Silent Service

aka: Das U-Boot, Silent Service: The Submarine Simulation
Moby ID: 1812
DOS Specs
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Description official descriptions

You are now a member of the Silent Service, the US Navy Submarine command. For a long while after Pearl Harbor, you are the only forces capable of striking back at the Japanese in the Pacific. Take one of the "fleet boats" and go on extended patrols of up to 2 months from Hawaii, Australia, or New Zealand. Set your difficulty/realism level and time period (early means less tech for juicier targets, later means tougher escorts, more tech, lousier targets). Contend with factors like dud torpedoes, maximum depth, and more.

You can choose among practice run against some old hulks, recreate historical convoy attacks, go on a single patrol, or go on your own campaign, which lets you go multiple patrols until you die, get promoted, or survive the war.

How well will you do when matched against history?

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (DOS version)

16 People (12 developers, 4 thanks)

Design and Development
Graphics
Artwork
IBM Version
Documentation
Playtesting
Quality Control
Special Thanks to Former Submarine Officers
Cover Art
A note from the designer Sid Meier
  • This simulation was inspired by the book CLEAR THE BRIDGE by
  • Richard H. O'Kane (Commander of the USS TANG during the World War II)

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 74% (based on 27 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.9 out of 5 (based on 83 ratings with 1 reviews)

Excellent game for its time

The Good
the game was tactical without being boring with a good mix of stalking and shoot em up

The Bad
Nothing

The Bottom Line
Perfect for those that enjoy lots of action but with a little use of the grey matter!

DOS · by Ray Col (1) · 2004

Discussion

Subject By Date
$30 on the DOS shelf at Computer Village in mid. 1990 Andrew Fisher (697) Apr 10, 2023

Trivia

German index

On March 23, 1988 the game was taken off the the German index after the German distributor Rushware entered an objection. MicroProse themselves also objected, stated that a law should not lump computer software in with pornographic videos. The incident was even discussed on the front cover of the UK newspaper The Independent.

Awards

  • Commodore Format
    • July 1993 (Issue 34) - Modern Classics: Sims
  • Computer Gaming World
    • November 1996 (15th Anniversary issue) - #86 on the "150 Best Games of All Time" list* Happy Computer
    • 1986 - Best Simulation of the Year
    • Issue 04/1987 - #3 Best Game in 1986 (Readers' Vote)

Analytics

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Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 1812
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Terok Nor.

Thomson TO, Thomson MO added by Rola. PC Booter added by Trixter. Commodore 64, Atari ST, Apple II, NES added by PCGamer77. Windows, Linux, Macintosh added by Rik Hideto. Amiga added by Zadok. ZX Spectrum added by Kabushi. Amstrad CPC added by Martin Smith. Apple IIgs added by Garcia.

Additional contributors: PCGamer77, Kasey Chang, Martin Smith, formercontrib, Patrick Bregger, FatherJack.

Game added June 28, 2000. Last modified January 29, 2024.