lenth of patrol

[Phil]

how long do most of you stay at sea 2-3 weeks, a month or what?

[f16falcon]

As long as it takes usually, im on my first mission still...but due to working as most of us do, things take a litlle longer. I usually patrol my area and return, unless i have fuel to burn, then i will probably go in the hunt of more shipping. So i guess the answer is time (in the real world) and fuel.

[Tiny]

I return to base if I have no more torpedoes or no more fuel. Well not completely out of fuel :rotfl: but enough to get my boot home.

[Morts]

well with limmited fuel

60-90 days
sometimes i stay still in one place and listen for contacts for a few days
thats why i get long patrols

[Penelope_Grey]

Ditto for me, long as it takes!

I usually make use of the GWX shipping route maps and follow them looking for contacts. When I am out of torpedoes its back to base and if I encounter anything on the way and weather permitting (most of the time its not) then its bang bang with the deck gun.

Though when I get the warning diesel down to 50% I usually will allow myself a week, and then I will head back, depending on how far out I am.

[Ducimus]

how long do most of you stay at sea 2-3 weeks, a month or what?

On the average around 2 to 3 months. Sometimes as long as 4 or 5 months.

[Sailor Steve]

Until my crew threatens to mutiny. My luger only holds so many bullets.

[blue3golf]

Until the fuel or torpedoes run out, usually its torps first and that usually take around 3-4 weeks for me.

[mookiemookie]

4-6 weeks in a Type VII, and 6-8 in a Type IX. Assuming I don't run out of torpedoes or sustain some heavy damage.

[STEED]

I and my crew come home after we had Bernard for lunch. :shifty:

[Jimbuna]

As soon as the eels are gone :arrgh!:

[joea]

Ok anyone have some historical figures?? Obviously depending on boat model/patrol area. :hmm:

[Morts]

Until my crew threatens to mutiny. My luger only holds so many bullets.
dont forget the machineguns in the conning tower:up:
but i think they are a little hard to use in a uboat
but what the H....give it a try:up: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Ducimus]

Ok anyone have some historical figures?? Obviously depending on boat model/patrol area. :hmm:

Here you go:
http://www.uboatwaffe.net/ops/allboats.html

Take your pick of boat. Lists when/where they left for patrol and when they returned, when they sailed, etc.

[melnibonian]

Usually on a IXC I tend to sail for about 50-60 days.

[Sailor Steve]

I and my crew come home after we had Bernard for lunch. :shifty:
But do you notice there's always a new one there waiting for you? Oh, well, at least you'll never get hungry.

Until my crew threatens to mutiny. My luger only holds so many bullets.
dont forget the machineguns in the conning tower:up:
but i think they are a little hard to use in a uboat
but what the H....give it a try:up: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Can't. They always get there first.:dead:

[Phil]

what is your transit speed cause i usually go at around 10 -13 knots and have to go to the patrol zone search around for a little and return home or refuel in less than 2 weeks.

[melnibonian]

I usually do 8 knots and I increase my speed only when I'm intercepting targets. That way you can stay at sea for months in a IX boat

[baggygreen]

Mel, i find i get a bit longer max range if i cruise at 9 kts rather than 8?:yep: :hmm:

[Brag]

On type VIIs it used to take me 3-5 weeks. Just finished 2nd patrol on IXB left 08 Nov. returned 26 Dec 1940. 3 days of good weather, but gunners went out in pretty rough seas (against GWX union rules). I guess they trust their captain :smug:.

[TarJak]

Shortest patrol I've survived was 4 days. Found a large convoy 2 days out from Lorient and used all my torps on repeated attacks that night then went home.:arrgh!:

Longest patrol excluding a milchcow stoppover was 7 weeks. Wen't over to the US coast and cruised up and down at slow ahead ~7kts the whole time. Saw and sunk almost SFA except a few lone small merchies.

[Mooncatt]

as soon as i run low on fish, no point in hunting for a convoy with only 2 fish left.
im not risking my carreer for just a single ship in a convoy escorted by 2-5 dds

[STEED]

I and my crew come home after we had Bernard for lunch. :shifty:
But do you notice there's always a new one there waiting for you? Oh, well, at least you'll never get hungry.

We always select the plump and juicy one when back at base. :shifty:

[CaptainAsh]

With type VII or type IX I m usualy at sea for 10 to 20 days. It s the time I need to get rid of my fishes and fuel. But I m actualy trying to fire fishes by salvo of 2, so I m running low quite faster :) (usualy, finding a convoy mean the end of the offensive part of my patrol)

[Heibges]

I try to keep it to 56 days or less.

Later on in the war, BDU issued a directive that patrols should not be more than 56 days. I think that is what they discovered was about the max the crew could take.

Of course, there were special patrols that violated this.