Type IXD2 getting lousy mileage; ..insights?

[Greystone]

Hello people;
Traded in my type VIIC for a type IXD2 at Lorient in hopes of far off adventures.
Set off for patrol grid DT37 to log my 24 hrs there and, when done, had gone about 4300 km total.
The indicator on my fuel reserves shows about 52% diesel remaining and my navigator declares that I've got 9600 km left at ahead 1/3.
I've kept it at ahead standard to give me at least some speed for dive time to elude air attacks, and used battery power as little as possible to minimize charging time while surfaced, when I'd run it at ahead full until the batteries charged, then dropped back to ahead standard.
These things are supposed to go 2300 nautical miles.
I'd like to go to the West Indies or US East Coast, but there's no way I'd make it there and back, much less do a search.
Do I have to run consistantly at slow or ahead 1/3 to get to these destinations and still spend some time searching for targets?
Thanks!

[GoldenRivet]

not sure but i think it is a glitch in the fuel consumption rate for those types of boats... i have seen a number of people take issue with it.

When i have used the IX boats i have always dashed over to the US. East coast or to South Africa at Ahead Standard - stopping at milk cows or supply ships on the waythere and back and topping off. when you get to the target area you must have fuel for a contingency plan should you have to chase down a high value target or something.

If supply ships are not available (WELL - REALLY EVEN IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE) i recommend the following.

1. Make maximum use of your batteries. Submerge and wait until they are about 75% drained and then surface. this will maximize diesel range.

2. Unless a valuable target appears right in front of your boat at 1200 meters dont waste fuel chasing targets or contact reports until you are close to your patrol zone. if heading to the US Coast i usually draw a line from the eastern tip of Cuba, to the northeastern tip of Newfoundland and i dont attack anything unless i am West of that line. If heading to south africa use a point of reference like the equator... dont chase "ghosts" until you get south of a point of your choosing.

3. Use the milk cows - it will nullify your patrol zone and you will have to remember where you were going but extending your range is their business.

4. Run at ahead slow any time you are on the surface. If air patrols are a threat and you are in fairly calm seas just run with decks awash (7 meters or so - but make sure watch crew stays on bridge) and this will cut down on dive time if you get into a pinch. keep in mind though that decks awash increases fuel consumption. so only do it in areas of heavy air patrol if you NEED to do it.

5. If youre using GWX... rough seas will nearly cut your fuel range in half - i dont care what the navigator estimates. its best to ride out storms submerged and save the fuel.

good luck and...

SINK THEM ALL MY FRIEND!!! :arrgh!:

[Zero Niner]

I find that I get best mileage in my Type IXB when I set speed at 9 kts, Even if I sail slower because of rough seas.
Of course it's not a IXD, but it should be somewhere around that region.

[sunvalleyslim]

Greystone,
First off, Welcome Aboard.
As always we have some input to give you. If I were you, I would run at 1/3 speed to conserve fuel. Use TC to move the game along. Everyone gets anxious and wants to go fast. If you recieve a warning of approaching ships or aircraft then bump it up to flank, and submerge. Once under go back to 1/3 conserve the battery. When the threat is gone resurface, charge a small amount of battery instead of expending more fuel to recharge.......It's just like a car, the more you increase speed the more fuel you're gonna burn...........Good hunting...Herr Kaleun....:rock:

[filefool]

Did you just surface before checking your range? If so then one diesel is charging your batteries and the range your NO reports isn't really accurate. Rough seas will also make him calculate less range.

And as Zero Niner said, you get the most range, if you set the speed of your boat manually to 8-9kn. Using ahead 1/3 will consume much more fuel.

[Greystone]

What a pleasant surprise to log in and find such generous & helpful responses to my query; thank you.
I'll take all of your input into consideration (as I crawl across the Atlantic).
With any luck, I'll get back before the war ends...;)
Milk cows? Must be a mod. I'm playing a fully patched unmodded game.

[_Seth_]

You could also download a program called "SH3 Inspector", that allows you to change the sub's values, IE; Horsepower, speed, range, diving depth..
Here is a link:
http://www.delraydepot.com/tt/sh3sdk.htm#inspector

Credits to "timetraveller" for this one! :rock::up:

[XanderF]

What a pleasant surprise to log in and find such generous & helpful responses to my query; thank you.
I'll take all of your input into consideration (as I crawl across the Atlantic).
With any luck, I'll get back before the war ends...;)
Milk cows? Must be a mod. I'm playing a fully patched unmodded game.

A few mods, actually - but if you aren't playing with the GWX mod, you aren't playing the game. True, there are a lot of other good mods - sound, graphics, user interface, etc - I have about a dozen all told installed. But the fully patched game + GWX is absolutely REQUIRED as a baseline. It really makes tremendous improvements to the realism and immersion of the game.

[Greystone]

I've tripped over enough praise about the GWX mod in the short time I've been here to believe you; I can see it'd be worth looking into.
I'm on my 39th patrol and it's Nov., '43 and would rather not start over if the saved games are lost in the process, but I'll look into that before committing to a GWX install.

By the way, I finally made it to the West Indies, 8-9 knots all the way, and have enough fuel to have a fairly healthy look-see before I have to head back. My crew & I are praying for some good contacts to make the weeks of tedium worth it
Couldn't have done it without your input...:up:

[Jimbuna]

Welcome aboard kaleun Greystone :arrgh!:
You are quite correct in what you are saying "and would rather not start over if the saved games are lost in the process" :yep:
However, you might want to consider an addittional GWX install of the game (provided you have sufficient h/d space of course) :D
When you are ready to try the GWXperience I tnink you'll love it :rock: :arrgh!: