Grossly disappointing and abysmally embarrassing.

[c13Garrison]

This could be filed under the heading a lesson learned, but that would only be half the truth.

I've had probably 22 patrols over 2 careers with my modded SH, and I've only encountered One convoy, blundered into by accident when out of torpedoes. I decided I was going to just camp at Convoy College until I got my diploma.

I was 4 days away from the Formosa straits when COMSUBPAC alerted that there would be a convoy passing through there in 2 days. So I took the risk, and went to Flank for 2 days to be on station in time. I was in the middle of the biggest gap, right off Convoy College. No convoy. 2 weeks later I was notified a convoy would be in the southern end of the Formosa straits in 2 days, so I burned gas to get there in timely fashion. No convoy.

I've purposely tried to intercept 6 "traffic" notified convoys and never seen a single one. And now, the USS Nautilis is sending this signal-

To: COMSUBPAC & All Ships At Sea
SS-168 at location 25*20'N by 156*53'E Tanks empty. Requesting rescue. 11/17/1943

...the Important thing I take from this is fuel usage. 2/3's is the Most efficient, not just compared to Higher speeds, but Lower. I had presumed I might need to use 1/3 speed for the first 1000 miles home, but I was horrified when the range estimate read out to far less than 2/3 or Standard. So, I screwed myself, for lack of knowledge.

...I'm 1/4 tempted to just TC away the last year and a half of the war in spite. ...but, I suppose I need a break, and fresh perspective.

[Bubblehead1980]

This could be filed under the heading a lesson learned, but that would only be half the truth.

I've had probably 22 patrols over 2 careers with my modded SH, and I've only encountered One convoy, blundered into by accident when out of torpedoes. I decided I was going to just camp at Convoy College until I got my diploma.

I was 4 days away from the Formosa straits when COMSUBPAC alerted that there would be a convoy passing through there in 2 days. So I took the risk, and went to Flank for 2 days to be on station in time. I was in the middle of the biggest gap, right off Convoy College. No convoy. 2 weeks later I was notified a convoy would be in the southern end of the Formosa straits in 2 days, so I burned gas to get there in timely fashion. No convoy.

I've purposely tried to intercept 6 "traffic" notified convoys and never seen a single one. And now, the USS Nautilis is sending this signal-

To: COMSUBPAC & All Ships At Sea
SS-168 at location 25*20'N by 156*53'E Tanks empty. Requesting rescue. 11/17/1943

...the Important thing I take from this is fuel usage. 2/3's is the Most efficient, not just compared to Higher speeds, but Lower. I had presumed I might need to use 1/3 speed for the first 1000 miles home, but I was horrified when the range estimate read out to far less than 1/3 or Standard. So, I screwed myself, for lack of knowledge.

...I'm 1/4 tempted to just TC away the last year and a half of the war in spite. ...but, I suppose I need a break, and fresh perspective.

I'm confused how youve only ran into one convoy in 22 patrols, I could see it in 42 as in RSRD(sounds like youre running RSRD) convoys are not that plentiful(japanese didnt run a lot of convoys in 42) .Little confused on how you ran out of fuel, then again the nautilus is not the most fuel effiicent boat. Ahead Standard if most fuel effiicent setting in TMO RSRD.I may lower speed to 12 knots on fleetboats if patrol area is far off from closest port, gives a safety factor and more time on station.I usually run ahed standard(15 1/2 knots) to and from patrol area, 10 knots in area. Are you using the pseudo narwhal or the subsim donation narwhal?

[c13Garrison]

The donation Narwhal. I can't explain the no convoys, its the honest freakin truth. Just the one I stumbled into by accident, though I did successfully intercept a 'notified' TF approaching Bungo.

The only merchants I've found on the high seas are "random" solos, which it feels like the game spawns at about a 3% chance per hour on station at a choke point.

I used about 20% of my fuel to get close to Formosa, but my flank speed 2 day sprint cost me almost 50% of my total fuel load. I was shocked to discover the efficiency curve for the Narwhal's fuel is a 'bell' whereas for the S-boats it is a slope; 1/3 in an S is definitely more fuel efficient than 2/3's, but that is not the case for the donation Narwhal. At least, My Narwhal.

I'll reprint my soup recipe when I'm back at my pc.

[Admiral Halsey]

I always use ahead 2/3's as it gives maximum range.(Though I have to manually set the narwhal at a tick above 8 knots for her maximum range.)

[grislyatoms]

You are not the first to assume slower = less fuel used regardless.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=153664

:oops:

[grislyatoms]

My two latest careers (about 20 patrols) I have found 2 convoys, and only managed to successfully attack 1. I'm not good at convoy attacks, though I am improving.

[grislyatoms]

Individual control over the engines, including the "dinky", would have been a nice touch. As it is, all 4 (plus "dinky") are running when you are surfaced.

