Silent Hunter 4 (SH4) actually allows us to captain the infamous Wahoo among others. Those familiar with SH4 know that it is an incredible graphical experience and for the uninitiated the details will have you feeling queasy as your periscope pitches and rolls in tune with the swells. The sea state modeling, weather, and graphics details are just phenomenal. Smoke, explosions, sound effects, and replication of various submarine systems are very well done. Playing SH4 alternates between the relative boredom of transiting to your patrol station (interrupted occasionally by ship or aircraft sightings) followed by the building tension as you start approaching the enemy. It culminates with a frenzy of activity as you make your attack and attempt to evade to fight another day. It is fantastic gameplay.
O’Kane was so disappointed with the results of the first patrol (one freighter reported sunk) that he lobbied for some help from his superiors. His wish was granted when the Navy cut orders for Lt. Commander Dudley W. “Mush” Morton to report for duty on Wahoo as the PCO (Prospective Commanding Officer) under Kennedy. The second patrol fared no better than the first however and after several unsuccessful approaches and missed opportunities for follow up attacks Wahoo headed for Brisbane having sunk just one tanker where Commander Kennedy was relieved of command for his unproductive patrols. Lt. Commander Morton assumed command of Wahoo and it was clear from the start that a new skipper, with a completely different attitude would now be taking the fight to the enemy:
“In the morning, the Captain spoke briefly to all hands, stating simply that Wahoo was going to investigate every surface contact, and if it developed into a legitimate target, we would stay with her till she was on the way to the bottom. He said if there were any who didn’t want to patrol that way they could report to Sterling, who would take care of their transfer without any aspersions whatsoever appearing in their record. This was what the crew wanted and Sterling had no takers.” – page 117
SH4 allows you to play campaigns from whichever year you choose in the Pacific theater. Once you’ve selected a starting year and type of submarine it is up to you to follow your patrol orders and successfully complete the missions you’ve been assigned. Missions can range from patrolling an enemy sector to interdict shipping to silently inserting spies behind enemy lines. The missions allow you the leeway to engage enemy contacts prior to or after completing your mission, but the primary goal is completing the mission and returning safely to your home port.
Under the command of Lt. Cmdr. Morton Wahoo enjoyed a far more successful third patrol. Morton’s unique command style, which shared much of the tactical decision-making with the senior officers aboard, led to extremely effective tactics that reaped instant rewards in both tonnage sunk, and harmony among the crew. While Morton and O’Kane were aggressive with their pursuits of the enemy, they tempered their decisions with the knowledge that they were ultimately responsible for the safety of the entire crew and they rarely pressed an attack without carefully considering the possibilities of their decisions.
“For the first time since Wewak, Wahoo was on the defensive, and the captain ordered 100 feet. That was Morton – be on the offensive or defensive, never in between.” – page 149
