The different U-Boats in SH3+GWX3

[King_Zog]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum and to SH3. Firstly I just want to say how much of a brilliant resource this place is for new players of the game, I've already learned many techniques such as manual targeting and plotting intercepts just by browsing the threads, but I do have a question about the pros and cons of the different U-Boat types on offer throughout the campaign. I play with GWX3 which I understand changes much about the U-Boats from stock.

I understand the different models have various dive times and surface/submerged top speeds and some handle better than others... but I wonder if the actual size and length of the sub is taken into account by the game when it comes to asdic detection. For example will I really be harder to detect by sound wave pinging in a type II than say a type IX? Also are some U-Boats quieter than others, or will I be making the same amount of noise travelling submerged at 1knot in a typeII as I would in a typeIX?

I also see that the VIIC/42 is present in the game for the late war. Does it have the 400meter crush depth that the real world design was supposedly rated at?

So far I've only had experience with the typeII models and the VIIB. The type IX looks to me like a death trap, but I'm probably very wrong and I'm looking forward to trying one out at somepoint.

[Tom]

Size matters, very much. :)

In a smaller boat you can get closer on the surface without being detected and avoiding asdic is much easier too. I also think larger boats can be heard more easily, if speed/depth/range are the same. At least that's how it feels to me. All this, combined with the better maneuverability of smaller boats, makes it much easier to escape destroyers in a type VII than a type IX. A type II (I don't play type II's much, so someone else might verify this) is even better at sneaking away.

Edit: Forgot to mention, that early in the war destroyer skill isn't very high, and a type IXB is very survivable. However, this starts to change somewhere around 1941, and by 1943 type IX's do indeed become death traps.

[Gargamel]

I also see that the VIIC/42 is present in the game for the late war. Does it have the 400meter crush depth that the real world design was supposedly rated at?

So far I've only had experience with the typeII models and the VIIB. The type IX looks to me like a death trap, but I'm probably very wrong and I'm looking forward to trying one out at somepoint.

I thoroughly enjoy the IX, as the range and loadout allows for more interesting patrols.

The bigger/stronger hull means it can go deeper than a II or VII. I can get my II down to about 140m, my VII to about 200m, and the IX to about 240m before they start taking damage. Over 200m you are semi-safe from DCing as they were capped at 500ft. (I'm pretty sure this is modeled in GWX correct?)

I have not tried a VIIC/42 yet, but the only way to find out is to try. There is a little margin for error, as you will start taking damage before you implode, so you have to react quickly.

[TabbyHunter]

Hmm, i dunno if anyone will know this, but if so, can anyone tell me how to adjust the crush depth for my IXB to say, 300m? As i don't have GWX, as much as i want it, the IXB has a pitiful crush depth of about 170m.

And, if you get better at avoiding depth charges, atleast for me, the Type IXB can be very effective at escaping, though it may take a while.

[Gargamel]

You should be able to to edit that in some of the .cfg files. I think it's contained in the basic.cfg.

Commander will allow you to randomize the crush depth.

Have you tested the boat to that depth yet? Or are you just going off the dial? I don't think the dial's change when you change boats. At least they haven't for me. So it's always 100m Green, 180 Yellow, 240 Red. I took a XXI down to about 400m and the dial was pegged the whole time.

[gazpode_l]

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//showpost.php?p=120583&postcount=7

Dug out this posting...not sure what value is correct for each type though...first or second?? :hmmm:

[King_Zog]

Thanks to everyone who reponded to my question, It was interesting to read your opinions.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//showpost.php?p=120583&postcount=7

Dug out this posting...not sure what value is correct for each type though...first or second?? :hmmm:

Perhaps the first figure is safe operating depth and the second is either max depth or crush depth. I'm not too sure if there ever was a 'dead on' figure for a boat's real crush depth as this would imply that they would have had to test the uboat to destruction. I guess crush depth was just estimated mathematically by the design engineers? Perhaps someone else knows more about this...

I like to refer to uboat.net for information about the German submarines, you can see their page about the different uboat types here if you are interested:

http://www.uboat.net/types/ (http://www.uboat.net/types/)

[Tom]

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//showpost.php?p=120583&postcount=7

Dug out this posting...not sure what value is correct for each type though...first or second?? :hmmm:

When a submarine is designed, all strength calculations are based on a chosen design depth. This means that if the submarine is built properly (and there were no design errors), it should survive to that depth without crushing. Usually the calculations would allow for some margin of error, so the actual crush depth would normally be a bit deeper than the design depth.

Test depth is a percentage of design depth, usually between 1/2 and 2/3 of design depth (depending on navy policy, I believe). During sea trials every boat is taken to this depth to verify that there are no problems. This depth is considered the safe operating depth of the boat.

A VIIC, for example, is listed at 150/250. This means that every boat is tested at 150 meters during sea trials, and that the ship was designed to be able to dive another 100 meters deeper. Depending on construction quality and calculation error margins, the boat will most likely crush somewhere between 230-300 meters.