[Admiral Halsey]

You are not the first to assume slower = less fuel used regardless.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=153664

:oops:

Interesting. Though I always do a flank run to Midway unless I was told to go a certain speed.(That only happens when I get assigned to help defend Midway during the attempted invasion though.)

[Bubblehead1980]

The donation Narwhal. I can't explain the no convoys, its the honest freakin truth. Just the one I stumbled into by accident, though I did successfully intercept a 'notified' TF approaching Bungo.

The only merchants I've found on the high seas are "random" solos, which it feels like the game spawns at about a 3% chance per hour on station at a choke point.

I used about 20% of my fuel to get close to Formosa, but my flank speed 2 day sprint cost me almost 50% of my total fuel load. I was shocked to discover the efficiency curve for the Narwhal's fuel is a 'bell' whereas for the S-boats it is a slope; 1/3 in an S is definitely more fuel efficient than 2/3's, but that is not the case for the donation Narwhal. At least, My Narwhal.

I'll reprint my soup recipe when I'm back at my pc.

Well I think it's the narwhal, its an older boat, not as effiicent. I am using a Balao as I type this(arrive in patrol area, its storming so decided to check subsim and few other things) I have a Balao in March 1944 out of Pearl Harbor(use a mod, hate being based at midway all time) I sailed from Pearl at ahead standard, refueled at Majuro(its closer it turns out to Luzon Straits than Midway) then proceeded to Luzon Straits at ahead 2/3 or 10.5 knots roughly, I arrived in my area with 20 perfect fuel used, not bad.If I were at ahead standard, prob would be about 25-30 used, maybe little more.However, the transit time would have been much quicker and the time on station wouldnt be that much different.We dont have to worry about things like food and other stores in the sim, so can take our time.Took roughly 2 weeks to transit from Majuro to Luzon Straits at ahead 2/3 but ill have lots of extra fuel to burn for pursuits etc. Ducimus reworked fuel use and speed settings in TMO a while back because they were unrealistic to have to transit around at what was essentially harbor speed, fleetboats typically transited at ahead standard and patroled slower, of course there were variables. Yes, for most boats 2/3 will get you more range than standard but 2/3 is essentially harbor speed. The Narwhal is different due to the size, she was old by time the war started, not as efficent etc and believe that is factored in.1/3 though, well yes its not as efficient but youre not the first to assume that it would be so no worries.

I was thinking back when I started using RSRD, I did have trouble finding Task Forces and Convoys in open ocean. Problem is sometimes they are not where you think they would be and you may miss them by a few miles, esp without radar. I would suggest opening up the campaign traffc files with the mission editor so can see where the convoys area.Some areas lack convoys that should be there, guess he couldnt get them all.Just take a peak can see where convoys are generally, this will help you understand where the shipping lanes are.

with the mission editor open SH/Data/RSRD/Campaign/42_Jap_Convoys. 43 for 1943, etc

[c13Garrison]

Griz, on both counts- convoy impotence & fuel ignorance- thank you. At least I know I'm not alone in the SUBCOMPAC clerk office of relieved paper pushers.

Bubbs, what you say makes sense. I had decided I liked the transit speed that worked best for my Narwhal was 2/3s, whereas for my S-boat I use Standard. The incredibly high flank speed consumption of the Narwhal surprised me, and assuming 1/3 would give me very high economy killed me.

Now I just have to decide if I swallow the bitter pill and accept my failure or reload "leaving port" and give myself another chance. I know I'd be disappointed if a captain I was reading the exploits of was MIA'd... :06:

[Bubblehead1980]

Griz, on both counts- convoy impotence & fuel ignorance- thank you. At least I know I'm not alone in the SUBCOMPAC clerk office of relieved paper pushers.

Bubbs, what you say makes sense. I had decided I liked the transit speed that worked best for my Narwhal was 2/3s, whereas for my S-boat I use Standard. The incredibly high flank speed consumption of the Narwhal surprised me, and assuming 1/3 would give me very high economy killed me.

Now I just have to decide if I swallow the bitter pill and accept my failure or reload "leaving port" and give myself another chance. I know I'd be disappointed if a captain I was reading the exploits of was MIA'd... :06:

All up to you.Personally i know never reload, if i die or boat is stranded etc, its over.however, if you are still navigating the learning curve, nothing wrong with reloading.All up to you.

[agrims]

Well, Bubblehead's got a point.. But if someone is having problems with finding and sinking the enemy, reloads and such are the reason we older gents are successful. We have the option to learn from our mistakes by clicking "reload". Back then there was no such love for captains! Also, look at the training people in the military get these days, it is all a big game.. I remember in 2006 after a yard period, we got a OOD/NAV/TAO/QM/BM/XO/CO trainer installed in one of my old ships.... It was 4 screens and a blast to carve the waves in a 3-D CG!

