D.
    
          

     RESPONDING TO 406.32, I AGREE THAT MOST OF THE TIME A DEPTH CHARGE
    WILL BE FATAL,I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCATIONS WHEN IT WASN'T-I THINK 
    ITS JUST LUCK. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN ESCAPE THE ESCORTS BY SINKING
    DOWN BELOW A THERMAL-CLINE. CHECK YOUR GUAGES AND KEEP GOING DOWN
    UNTIL THE INDICATOR IS IN THE BLUE (THIS MEANS YOUR BELOW A THERMAL
    CLINE) THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE DESTROYERS TO FIND YOU,
    ITS LIKE HINDING UNDER A BLANKET. WHATCH THE INDICATOR THOUGH BECAUSE
    THE LEVEL OF THE THERMAL-CLINE WILL CHANGE. I USED THE EMERGENCY DEBRIS
    RELEASE,TO FOOL THE ENEMY,I'VE ONLY USED IT THREE TIMES,ONCE IT WORKED,
    THE OTHER TIMES THE ENEMY WENT NUTS ON ME AND DOWN I WENT.
      IF YOU WANT TO GO FOR THE BIG SCORE,JUST SINK THE TROOP CARRIERS,WHEN
    POSSIBLE,AND LEAVE THE SMALL STUFF. WITH THIS METHOD MY HIGHEST SCORE
    IS 123,000. 
      SOMEONE MENTIONED IN AN EARLIER NOTE,THAT YOU CAN RUN SHIPS AGROUND
    AND THEY WILL COUNT. THIS HAS WORKED FOR ME JUST ONCE,AT THAT TIME 
    I LEFT ONE SHIP BURNING AND CHASED THE OTHERS AGROUND.THE NEXT TIME
    I TRIED IT, NOTHING COUNTED. ANYONE HAVE SOME IDEAS HOW TO MAKE THIS
    WORK ?

    Replying to note .43-
         I too got Silent Service and have the screen break-up and
    freeze-up problem.  It was exactly as note .43 said.  I called the
    number he listed and they told me I had to send the game to them.
    Does anyone think this will actually do any good?  I don't know.
    
    I really do like the game and I wish I could play it!  This is very
    frustrating!
    
    Glen.

    RE: .45 (Glen)
    
    I don't think it's going to help much, but you can try. I tried three
    different copies with the same problem. Unless Ultra has some new
    improved unreleased copies of the game, they should be the same as
    the one's on the retail shelves. If you do send it in, let us know if
    it fixes the problem. 
    
    John D.
    

    I just got off the phone with Nintendo America. It seems Ultra gave my
    name and phone# to them, and they gave it to thier engineering R & D group
    to resolve. I recieved a phone call from one of the engineers, and he
    asked me to describe the problem to him. After I told my story, he said
    that his group has been working furiously to solve the problem, but
    were no closer to the resolution.
    
    Here's what blew me away. He said that if I Fed Ex'ed my controller to
    Nintendo attention to him and *charges to be paid by recipient* he
    would send me a BRAND NEW Nintendo controller deck by return mail.
    
    How's that for customer service and problem resolution!
    
    John D.
    

    Read in the Nintendo news magazine that there is a carrier and a
    cruiser in the game as targets.  Has anyone of you ever seen the
    above ships in the scope ?  I have only seen Troop and Cargo ships
    in the game.  Plus the usuall Destroyer.
    

         I had the game for a couple of weeks and went on
    many patrols with all of the various subs. Never once 
    did I stumble across a carrier or cruiser ! Maybe they
    are out there somewhere in the Pacific hiding ! If I 
    ever get another copy of the game I will try to track
    them down.
    
    Jim Cooper

I also have Silent Service and really enjoy it.  BUT, I have  a couple of 
questions that hopefully someone can help me with.  When play War
Patrol, after the screen turns red and i survive the initial battle
I can't find any more ships, and I can't get back to the big search
map either.  I have spent close to an hour and a half cruising the
high seas on factor 8 and have never found a second convoy.  I have
searched high and low along the shipping lanes outlined in the map,
but to no avail.  Are there more convoys out there?  HELP HELP.

Thanks in advance.  
ROB

    I did the same thing the first time I played the war patrol on this
    game!  The way to get back to the patrolling screen is like this:
    
    While at the conning tower screen (that's the screen where you can
    either use the periscope, map, view gauges, etc.) move the cursor
    to the lower left of the screen and there will be an option to go
    back to war patrols!  It's as simple as that.
    
    Good luck-
    Glen.

