Happy new year (1941)

[4saken]

What should I expect ,in a nutshell,this year ?What are the pros and cons?

[krashkart]

Pros that I can think of, right off the top of my head:

- ASW is still in its infancy
- Slightly better equipment for your Uboot
- Friendly ports in France begin to open up
- more potential targets after December 7th :up:


Cons:

- You're one year closer to not being safe anywhere at any time of day or night

[TarJak]

What he said. Early on in 41 it's still the happy times in SH3 even up to mid 42. Then things get tricky.

[Gargamel]

Try to pick up a type IX this year, as Operation Drumbeat should start in Jan '42. You'll want the added range and weapons on board for those long boring voyages across the Atlantic.

[4saken]

Thank you all...I will be happy if I survive to see '43!But its still a long way...
Regarding the IX, what's the fastest way to get it?I think i ll have the necessary renown points late '40,will it be available in my flotilla?I am based in Wilhelmshaven...

[Gargamel]

While the VIIb and up was regarded as very nimble and effecient boat, the IX's were, at least in Donitz's mind, a very cumbersome, akward boat. In game though, I feel while they may maneuver a little slower, the extra ammo and fuel is a huge bonus.

Just stack up the renown, and when you can afford one without killing your renown total (you'll want to outfit the new boat!), pick one up. 10k+ should do it. You should earn plenty in time for Drumbeat.

[Tessa]

While the VIIb and up was regarded as very nimble and effecient boat, the IX's were, at least in Donitz's mind, a very cumbersome, akward boat. In game though, I feel while they may maneuver a little slower, the extra ammo and fuel is a huge bonus.

Just stack up the renown, and when you can afford one without killing your renown total (you'll want to outfit the new boat!), pick one up. 10k+ should do it. You should earn plenty in time for Drumbeat.

Donitz did eventually see the major value in the type IX's with Drumbeat. Most captains would return home with 40,000-60,000 tons per patrol; granted you are at sea for almost 3 months sometimes. VII's are like a P-51 without a drop tank. It's very effective within its operating range, but w/o the drop tank (or in this case larger fuel tanks) it can only go so far before it has no choice to turn back regardless of what potential targets it could line up. With the VII's being quicker and nimble the could potentially do 2 patrols in the same amount of time it took for a single IX.

IX's were notorious for sinking tankers or large freighters, they might not sink as many ships per patrol as a VII but the tonnage would be significantly higher. After ASW got up to full speed evasion with a IX was much more difficult than a VII. Just them being wider was enough that they were easier targets to pick up with active sonar. When you take into account planes it makes transfering torpedoes from their cannisters to the torpedo rooms a much more intense and stressful operation.

[krashkart]

Thank you all...I will be happy if I survive to see '43!But its still a long way...
Regarding the IX, what's the fastest way to get it?I think i ll have the necessary renown points late '40,will it be available in my flotilla?I am based in Wilhelmshaven...

If memory serves me correctly your flotilla should have the IXB available early on. :yep:

[4saken]

Yeap it did...I was only 300-400 renown from getting it late May 1940, so one more petrol with the VII...:)

[krashkart]

Yeap it did...I was only 300-400 renown from getting it late May 1940, so one more petrol with the VII...:)

Very cool. That bigger boat ought to serve you well. You will have slower times on the crash dive, and she doesn't maneuver as well as a VII (some folks here call it the "pregnant sea cow"). But I'd wager you'll like the increased range and all the other bells and whistles. :D

Good hunting, Herr Kaleun! :salute:

[reignofdeath]

Very cool. That bigger boat ought to serve you well. You will have slower times on the crash dive, and she doesn't maneuver as well as a VII (some folks here call it the "pregnant sea cow"). But I'd wager you'll like the increased range and all the other bells and whistles. :D

Good hunting, Herr Kaleun! :salute:

Why WERE they fatter in the middle?? Ive always wondered what exactly took up the extra spce.

[4saken]

Extra diesel compartments?

[Hanomag]

To tell the truth... I never noticed the heat until 44.

Then things really get "sporty".. :arrgh!:

[krashkart]

Why WERE they fatter in the middle?? Ive always wondered what exactly took up the extra spce.


My guess would be the saddle tanks. Bigger boat needs more ballast. Or.... the lovely is about to sprout little IIB's... who knows? :haha:


But since you asked, I might have a look about to see what the IX's love handles are all about. :up:

[Missing Name]

I tried to start one of my new campaigns with a VIIB. No dice - after several patrols of no upgrading, I bought the IXB. The only reason I don't upgrade beyond a regular IXC is the dive time. 37 seconds is just at the limit of what I can accept.

But yeah, I love the IX's. The IXBs were the most successful boats of the war.

As for 1941: Be glad RADAR is not a threat. Your deck gun will start seeing less use if you are sane. Convoys will be harder to attack. Airplanes are getting better. Your lucky numbers are 37, 105, 20, 9 and 22.

[CCIP]

Actually historically, 1941 was not a terribly good year for U-boats - in fact it was the year that signs of things to come reared their head. Three greatest U-boat aces (Schepke, Prien, Kretschmer) got sunk in the same battle in early March, and successes against convoys stagnated. A lot of it had to do with the fact that the allied ASW was no longer in its infancy, actually, but was rather becoming competent and developing successful tactics. A key figure in this was Captain Johnny Walker, who first came to fame in December '41 when his escort group along with the very first escort carrier, Audacity, sunk 5 U-boats while defending convoy HG76 (losing Audacity in the process). And that was just the beginning for his group. Meanwhile Hitler further added to the problems faced by U-boats by forcing some of them to be diverted to the Mediterranean and Norway, away from the pivotal Atlantic theater.

Das Boot takes place in late 1941. While the book is fiction and mixes some events more appropriate to '42/'43, the actual patrol of the U-96 in the book/movie is pretty reflective of what German submariners would've faced in late '41. So be very careful - '41 could be and in some sense was the end of Happy Times. They returned briefly in early '42, but soon were gone for good...