[in_vino_vomitus]

Yeah, I've got well out of the habit of chasing distant contacts. If I can't get to an intercept position in 6 hours or less then I usually won't bother. The chance of a course alteration in the meantime is too high, and the reported course may not have been accurate anyway - I don't know how the game models this, but I assume there's a margin of a few degrees between how a course is reported and what it actually is. It certainly seems that way.

As far as the continuing career of Commander Glenn goes, I'd vote for something along these lines:

To: COMSUBPAC & All Ships At Sea
SS-168 at location 25*20'N by 156*53'E Tanks empty. Requesting rescue. 11/17/1943...

Gael awoke with a start, sitting bolt upright in bed. Beside him, nurse Perkins stirred drowsily. "Wha's matter - Y'ok?..."

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a crazy dream....."

It was good enough for the writers of Dallas after all.......

[Bubblehead1980]

Yeah, I've got well out of the habit of chasing distant contacts. If I can't get to an intercept position in 6 hours or less then I usually won't bother. The chance of a course alteration in the meantime is too high, and the reported course may not have been accurate anyway - I don't know how the game models this, but I assume there's a margin of a few degrees between how a course is reported and what it actually is. It certainly seems that way.

As far as the continuing career of Commander Glenn goes, I'd vote for something along these lines:

To: COMSUBPAC & All Ships At Sea
SS-168 at location 25*20'N by 156*53'E Tanks empty. Requesting rescue. 11/17/1943...

Gael awoke with a start, sitting bolt upright in bed. Beside him, nurse Perkins stirred drowsily. "Wha's matter - Y'ok?..."

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a crazy dream....."

It was good enough for the writers of Dallas after all.......

Don't give up on chasing contacts, RSRD gives you "ULTRAS" and its a blast when you do find them, esp if it's on a big warship such as a carrier etc or when have had a dry patrol, then an ultra comes along informing you a nice fat convoy is coming through.Those that give coordinates are most helpful.I have found that generally they will be with 10-40 NM of the coordinates provided, usually right or shortly after before the time.Really is rewarding. The main is thing is taking stock of your situation.I would not go chasing anything unless its close in a Narwhal or S boat. Gato/Balao etc have the fuel reserves to get you there quickly in most cases. Much as skippers faced it's a decision you have to make. The confusing part can be itll south "convoy en route to home islands, will be southern end of formosa straits early AM June 24 44.Well problem with that is there are two southern ends of formosa, west towards china, east towards formosa.Usually , they mean the east side closer to formosa.I believe the guy who created RSRD did this to create the fog of war.Things are more difficult if its earlier and no radar or have the old SJ model as its not all the reliable, shorter range, does not always pick contacts up , the SJ-1 usually works well.

I love the Narwhal but also after early 43 shes not meant to be out hunting ships, was used as more of a special ops boat, laying mines, transporting supplies, dropping off picking up commandos, lifeguard etc Unfortunately RSRD does not have a bunch of special missions for Narwhal. Armistead and I have discussed creating a "special ops flotilla" for Narwhal much as ducimus did in TMO, where player got special missions instead of patrol assignments. Of course, if you stumble across a juicy target you would attack unless mission forbade it.

Honestly, I have found the Porpoise class more suited(barely) into late 43 and into 44 than the Narwhal.Not being critical or anything, just as the war progresses the demands begin to be too much for the older boats.I have a P class in mid 1943 now, trying to make it into 1944 and later if possible. I have never made it past June 44 in a porpoise class unless i started a career then.I try to play historical so dont go deep unless forced deep , 250 feet against the escorts in 44 is a danger(as it was) boat takes a beating just about everytime i get depth charged.Compare this to a Balao which can easily go to 600 feet or the Gato, I usually got to 350 feet, 400 if I really have to, can survive in most cases but the old porpoise, her riveted hull and all.Add that in with the 17-18 knots max can do on surface, sluggish turning etc. Good thing is her range is up there with the newer boats so can take you anywhere, just a little bit slower.

I can't imagine taking depth charges in a narwhal after mid 43 when escorts start getting some competency. May be why you survived so long lol since havent really ran into convoys.

[TorpX]

Now I just have to decide if I swallow the bitter pill and accept my failure or reload "leaving port" and give myself another chance. I know I'd be disappointed if a captain I was reading the exploits of was MIA'd... :06:
Awhile back, I was thinking of making up an epilogue chart to settle these types of situations. Not only the running out of fuel matter, but also the we're still alive but the engines are destroyed matter.

[Rammstein0991]

Its simple man, just find out which ports in Japan these convoys sail to/from and park outside the entrance to those channels, with luck one will HAVE to come sailing by you. :arrgh!: