Realistic Use of Flank Speed?

[Schöneboom]

Guten Tag, Alle,

I recall in the ancient days of SH2 that one could not run at flank for very long without engine damage resulting -- the LI would warn about overheating, to give you a chance to reduce speed and prevent a breakdown.

Now that I'm chasing a faraway convoy with SH3's unbreakable engines, I'm thinking for the sake of realism, I ought to self-impose a time limit on the use of flank. Does anyone know how many hours is realistic? Four? Eight?

Vielen Dank!

[Brag]

I think about an hour. The problem could be the shaft bearings overheating.

[Graf Paper]

I agree with Brag. About one hour (maybe less or more) before the bearings overheat.

Of course, those German marine diesels are very durable so it may be we're both wrong. :hmm:

Any u-boat historians around that have a definitive answer?

[PappyCain]

In RL Flank speed is hard on the engine and increases fuel consumption dramatically on any vessel. Should be used with discretion and maybe an hour. If you check, Flank speed you may not get more than a knot anyway. Boat hull design and hydrodynamics are a determinate too. In the sim there does not seem to be any penalty other than fuel burn rate.

S'

[Kapt Z]

In RL Flank speed is hard on the engine and increases fuel consumption dramatically on any vessel. Should be used with discretion and maybe an hour. If you check, Flank speed you may not get more than a knot anyway. Boat hull design and hydrodynamics are a determinate too. In the sim there does not seem to be any penalty other than fuel burn rate.

S'

I'm no engineer, but that seems reasonable. It would be a nice feature for 'immersion' to have more penalties than just increased fuel consumption. Personally, I rarely use it unless I am evading or attacking on the surface.

[Uncle Goose]

If U-boat diesels run too long the exhaust valves (which prevent the seawater to enter the diesels when submerged) will become corroded and might not seal anymore, therefore they had to file away the corrosions on a regular basis. IRL the LI or the chief of the diesel room had to check them and decide if they were still good enough. The corrosion could only be removed when the engine was stopped.

[Schöneboom]

Thanks, that makes good sense -- when it comes to non-emergencies, like pursuing a convoy, I reckon if you can't overtake them at full speed, you won't catch them at flank either.

I'll save the flank speed for crash dives and running for my life.

Tschuss!

[Sailor Steve]

SH2 also had random engine breakdowns, even while running at slower speeds. As for flank, picture driving your car with the pedal to the floorboard. How long will the engine take it? I only use flank for the chase when absolutely necessary, but that's also because of fuel concerns.

[Philipp_Thomsen]

SH2 had a lot of neat stuff, like engine break down and being able to run with one compartment flooded. Shame that they didn't port it to sh3.:nope:

[Task Force]

Ya, they should have kept the breakdowns, ect in the game.:yep:

[Red Heat]

I agree with must of all topics...but with the SH3 Commander we can change a lot of the things if you like ex: malfunctions or malfunctions + sabotage! :yep:

[rifleman13]

SH2 had a lot of neat stuff, like engine break down and being able to run with one compartment flooded. Shame that they didn't port it to sh3.:nope:
It's a shame really! :nope:
Being destroyed by flooding!
Come on!
Sure I can understand the pressure, but they didn't watch Das Boot?