    Re. 51
    
    Correctomundo on patrol continuation. This is really a fun game,
    I just wish that Nintendo hadn't sent John a new game deck so I
    could still be playing his game. Guess I'll just have to buy my
    own !!! 8^) 
       
    Jim Cooper

    Did John actually receive his new control deck?

                That'd be  nice to know as well, since I have the
                same problem with  this  cartridge and my control
                deck.  I've had  mine or three years now and have
                been  experiencing  the  same  problem  with  the
                Silent  Service  game.    It *IS*  a  great  game
                though. :^)
                
                Too bad you can't get more ammunition though.  If
                it  wasn't  for running out of ammo, I'd  be  out
                there in the Pacific, even NOW ! :^)
                
                Matt :^)

    Yes, John got his new deck from Nintendo for no charge and
    they even paid for shipping both ways by Fed-ex. He was
    without a game deck for about 4-5 days. I know all this
    because I had his Silent Service cartridge while he was
    waiting for the new deck. I will tell John to put the
    particulars of getting a new deck from Nintendo when he
    comes in today. 
    
    Jim Cooper

    RE: the last few
    
    Yes, I did get my new controller, and quickly, too! I sent it Fed-x on
    a Friday, and recieved it the next Tuesday. Nintendo paid the frieght
    both ways. Silent Service works fine now, but I have yet to find a
    cruiser or carrier. Oh, well.
    
    If you are having the problems I described in earlier notes, I suggest
    that you make Nintendo aware of it. They'll take care of it for you.
    
    John D.

                Thanks !    I'm  gonna' give `em a call today and
                see what they  can  do for me.  I had the problem
                come up yesterday on a war patrol, and I couldn't
                see them (through the binoculars) until they were
                UNDER 4000 yards away.  Kind  of frustrating when
                you can't tell if there are any Destroyers or Kai
                Bokan in the convoy !
                
                Thanks again !
                Matt

                Oh yeah,  is the Nintendo America number the same
                as when ordering cartridges ?
                
                1-800-422-2602
                
                Matt 

                Just  got   off  the  phone  with  Ultra.    Very
                unpleasant guy if you  ask me.  He wants the game
                cartridge sent into them for  testing.    If they
                deem it's a bad cartridge, they're  going to send
                me  another  one.    If  it's a  good  cartridge,
                they're  going to try and figure out how  to  fix
                the problem I have.  Uh-huh !
                
                He  said  that  it  didn't  sound  like  the same
                problem as  well.    Lemme  see,  mine blinks and
                parts  of  the  display  disappear  and  reappear
                erratically.  Mostly when I'm trying  to view the
                convoy  through  the  scope or binoculars.   Also
                that part  of  the  screen  where  you  find  the
                convoy's heading, speed  and  distance.  I've had
                the cartridge freeze up  on  me  twice this week,
                and last night I wasn't  able  to  see the convoy
                until I was just under 4000 yards away from them.
                Is this the same problem that  others  have  been
                having or is mine totally different ?
                
                Confused of Vermont. . .
                
                Matt

    Your problem sounds almost exactly like mine did.  I wouldn't send
    the game to Ultra if I was you.  I would call Nintendo instead.
    They will probably want to send you a new control deck.  If you
    send your game in you won't get it back for weeks and they'll say
    that there's nothing wrong with anyway.
    
    Good Luck-
    Glen.

    Re. 59-60
       Some of the conditions that can be set up for War Patrol
    will cause the target display to blink in and out until
    you are very close to a convoy. At first I thought I was
    having problems with the game but then figured out that
    some of the subs appear to have better Radar than others
    and this was causing the target data to blink in and out
    under reduced visibility conditons. Try a patrol using
    different characteristics and see if the problem continues
    or is related to patrol setup.
       
     Jim Cooper

    When I had the problem, the only sceen that would work was the initial
    menu screen. When I entered any mode of play, the screen would jitter
    and break up immediatley and completely, usually going to all black
    within 30-40 seconds. I took the cartridge back to the original point
    of purchase 3 times and had all 3 fail the same way. In this way I
    avoided having to send the game to Ultra with the associated delay. 
    Besides, I wasn't *too* thrilled with thier phone etiquette either.
    
    If you have the reciept and the time, I'd take the game back to where
    you purchased it and exchange it. That should help determine if it's a
    game or controller problem. I called the Nintendo number on the bottom
    of the controller deck; You may want to start there in dealing with
    Nintendo.
    
    All in all, I was treated well. Good luck, and keep us posted!
    
    John D.

    Another stray thought, you might try passing the game around to other
    people with Nintendo decks. If it plays fine on other decks, then the
    problem is not with the game pack.
    
    John D.

    
                   Does anyone out there know how to fire the aft torpedos?
    The instruction book says that if the target is behind you, it will
    fire the aft tubes. But everytime I try, they won't work. This does not
    help when you are being chased by a Kaibokan.
    
