Fuel management

[jeff lackey]

Been pulling out my books from my library in the basement on WWII Pacific sub warfare, and haven't yet found the answer, so I'll ask you grognards: does the fuel usage appear to be realistic in the patched version? I'm finding it very difficult, even with a stop at Midway, to get to the Japanese islands area and back with the fuel load and usage. I use what I have read is pretty standard procedures, standard rather than flank speeds on the surface, taking as straight a path as possible, etc. but it is almost impossible with the Porpoise to get from Midway (as a refitting port) to Japan and back without running out of fuel. My sources show the P-class having a very high range, about 12,000 miles.

[fullmetaledges]

Been pulling out my books from my library in the basement on WWII Pacific sub warfare, and haven't yet found the answer, so I'll ask you grognards: does the fuel usage appear to be realistic in the patched version? I'm finding it very difficult, even with a stop at Midway, to get to the Japanese islands area and back with the fuel load and usage. I use what I have read is pretty standard procedures, standard rather than flank speeds on the surface, taking as straight a path as possible, etc. but it is almost impossible with the Porpoise to get from Midway (as a refitting port) to Japan and back without running out of fuel. My sources show the P-class having a very high range, about 12,000 miles.

I run at 2/3 speed cruising seems to work for me, however in the p class it seems to have about half the battery life as the s class.

[Killjoy]

short answer yes/no

slightly longer answer.. the period refueling measures are not in place to make it realistic.

So if you take a long mission out of pearl on a lesser boat you are going to have a tough run

[CCIP]

I would suggest using 2/3 speed also. There is a HUGE increase in range.

For some reason the developers omitted "maximum range at current speed" function. If you want it back, I did make a shortcut for it it in my Keyboard Function config I posted at the mod forum ;)

[CCIP]

With a refueling stop at Midway, even on a P-class I seem to have 70-75% fuel left when I reach Japan using 2/3 speed by the way.

[NefariousKoel]

Yep 2/3 speed is the most efficient. It was the same way in SH3. It'll add a lot of range compared to Standard.

[nattydread]

I found in SHIII that custom speeds provide even better range and speed trade offs. If 2/3s is like 12kts(made up) then some times asking for a speed a knot or two faster or slower can provide some benefits in endurance and speed. I just cant remember which way did what, but sometimes you could go tad faster and still maintain very similar or the same endurnace.

[Rickenbacker]

I cruise at 2/3, and rarely use more than 1/4 of my fuel to get to the patrol area from Pearl. Judging how much I need to get back is harder, though, some refueling ships or other options would be nice.

[walsh2509]

Flank the tank to Midway :D then its 1/3 slow ahead to Japan. Takes about 17 days game time.

[Snowman999]

I cruise at 2/3, and rarely use more than 1/4 of my fuel to get to the patrol area from Pearl. Judging how much I need to get back is harder, though, some refueling ships or other options would be nice.

And very ahistorical until late 1944 when tenders were moved forward to Saipan, Guam, and Ulithi.

U-boat fans need to understand the difference--when US boats jumped off from Midway they were going to the end of the world. Alone . . .

[Tigrone]

'Flank the tank to Midway :D then its 1/3 slow ahead to Japan. Takes about 17 days game time.'

I used to be able to go almost anywhere in my trusty IXB at a steady 9 knots.