Briefing:

BACKGROUND: On February 19, 1942 Japan launched it biggest air assault since Pearl Harbor ... against Darwin, Australia. This was the time of the Empire's seemingly unstoppable advance through Southeast Asia and the Pacific. After the war Japan insisted it never had the slightest intention of invading Australia but wanted only to disrupt preparations for using Darwin to support Allied military operations farther north. The inspiration for this mission is the theory an invasion really was planned and for some reason abandoned. In "Empire of the Sun" these plans are executed on February 20th. You will play an important role in saving Darwin.

MISSION: Flush with numerous victories the Japanese Empire seeks to push its advantage and sees an opportunity for establishing a foothold in Australia. Having recently taken Dutch Borneo, the IJN has dispatched warships to shell Darwin and land troops there. Darwin's isolation makes it vulnerable owing to the difficulty of resupply and inevitable delays in re-inforcing the garrison there. You are member of a small but determined group of defenders who must convince the enemy this initiative is a mistake and that Darwin is not so easy a prize as he has assumed. Japanese patrols are already in the area and essentially control the Timor Sea, running interference for the main invasion force.

The mission begins at 0430 in calm conditions. High humidity may limit visibility. You begin in dock, departing Frances Bay at flank speed just behind warships of the Australian Navy. There's trouble brewing as you will soon discover.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

1. The principle threat arises from the fact two escorted battleships are on the way from the general direction of East Timor. The fast Australian surface vessels will do their best to discourage the invasion from further out to sea while your job will be to intercept any battleship that breaks through the defensive line. You must sink one "Kongo" class battleship. The first is expected late morning of February 20th and the second shortly thereafter.

2. A converted passenger liner functioning as a troop carrier will arrive in the early afternoon of the 20th with a landing force. You must stop this vessel as well. It is heavily escorted but just one torpedo will sink it.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

Be alert for additional assignments arising from changing circumstances. Your patrol area is a suggestion only and you should expect messages from time to time assigning other targets in the vicinity or notifying you of emerging threats. There is a considerable Japanese presence and anything could happen. Bearing in mind requirements for meeting your primary objectives, assist any nearby Allied vessels if you can. You do not need to complete secondary objectives for your mission to succeed.

STRATEGY:

Your best bet is to patrol the near approaches to Darwin from Lee Point to Charles Point. Close-in you can benefit from the shore batteries but shallow water may limit your effectiveness. Stick close to the mouth of the bay but keep in mind Japanese warships pay special attention to that area.

You are liable to witness a number of surface vessel confrontations as the Japanese navy attempts securing safe passage of the assault and landing forces. You are not required to participate in these battles but if you can manage it, your contribution would be welcome and could facilitate completion of your primary objectives later on. Sinking a battleship could take 6 or more torpedoes and you will need at least one direct hit to deal with the troop ship. Exercise appropriate discretion in engaging other vessels. Remember also that there are likely to be some duds or units that go off prematurely.

EXTRAS:

The mission features a good deal of carnage which you can help create - or prevent - depending on how you choose to participate. There are many spectacular external and periscope views. The sea west of Darwin is shallow meaning that most shipwrecks remain partially exposed. Once you are declared successful, consider returning to Darwin and helping clean up remnants of the IJN.
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Mission Download and Installation

To download this mission, click here  to obtain an ordinary ZIP file which you can extract yourself (WinXP will do it automatically). Be sure to specify a destination directory named \SM14 Empire of the Sun on some suitable drive.

Modify this folder specification to point to a valid disk drive. For example, you might modify the string to look like C:\SM14 Empire of the Sun. The process provides a clear opportunity to enter this information.

When extraction is completed, copy or move the extracted folder and its contents to C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\Silent Hunter 4 Wolves of the Pacific\Data\SingleMissions  (it is assumed you used the default installation location for Silent Hunter. If you used something else, modify the destination accordingly). You may rename the folder either before or after copying to anything you want but remember, you must also rename the two files in the folder so that the part of the name to the left of the extensions (.mis and .tsr) is identical to the folder name. If you don't, the simulation will not be able to find the mission.

If you have trouble with any of this or notice errors, do not hesitate contacting the captain.

The mission will appear in your "Quick Missions" game menu as "Empire of the Sun".