                   Thanks in advance for any help.

    I never had a problem firing the aft tubes as long as I made sure
    that the target was more than 90 degrees off the bow of the sub
    (either left or right). 
        Go to the practice range and cruise up and down along side
    the target ships and select the screen that lets you see the
    sub and the target (get close). Then you can experiment with
    the heading and target bearing to see what it takes to get
    the aft tubes to fire. 
        Example:
    
                 Your sub is headed on 45 degrees, target bearing is
    150 degrees, aim and fire !! Aft torpedo tube fired !!! The aft
    tubes should fire in this scenario anytime the target bearing is
    136-269 degrees as this puts the target more than 90 degrees off
    of your bow. Remember, you don;t have to turn the sub, you just
    need the proper relationship between you and the target.
         Hope this helps !! If you still have difficulties, try aligning
    the target indicator with the stern of the sub, go to the screen
    which shows sub and target, leave the scope pointed aft, and then
    back the sub towards your target. Fire when the stern is pointed
    at the target. This is a little archaic but it works !!
    
    Jim (w.g.s.c. many times) 

    Okay, I give up.  What the heck is a W.G.S.C??

                                                  - Dave

    When the game is over it gives you a ranking depending on how
    many points were scored. I think that W.G.S.C stands for
    " Weally Good Sub Captain" or maybe War Game Supreme Commander.
    
    Jim

                W.G.S.C.  =  Worlds Greatest Submarine Captain
                
                The only  thing I'd like to be able to do (that I
                haven't)  is  when  submerged   (below  periscope
                depth) with a Kai Bokan coming at me, is fire aft
                torpedoes.  I've found that I'll  come  up  to  a
                convoy and make a shot at either the Kai Bokan or
                the  Destroyer,  hit one and have the other  bear
                down on me.  I'll submerge, but in the  meantime,
                I'm outta'  bow torpedoes.  (Or sometimes not far
                from it) Then  I'll  let the Kai Bokan bear right
                down over top of me and try to fire aft torpedoes
                just  after he goes by.    (This  is  done  while
                watching  the map) It'd be nice,  cause  I  don't
                think all battles were fought by use  of the TDC.
                Some were DEFINITELY luck shots.
                
                Just  an  observation,  since  I don't think it's
                possible.
                
                Matt_taking_the_old_cartridge_back_today_! :^)

    RE: .68
    
    
    It's possible, I did it last night. What you have to do is line up the
    periscope coordinates with the stern of your sub. Then *all* you have
    to do is point the aft at the target and fire your torppedoes. You
    might want to fire one, rotate a few degrees, and fire another, etc.,
    because this method will require some luck. Since the periscope isn't
    up, the TDC isn't operating and you'll have to find the target bearing
    by a hit or miss method. When I did it, it was a nighttime attack, I
    was about 40' deep with no scope. I don't know if you can fire
    torpedoes from below periscope depth; I haven't tried that. The
    important thing to remember is that the torpedoes will always track
    on the bearing of the scope, so it must be dead astern if you want the
    most reliability.
    
    Hopre this helps,
    
    John D.

                Thanks John !  I played around with it again last
                night and tried to  see  what I could figure out.
                I did find that if  you  fire  at  a  ship that's
                REALLY  close  (@  419  yards to  be  exact)  the
                torpedo  will go right under the ship.    (I  was
                submerged  in  42'  of water, flank engines right
                directly underneath the  cargo  ship and surfaced
                to 42' just on  the other side of the ship.  This
                way I could fire my  LAST  torpedo  (from  my aft
                tubes)).  I missed, needless to  say,  but  I did
                make W.G.S.C. Class 1 with 71,300 tons ! :^)
               
                Love this game, although my girlfriend wishes I'd
                never bought it ! :^)
                
                Matt

    
    	I finally bought this game the other day.  Back in my old
    	Intellivision days, Sub Hunt always was one of my favorites.
    	I remember hoping how there would be a NES version someday.
    	Anyway, I have a question.  On the Instrument and Gauges
    	Battle Station (page 10 in the Instruction Booklet) there
    	is a gauge (Gauge I - Depth Under the Keel) that is supposed
    	to show the depth from the sub to the ocean's bottom, to
    	help prevent you from hitting the bottom, I presume.  It
    	says when the gauge reads zero, you'll run aground.  Mine
    	only seems to work during Torpedo/Gun Pratice.  As I submerge
    	deeper and deeper, the gauge works it's way around from a
    	higher number to zero.  I then hit the bottom, just as I
    	should.  However, when I'm in Convoy Action and/or War Patrol
    	mode, the gauge is always on zero (even when I'm on the sur-
    	face), and it never moves, no matter what depth I'm at.  Am I
    	doing something wrong; is this gauge not supposed to work in
    	those modes; is it a bug; is my cartridge defective?  Thanks.
    
