[THEBERBSTER]

Hi CD.

You will always start in the Erprobungstelle flotilla usually in Stralsburg or Kaseburg.
This flotilla is only ever used as a testing flotilla for new boats and not for war patrols or missions.
When docked you should immediately award medals, promotions etc and then use the telephone to transfer to another flotilla.
After transferring exit the game.
When you load the game you will see there are now 2 saves in the menu
After mission> Your docked save.
Before mission > The one you are about to start
This before mission loads to the office where you can select a new boat if one is available, equipment, torpedo load etc and make your changes to your crew,

You do not have to start pre-war in a VIIA but can start in a VIIB and upgrade later to a IXB when it becomes available.
I got my IXB on March 10th 1940.

You should have been able to transfer after your first patrol in the VIIA to a VIIB.
Radio messages will tell you when new boats become available as the game develops.

I would suggest that you look at pages 15,16, and 45 in the PDF mini manual.

When you loaded SH3Commander for the first time (Before doing the SH3 tutorial) where you saw the VIIA did you open the drop down box and see if you also had the option of a VIIB to select?

Peter