Sub Range Under 1.3

[Driscol]

Until recently, I'd been playing using the 1.2 patch with the latest RFB mod. With the arrival of 1.3, I deactivated the RFB mod, installed the new patch and then began a carreer.

I've noticed a very large drop in the range of a Gato sub (1943). My first couple of missions were from Pearl to Honshu and the China Sea, respectively. In both cases I had to refuel at Midway and then travel at slow (two thirds of standard) speed order to conserve enough fuel to make the trip to the patrol area and then return to Midway. There was no way that I could go off on short flank speed chases to intercept convoys and I was very limited in the area I could search while on patrol. I had be sure to travel submerged for virtually all of the daylight hours,not for fear of aircraft, but because it conserved fuel. I have never experienced these kind of constraints before.

Is anyone else running in to this?

[THE_MASK]

I just found out on my last patrol that travelling surfaced in heavy seas uses lots more fuel . I left my patrol area when i had 50/100 fuel left and it ran down to 32/100 in heavy seas when i was only a quarter of the way home . I thought for sure i would run out of fuel . The weather cleared up and i hardly used any more fuel . Maybe some one needs to find out how much extra fuel is used in heavy seas . It seems correct though and i wouldnt want to change anything . In future i will try cutting down my speed to just 1 or 2 knots in heavy seas and submerge as much as possible .

[joea]

I think it is realistic to use more fuel in heavy seas. :roll:

[Von Manteuffel]

It could be something as simple as the fact that in heavy seas, the relatively shallow draught of a submarine when sailing on the surface means that if the sub is heading into the waves ( rather than have them coming from abeam ) the propellors will be out of the water and chopping thin air for a proportion of the time. I believe indicated speed is related to engine turns / revolutions, not the actual rate at which the boat is moving through the water. So while you might have 12 knots indicated, battering your way into a head sea with your props spinning in air each time your bow buries itself will significantly cut your actual speed. Consequently, that means that you will use more fuel to cover a given distance than in calm weather when the props are permanently in the water.

I always run submerged in heavy weather if I can. It's slow, but conserves fuel and gives a smoother ride. I'm not sure whether constant severe pitching and rolling for hours on end accelerates crew fatigue, but better safe than sorry.