Type IXB: Why?

[Bindolaf]

Ahhh, the sweet smell of victory!

I took my trusty VII/B to the shores of the British Isles and infiltrated two convoys. One yielded a sunk Large Merchant, the other a Medium Cargo and a wounded one, which refused to sink. Would have been many more, but the waters were dead calm, it was day and realism is at 100% Anyway, I escaped the first convoy without being depth charged. The Patrol Craft protecting the second one pinged me for about 40 minutes, but could not get a fix (or would not fire in any case).

Anyway, after the celebrations, the Eichenlaub and lots of champagne, I am faced with the question: Should I transfer? And should I upgrade to the type IX? I notice it's (quite a bit) larger and it has an additional stern tube (meh :shifty:), but that's about it. It seems slower under the water, with a much shorter underwater range (which has saved my ass many a time). Surface range is (much) larger, but as I still hunt around the north sea, does that matter?

Perhaps I should move to St. Nazaire or Bordeaux and venture into the Atlantic. Or perhaps I should wait. It is still July 1940 and torpedoes are crap :p

What do you think?

[down and out]

The IXB is a great boat if you like long patrols and different areas of operation

If you want to hunt convoys close to the UK I suggest you stay in the VII- not that you cant hunt convoys in a IX but the boat is more suited to longer patrols and deeper waters

If you want some pastures new such as Freetown or the Caribbean then swith to a IX

My 2 cents :up:

[Brag]

The IX disadvantages: It is slow to dive, less maneuverable than VII, easier to detect by escorts.

Advantage: 21 torpedoes and capability of operating in distant places.

[Kaleun Cook]

I felt like switching from a car to a truck when I chose the XIC. Quickly reloaded to get the more agile VII back. :arrgh!:

[Canovaro]

If you prefer short patrols, maneuverability, submerged speed and range, and shelling over surface speed, more torpedoes and exotic places, stick to the VII.


Why not enjoy the VII for some time and than go to extremes in the IXD-2?


:rock:

[Jimbuna]

21 torpedoes and capability of operating in distant places.

22 in mine ;) :arrgh!:

[unterseemann]

Started in 39 with type II (north sea patrols, funny but few torpedoes and slow) then took a type VII in 1940 to patrol around england and british isles and now as french bases are ours i have switched to type IXB and i must admit that I love this boat: lots of torpedoes, dive slow but deep, great autonomy but if i survive 1941 i'll switch to IX-C for american coasts and carribean raids :arrgh!:

[STEED]

21 torpedoes and capability of operating in distant places.

22 in mine ;) :arrgh!:

Same here 22 is the correct lay out. :up: