Why cannot I refuel

[Von Tonner]

Patrolling the South China Sea we lose our base in Surabaya and are moved to Freemantle as part of the Asiatic Fleet. The first time I played this particular career when this happened I just squeeked into Freemantle on the smell of an oil rag! This time, already having used more fuel than I would have liked I knew I would not make Freemantle. So I plot a course for Darwin, coming through the Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea and Banda Sea. I run out of diesel about 50 miles off Darwin and run in submerged and surface right in the harbour. But I cannot for the life of me figure out how to refuel so I can continue down to Freemantle to refit and reload.

If the game does not allow for refuelling at Darwin, then I do not see any point in playing the "realistic fuel" option which makes this game then more arcade in nature which will be a pity. Am I perhaps missing something? There was no little anchor in the right top corner to click on.

[SteamWake]

The allies dident hold Darwin at all times throughout the war.

[the_belgian]

I just dumped limited fuel,couldn't live witht the fact of starting a patrol at pearl on dec.10 and after refit in midway go for the second part to the east china sea,finish the job and run dry(mainly beacourse i had to swim upriver due to stormy weather)less than 80 miles from midway,march 23...
no more limited fuel for me,no thank you!

i tried to save diesel using the SH3way,dive and run on electric,raise to load them again...

[Von Tonner]

Sorry Steamwake I don't think I understand you. Are you saying that Darwin, in Australia, was at any times in the enemys hands. If so that is news to me and I would imagine a lot of historians.

[AVGWarhawk]

I do not believe all ports or any of them will let you refuel unless they have the anchor showing. I also noted there are two different types of anchors. Each has a different texture so I do not know what they mean yet. My current career shows these and I'm going to try the port with the differently shaded anchor. At any rate, you need to set your cruising speed at 10kts. This was the historical speed as per the book I'm reading called 'Unrestricted Warfare'. There was enough fuel to make Japan from PH at 10 kts, 3000 miles of actual patrol and return back to PH. Bear in mind this came from Dick O'kane. For realism, you need to keep an eye on your fuel. They all did. I believe the fuel is modelled well. What I do, when I hit the half tank mark, I see were I am and make my decision to keep patrolling or head home.