Most economical cruise speed for a Gato class boat?

[msalama]

S!

A great boat with all those extra torp tubes and everything, but somewhat fuel-thirsty as well. What do you find is the best cruising speed for the beast in RFB v1.52?

[magic452]

10 knots.
Stay on the surface as much as possible.

Submerge only when necessary and limit your speed to no more than 3k, less if possible.

Even then you gota keep an eye on the fuel if your out of Pearl.

Magic

[msalama]

Thank you Sir :salute:

[WarlordATF]

If you prefer to submerge during daylight hours limit your speed to 2 kts, batteries will last until dark, but you won't get very far.I try to run surfaced until i start to encounter alot of aircraft and then i run submerged all day. As Magic said, if your outta Pearl fuel is a big issue and running submerged during daylight hours will keep a few more gallons aboard if your a long way from home and fuel is short.

[Bubblehead1980]

If you stay submerged a lot, even if only at 2 knots, then you have charge batteries when you surface, which uses a lot of fuel, so you are burning just as much if not more fuel than if stay on surface.On surface, esp with surface radar, you have a better chance of encountering targets and more time to track and set up your attack.

I follow both doctrines, depends on what phase of war.Early war i stay submerged often during day in patrol area(as most skippers did then) and surface at night to charge.No surface attacks(wasnt common until late 42 early 43) periscope only.

Later war, I yo-yo, meaning when a plane comes around, i dive and then pop back up or try to plot their path and range, put them astern and stay on surface if possible.More difficult once IJN planes have radar but it works.

Bottom line, charging batteries burns a lot of fuel.

[ETR3(SS)]

By default Ahead Standard should give 10kts exactly in RFB 1.52 :up:

[WarlordATF]

Bottom line, charging batteries burns a lot of fuel.

Good Point, I only messed with RFB for about a week or so before i tried TMO and now i'm running my own custom install based on Stock SH4 with bits and pieces of the other supermods added. I don't think Stock is as severe about the charging/fuel use because running at 2kts from dawn i usually have about 60% batteries left by night fall and i never noticed a big difference in fuel consumption, I'll have to check on my next patrol.