Going to NY in a VIIc?!

[LiveGoat]

I just got ordered to patrol CA29 off New York out of Lorient. Am I stupid for doing this? I'm worried about fuel supply. I'd really like to try, even if I have to turnback after taking a screenie. The big question is can it be done? Did anyone here do it? I see on my map that a supply boat, U-461 is almost midway. Do I top off there or wait till I return? I'm just out of Biscay, so there's time to just abort and head to the BE-BF grids.

[Weiss Pinguin]

You can probably make it going ahead slow/one third. Definitely want to top off at a supply boat, probably both going in and coming out just to make sure.

That said, I have never operated off the American coast, so I can't offer any personal experience. Also seems kind of strange that the game would assign your Type VII[c] a grid in that area. :hmm:

[A Very Super Market]

VIIc is completely possible. Just go ahead slow for the whole voyage or stop by the U-tanker both ways.

[sonicninja]

I had this patrol grid previously and en route across the Atlantic a supply boat was made avaialble, check your supply boats for time and date, you may find there will be one close by.

[Chisum]

1 knt underwater and 2 kts surfaced.

[StarLion45]

:o Don't let those waves takes you:o

:()1: :ahoy:

[Captain Nemo]

I think 8 knots will give you the best range in a VIIc and will probably get you there and back without refuelling (subject to weather conditions), including spending some time on actual patrol. I believe Doenitz himself was surprised that a type VII boat could undertake patrols on the US eastern seaboard without the need to refuel. However, the crew did make some sacrifices in that every space was crammed with supplies and even tanks normally used to store fresh water were used to hold fuel oil.

Nemo

[Klaus_Doldinger]

It can be done. In my experience, 8 knots is the optimal speed/range ratio for a VIIC, although, of course, bad weather will slow you as you burn the same tons of fuel. But you have also a milk cow waiting for you, so keeping 8 Knots you should have a reasonable amount of time to create problems there:D .

AFAIK, one of the reasons for the construction of milk cows was to increase the range of the Type VII boats. In fact, Dönitz writes about VIIC uboats sent to the USA eastern coast after operation Drumbeat.

Good hunting.

[darius359au]

"Ali" Cremer took U333 from La Palice to the Florida coast on his second patrol - Apparently they filled some of the drinking and washing water tanks with diesel, (After talking it over with the crew), crammed the boat full of food etc and carefully calculating course and speed.He also had use of a "milchcow" as well.

[LiveGoat]

Well, I chickened out. I gave myself my very own BdU message: "U-203, divertnum unt course to der souss unt Irelund." :D Not because of fuel reasons but because it's already June of '42. I think the drumbeat's pretty much done by now. That's what I get for transferring to Biscay so late. Oh well, next career I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the advice, though.

[hito]

I have yet to see a supply boat on my games, are they available only with mods? (I'm playing vanilla/stock SHIII)

[Klaus_Doldinger]

I have yet to see a supply boat on my games, are they available only with mods? (I'm playing vanilla/stock SHIII)

Exactly. Milk cows don´t exist in the stock game.

[Weiss Pinguin]

I have yet to see a supply boat on my games, are they available only with mods? (I'm playing vanilla/stock SHIII)
Every supermod (GWX/WAC/NYGM) has them. You can also find mods that specifically add milkcows.