What do you do when out of fuel

[thegrindre]

OK, so I'm sittin' DIW, what happens next? Is there any recovery if you run out of fuel? :-?

Thanks

:)

[Mikemike47]

OK, so I'm sittin' DIW, what happens next? Is there any recovery if you run out of fuel? :-?
:)
Go into your documents folder. In my case for windows 7, find the C:\Users\<yourprofilename>\Documents\SH4\Data\Cfg folder. Open up the GameplaySettings.cfg file. Look for LimitedFuel=true and change the entry to LimitedFuel=false. Save the file.

Now you will be able to get back to base. Once back at base, you can go into options and change the limitedfuel entry.

[HertogJan]

:Kaleun_Salivating:

Take out your pedals and start rowing guy's, THAT'S A ORDER!!!

PS_ Hope you're not that far out of home port.



J/K
Either consider this career lost or do the spoiler MikeMike47 suggests... Oh and try to explain that to SUBCOM :woot:

[razark]

One possibility I've heard of:
Submerge and run on battery.
When the battery gives out, surface.
Even though you're out of fuel, the battery still recharges.

It's slow going, but I've heard of people making it back to port this way.
I remember reading about one boat that was heavily damaged. The crew tried to rig up a sail to get closer to land before scuttling the boat. Can't remember which one it was right now.

Edit:
USS Grenadier (SS-210) (http://www.subsowespac.org/world_war_ii_submarines/uss_grenadier_ss_210.shtml)
After thirteen hours stuck on the bottom at 270 feet:
The electricians and engineers continued working to restore propulsion from the diesel engines, but both shafts were too badly damaged. At 0400 hours the next day, they informed Fitzgerald that the propulsion system was too far gone to be restored. Fitzgerald had his men begin working on a sail that might be able to move Grenadier closer to the beach, so the men could disembark and she could be blown up. But the sail was not effective in the still, tropical air.

[Pigboatcook]

I had a Salmon class get the snot knocked out of it off of Okinawa. Batteries back to Midway or Johnston would have put us there in about late 1948/early 1949. :cool: Thus ended that career.

[merc4ulfate]

I have never heard of anyone recharging on the surface without diesel engines running. No decent mod would have that.

You have two options depending on which mods you run.

Traveller made some mods and one has an SOS feature. If you run out of fuel or your to damaged to keep going you can send and SOS and you pop back into port with a renown penalty.

Version two ... you start a new campaign.

[razark]

I have never heard of anyone recharging on the surface without diesel engines running. No decent mod would have that.
It wasn't a mod. It was a flaw in the stock game that would very slowly recharge the battery without fuel usage.
It might have existed only in the pre-1.5 versions. It's been a long time since I've seen it mentioned.

[fireftr18]

Go to the bilge. Grab a rat burger and bilge brew.

:Kaleun_Cheers:

[TorpX]

It wasn't a mod. It was a flaw in the stock game that would very slowly recharge the battery without fuel usage.
It might have existed only in the pre-1.5 versions. It's been a long time since I've seen it mentioned.
I never bothered to test earlier versions, but in developing ISP, I played around with the batteries quite a bit, and it won't work with v1.5. You do need fuel to recharge batteries (thank God!).

What does happen is that when you submerge and run on the battery, it never quite gives out. It will, after much running, go down to 2%, then 1%, but never to zero. So, you could, in theory run submerged as long as you can, surface for some air, submerge and run again, over and over. It would be very slow, however. You can't go fast on a 1% battery level. Of course, it is a major physics flaw; the batteries are totally screwed up.

Personally, I would just start another career. You could consider that your commander went to the surface Navy, like many sub commanders did.

[razark]

I never bothered to test earlier versions, but in developing ISP, I played around with the batteries quite a bit, and it won't work with v1.5.
Interesting. Like I said, it's been a while.

the batteries are totally screwed up.
Meh. It's just submarines. Accurately modeling the batteries is not worth the time. After all, how often do diesel boats use batteries? :nope:


Sometimes, I miss the old subsims. I think the folks that developed SH4 should have spent a lot of time playing SH1.

[les green01]

what i do cuss like a Marine then start a new game

[thegrindre]

I really enjoyed this thread. Even got a chuckle or two from it, so thanks, everybody. Although it hasn't happened as of yet, at my age my attention span is sometimes a bit short, and not paying attention to the fuel level will most likely happen, eventually. :D (It comes with age :-? )
I now know what to do about it or at least I have a number of options to chose from. :up:

:)

[TorpX]

Sometimes, I miss the old subsims. I think the folks that developed SH4 should have spent a lot of time playing SH1.
I agree completely.



Although it hasn't happened as of yet, at my age my attention span is sometimes a bit short, and not paying attention to the fuel level will most likely happen, eventually.

