Career vs. number of patrols

[Avatar]

Hello,
I was wondering if, historically speaking, a Uboat commander started his career in '39 and ended with the wars end, what would be the average number of patrols he would have completed? If this was indeed possible? Or did that even exist?
I'm on my first career, late 42, and I'm up to 28 patrols.
just curious.

I have my time spent in base at 28 days.

I am not playing dead is dead, this being my first career and I want to see what all goodies you can get later in the war. But my next career will probably be a higher realism level, except I dont think I can do without external cam, and played at dead is dead level.
thanks

EDIT: I just thought of this... how do you find dolphins? I've seen pictures here, but have never seen one in the game.

[Stierlitz]

AFAIK, uboat commanders were usually retired from active duty after 15 patrols. They then took over training new crews or administrative functions.

As for the dolphins, I once met them in the middle of the Atlantic while refueling at a milk cow. :arrgh!:

[GoldenRivet]

He is right, a realistic patrol span for a career would be anywhere between 7 and 15 patrols.

there is good info at U-boats.net on the subject of patrols and careers.

I dont think there was a sub commander who ever went from 39 all the way to 45.

the only branch of the German military at the time that did things that way was the luftwaffe i belive.

[Lzs von swe]

As for the dolphins, you can often see them when leaving the base. Keep an eye out for small white wakes. And sometimes you can here them on the hydrophone:up:

[Avatar]

Thanks for the info fellows. I forgot that the Kriegsmarine retired captains after a number of patrols. Re-reading Iron Coffins, and the Uboat school was taught by Luth.

As far as the dolphins, I'll keep my eyes peeled. :huh:
I'm at Lorient, and that should give me ample time to search for them while leaving base.

[seafarer]

Otto Kretschmer seems to have the most - 16 war patrols between Oct. '37 and March '41. You'll also read at uboat.net that the two longest patrols were 205 and 225 days :o Man, that's a looong time to be on a sub at sea.

[U49]

... and usually a commander who was able to survive would be designated "to be of value" and was then commanded to a training fleet to teach youngsters the secret of "how to survive".

Or to lead a combat flotilla....

And very few returned later in the war to command a big sub like Topp or Schnee did.

[papa_smurf]

This is very true, as the Kreigsmarine didn't want to waste good talent, so sucessfull commanders were transfered to trianing flotillas to pass on their valuable experience.

As the war went on this got much harder, as more U-boats were been sunk by the Allies, so experienced commanders were in short supply.

As fo dolphins, iv'e seen some whilst re-supplying at Corrientes supply ship.