    								 Mike
    

My guess is that on convoy actions and war patrols you are out in deeper 
waters. Thus, you would have to submerge quite a bit before the guage begins 
to register. Try going into battle close to some land mass and see if the 
guage begins to register then. I have also found that if you are near a land 
mass, as you cruise around, the guage will fluctuate as though the terain 
below the surface is changing, as it should.

I find the guages a little hard to read on the screen. My guess is that the 
needle is not directly on zero when you're on the surface. Again, get near a 
land mass and try it out.

Bob

    I had a very good (for me!) patrol session going last night. I had
    93,750 tons to my credit, and I still had 3 torpedoes and 12 rounds on
    the deck gun left. I was really looking forward to going over 100,000
    tons for the first time! Imagine my suprize, when sinking the next
    ship, to see my total tonnage decrease by 1,000 tons! It turns out
    that the game only lets you fill up one screen in the Quartermaster's
    Log, and after you fill it, every ship you sink thereafter replaces the
    last ship sunk on the list. So, if your last ship sunk was 8,000 tons
    and the next ship you sink is 4,500 tons, your total tonnage sunk drops
    by 3,500 tons. 
    
    Is there an option I don't know about that would permit multiple
    screens or do I just save my "fish" for the big guys?
    
    Also, an unrelated question. At 93,000+ tons, I was only awarded a rank
    of leutenant class 1 (I think). I never ever get the fancy titles you
    guys seem to pick up. I want to be an admiral! I want recognition! I want
    to be somebody! I want a fancy hat like Noriega! What's th secret?
    
    Still looking for the carrier,
    
    John D.

     Re: .73

     John, whats the overall difficulty rating you have for your senarios?
     You are probably only getting to be a lieutenant because you're up
     against a relatively easy opponent.  Try turning on all the options
     in the setup screen.  Then you'll be bumped up all the way (assuming
     you don't eat any depth charges)

                                - Dave (a Weasonably Good Submarine Captain)

    	re: .72
    
    	Bob,
    
    	I called Ultra in an attempt to get the facts about that Depth
    	Under the Keel gauge question I had.  I described the symptoms
    	to the guy and asked him if that gauge was supposed to work that
    	way, or what.  He said that it did work the way I had described,
    	confirming my observations.  I asked if it was a bug, because it
    	seemed that the gauge should work in all three modes.  He said
    	it worked in the other modes for him sometimes.  I had my doubts
    	about it working for him at all, but I said, "It works *sometimes*?
    	Sounds like a bug to me."  He told me not to worry about it, as I
    	really didn't need that gauge to play the game anyway.  That made
    	me believe it was a bug that they knew about, but sure didn't want
    	to go to the expense of dealing with.  Anyway, I'll live with it,
    	but I definitely didn't like the attitude of the Customer Service
    	person I talked with.
    
    								       Mike
    
    	

    I'm starting to see this game priced for $24.99 around town....*argh*
    
    Did anyone ever find the rumored carrier of cruiser? I wonder if a call
    to Ultra might help confirm the exsistance.
    
    John D.

    I decided to take my own advice and call Ultra to confirm the presence
    or absence of a carrier or cruiser. The answer? 
    
    No. Not true. A rumor. *DARN*
    
    Does anyone care? Does anyone still play this game? 
    
    John D.
    
    FWIW, I've now seen this game selling for $19.99. They'll be giving it
    away soon! 8^)

       Darn I have been searching and searching  and passing up many
    targets to get the big one, I guess that I will go ahead and see
    how many and how high a score I can roll up now.
    Thanks for the info.
    
    Kendall

I'm not a lover of real fast paced games...I love Silent Service and hope that
SS 2 is in the offing!!

95,000 Ton top score for me!

Phil

    This one of the games my wife hates because it is so slow paced she
    thinks.  Also I like this game because the player is in control at all
    times.  Yes even when you are sinking like a rock you can stil blow you
    tank and take one more with yooo.  
    
    Back to the ??? of Carriers From What I understand this game first came
    out for use PCs and in that v you can refuel and reload at the sub
    bases until your sub is sunk.  Also I have seen SS II in the mall here
    but again it is for the PCs.
    
    
    I know nothing about how these games are designed but I think If they
    dropped the PRACTICE and CONVOY parts there would be enough room to let
    you reload and so forth.  Plus make room for other types of targets
    like maybe a sub attack on tokyo.
    
    
    Jerry