It hasn't happened to me yet, either. I did get back with 3% once. That was really cutting it too close.

On my last patrol, I worried about fuel constantly, because the weather was terrible, and made the whole business very uncertain, but in the end I got back with 19%. In such circumstances, it doesn't make sense to cut it close.

[Warren Peace]

It hasn't happened to me at all, I start running for home when fuel levels hit about 40%, gives quite a bit of breathing room.

That being said, if it did happen, I'd probably berate myself for being an idiot. Then curse, a lot. If that career had been going particularly well, I might even cry a little bit...

Then I'd suck it up, kill off that career, and go back to captaining an S-boat or Porpoise in 1941, most likely being sent to the bottom before making any real contribution to the war effort.

Alternatively, load up OM and become the bane of the North Sea in my Type IID dinghy.


Oh, I'm back by the way, hi everyone! :salute:

[les green01]

i ran out about 30 miles from base but had a full battery charge so submerge and coasted it home lesson learn after a contact kick it back down to 1/3 or 2/3 not standard before hitting tc

[Sailor Steve]

SH1 had two little markers on the fuel gauge. In SH1 you were teleported to and from your patrol area. The needle was always on the first marker when you started, showing you that the amount of fuel you had used getting there. All you needed to remember was to click the 'Go Home' button before the needle reached the second mark.

That all went out the window if you started at Manila in an 'S' boat. The needle was showing a full tank. I scooted around and did my duty until the needle was just above that lower mark. Hit the button and got told the Philippines had fallen and my base had changed to Surabaya. Of course I didn't have anywhere near enough fuel to get there and my career was over. :dead:

[HertogJan]

There's one way of knowing when to leave.

After you plotted your course and reached your patrol area hover the mouse over the fuel bar, it will tell you how much you've used up.
You'll need at least that amount of percentages to get home, some times you'll be able to refuel at a friendly port, recalculate form your patrol area to there.

Fictional example:
Start from Pearl, plot a course to Midway and refuel, plot a course to your patrol area and note the number of Nm to it (say 10.000Nm). On arrival, your fuel gauge has dropped to 85%, it took you 15% fuel to get from A to B (A being Midway cause you topped off there).
Bingo fuel is going to be at 15% you think... Think again :O: you'll need to recharge your batteries after each dive and that uses up fuel, add 10% to it and you'll have your Bingo fuel.
You'll probably get more than one patrol area to investigate so after you set course from B to C, D or E..... redo the math each time but keep in mind... don't forget to add 10% for recharging your batteries!

You can also look at it form another angle....
In our fictional example going to our patrol area was 10.000Nm adding 2500Nm for battery recharge made 25% fuel consumption, round trip would be less than 50% fuel consumption (only count battery recharge once!) plenty of room to maneuver as long as you keep calculating form last waypoint (being new patrol area) to home or friendly base no exceeding 12.500Nm.

Also, check distance to friendly ports by plotting a course to it and redo the math again, this is particularly helpful if you get send to a area and you'r wondering if you can make it back home or not.
Side note: most friendly ports will eventually be conquered so take note of the Radio reports, no point in sailing for 5 days to a 'used to be friendly port' if you already got the message 3 day's ago saying Manila is being run over or something like that.

[thegrindre]

Question: How do I know a friendly port from an enemy port? Is it the ones with the anchors?
I need a port in the Philippines.

Had to return for more "bullets" and fuel before I can go to my next assignment.

Had to cut my trip a little short. It says 19/100 and I'm not there yet.
Kept running into enemy ships that needed sinking. :D

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=942&pictureid=8094

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=942&pictureid=8095

[HertogJan]

Yes, the anchors are the places where you can refit at, the tilted anchor is your homebase.

_ Quick few question tho, what kind of speed setting do you uses to get from A to B, what speed do you set when patrolling and while I'm at it... what submerged speeds do you use?

I haven't played Stock in a while but by the looks of it you're guzzling fuel, I used to be able to do at least 4 patrols in the area and easily make Pearl without a stop at Midway.

[Friedhelm Winter]

Pray to the fuel God.

[thegrindre]

Pulled in at 14%. I may have a fuel leak. I couldn't do the second mission. Didn't have enough fuel plus I forgot my camera. :D I gotta take some pictures when I go back.
I read around here that standard speed is the most fuel efficient for traveling.
I rarely travel any faster.
TC is mostly at 1024 to 2048. I've never gone faster then that and I only do it while at the nav-map. Tapping the num-pad ENTER key will instantly bring me back to normal speed again.

Thanks

:)

[les green01]

depends on the mod but i go 2/3 or 10 knots then in my patrol area use 1/3

[HertogJan]

depends on the mod but i go 2/3 or 10 knots then in my patrol area use 1/3

yes, for TMO its 10knts, well I set it 3knts lower than standard speed, for Porpoise it is 10knts, no what other subs standard speed it tho.



have no idea what best fuel efficiency for stock is.

[thegrindre]

i ran out about 30 miles from base but had a full battery charge so submerge and coasted it home lesson learn after a contact kick it back down to 1/3 or 2/3 not standard before hitting tc
I'm getting exceptionally good fuel mileage when running at 9 knots while running TC. That's 1 knot less then Standard, BTW. Any faster, (10 or more knots), and there seems to be a hole in the tank.

:)

[Sniper297]

"I need a port in the Philippines"

Try my "GONE ASIATIC" mod.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=4358

Also works with Pearl careers, you won't get the action at the beginning but can still refuel and reload at the secret bases.

https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/1970517_707214969322786_919655070_n.jpg?oh=d184a0c 141099e25c6d3725f97d0de4d&oe=55BC1D75

[ssjtoma]

One possibility I've heard of:
Submerge and run on battery.
When the battery gives out, surface.
Even though you're out of fuel, the battery still recharges.

It's slow going, but I've heard of people making it back to port this way.
I remember reading about one boat that was heavily damaged. The crew tried to rig up a sail to get closer to land before scuttling the boat. Can't remember which one it was right now.

Edit:
USS Grenadier (SS-210) (http://www.subsowespac.org/world_war_ii_submarines/uss_grenadier_ss_210.shtml)
After thirteen hours stuck on the bottom at 270 feet:

:rotfl2: lmao!!!!! Thats funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sniper297]

Dunno if American or British subs ever used it, but German U-boats in both wars were issued sails and articulated masts for emergency use. I only recall reading one story about actual usage, can't remember which book.

Another item - in the sub type SIM file (Silent 3ditor again) the range submerged is all screwed up and not worth tinkering with. But the surfaced range and the speed to obtain that range is straightforward and works like you'd expect. So if you want to increase max range and/or change the max range cruising speed from 10 to 12 or even 15 knots, that works fine. I increased all of mine to 15 knots for max range because I get enough tedium in real life without having to put up with it in computer games.

[YonMaruIchi]

I've only run out of fuel once when I calculated the fuel I'd have left over when I made it back to port would be about 5% (cutting it close) and suddenly ended up driving through heavy seas unawares for several hours. Needless to say I ran dry well before I made it to port.

However I remember submerging and making it back at an extremely slow 1kt after the battery ran out. I'm not sure which mod configuration this was but I definitely remember it happening. That 1kt even on the highest time compression took quite a long time. I had to surface whenever CO2 levels got too high.

So depending on what your setup is I'd try that. I figured it was realistic in that even though the batteries are dead manpower could suffice in either recharging them or manually turning the props? Maybe I'm wrong but I can't see how it's not possible in safe waters :D (outside of Aussie port)

I decided to continue the campaign using that explanation. Of course I think a tug would've had come IRL.

[Longknife]

I wish I would have seen this thread a few days ago. My beloved Pigboat ran out of fuel 42mi from Freemantle & I ended up deleting the campaign. Shame too, I was having an amazing patrol.

One of the things that amazes me is the dramatic effect sea state can have. Coming back from the Java Sea to Freemantle in high seas used nearly 50% fuel (my sub was somewhat damaged so that may have played a part) Same trip in calm seas is more like 20%. This is in a Pigboat at 6kts.

[thegrindre]

"I need a port in the Philippines"

Try my "GONE ASIATIC" mod.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=4358

Also works with Pearl careers, you won't get the action at the beginning but can still refuel and reload at the secret bases.


OK, I'll try it with a new career. It doesn't work while in an existing career in SH4 v1.5 Gold.

(I see you get around, Jim. MSTS?)

:)

[Sniper297]

MSTS, railsim/railworks, Trainz, flight sims, RPGs, you name it I play it. :up:

I like limited fuel but within reason, having to waste 2 or 3 hours of gameplaying time crossing the ocean isn't entertainment. There is a mod;

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=3539

Never tried it myself since I still have 1.4.

[thegrindre]

I think your "GONE ASIATIC" mod will work for me. I can slip it into GFO nicely. :up:

Thanks,
:)

[Sandman_28054]

OK, so I'm sittin' DIW, what happens next? Is there any recovery if you run out of fuel? :-?

Thanks

:)

Bernard!!!!

[merc4ulfate]

I love travellers mods. But I still can not understand someone running out of fuel.

[thegrindre]

I love travellers mods. But I still can not understand someone running out of fuel.
It just happened to me! It took a tad over a 1/4 of a tank to get there (South China Sea) but I was unable to get back on a 1/2 tank. I still don't understand it. :)
I ran under GFO and at 2/3rds speed.

I gave up completely and installed Sniper's "GONE ASIATIC" mode then started all over again with a new career.

:)

[HertogJan]

It just happened to me! It took a tad over a 1/4 of a tank to get there (South China Sea) but I was unable to get back on a 1/2 tank. I still don't understand it. :)
I ran under GFO and at 2/3rds speed.

That's very weird, altho I don't know much about GFO I don't think weather does anything to range, speed and battery recharge will.
Half a tank should be more than enough to get home :-?


Me thinks you either have Bernard or a saboteur aboard, don't know which is worse tho :O:


PS_ what class sub are you in?

[razark]

I don't think weather does anything to range
Weather can slow you down. It doesn't directly affect range, but it does take longer to get somewhere, so you use more fuel to go the same distance.

[Sniper297]

It's been a long time, but as best I recall I did it with clocklike regularity when I first got the game. Attacked by Japanese planes every hour from 10 miles west of Midway to the Japanese coast, somehow they had more airplanes in the stock game than existed in the entire world. Then there were fuel leaks (? I think some damage caused fuel loss although no actual evidence of a leak) and failure to understand the correct speed for max range, combined with impatience to get it over with instead of spending 3 or 4 hours per night for a week in real time crossing the ocean while diving for constant air attacks. A lot of guys I knew back then gave up on the game when it was new because it seemed more of a slow cruise ocean crossing simulator than anything that would actually be fun.

[merc4ulfate]

Yes you can lose fuel due to damage. I do not use the 1/3, 2/3 settings. I run at 10 knots and set it manually. You get the best mileage running it manually like that.

[TorpX]

But I still can not understand someone running out of fuel.
Me either.

Perhaps, using high TC, you hit the wrong button and went too fast. Most any mistake will be made worse with high TC.

[thegrindre]

No wrong buttons. I tried it about 5 or 6 times in different ways but could not get back from the South China Sea on a half tank.
I don't run 1/3 or 2/3 either. I run manually at 9 knots. !0 or more is far to fuel consuming for a Porpoise.
I'm guessing I had a leak that was never found or fixed by damage control.
I don't have an answer. I just started over with a new career and Sniper's mod.

:)

[TorpX]

...but could not get back from the South China Sea on a half tank.

:hmmm:


Get back to where?

If you started from Manila, went to S. China Sea, then had to get back to Surabaya, or Fremantle, I can see how that could be a problem.

I might add the Porpoise class had less fuel capacity than later boats. The "book" endurance is 6,000 nm @ 10 kn.

[thegrindre]

I started in Perl and was unable to get to ANY port on a half tank. I tried to get to ever close port on the map from the South China Sea and all to no avail.

:)

[Pigboatcook]

I started in Perl and was unable to get to ANY port on a half tank. I tried to get to ever close port on the map from the South China Sea and all to no avail.

:)

Remember your charge times effect your cruising range also. I'm currently running a Porpoise out of Pearl (TMO/RSRDC). It is 1300NM +/- to Midway and at standard (15kts) it takes only 16% of the fuel. This of course is usage because Pearl to Midway I'm never submerged and don't have to charge batteries. The more battery you run down the more fuel you'll consume on your voyage.

Midway to Bashi channel I run 13knots on the surface and if I have to dive because of aircraft I crawl her at 1/3 once I'm below 200. This not only saves me gas on recharging it also leaves me plenty of reserve battery to use if I do make contact while down. By the time I hit Bashi channel I have anywhere from 60-63% of my fuel load remaining. To clear my patrol area I stay at 2/3rds patrolling on the surface and 1/3 patrolling submerged. This leaves me plenty of fuel to patrol, go to a secondary, and make it back to Midway with my tubes empty.

Some say 2kts submerged is too boring. TC takes the pain out of that as long as you pay attention to any TC lag to maximize your contacts with the enemy.

[Sniper297]

That's the main reason I made the mod in the first place. Early in the war the South China Sea is where all the action is, but the loss of US bases makes places to get fuel further and further away, and before the "rescue tug" mod the career was over if you couldn't make it to SOME port. Unlimited fuel takes ALL the challenge out of it, so this was a compromise.

[thegrindre]

I'm getting CTD with this mod, Jim. I'm experimenting with it in SH4 gold v1.5. I'm not sure it'll work.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=942&pictureid=8154

:)

[merc4ulfate]

Steam version?

[thegrindre]

Steam version?
Nope. A $12 copy from ebay a week or so ago.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=218289

Oh, I think I have a glitch in my SH4 install. I've just finished re-installing SH4 Gold from the ground up.

:)

[Sniper297]

If you're using JGSME (which is not a bad idea) de-activate the mod, check crash or no crash. If it crashes with the mod active and not when it's inactive then the mod is conflicting with another mod. IIRC mods like RSRDC which also modify the USnavalbases.mis file and Flotillas.upc won't be compatible with Gone Asiatic. If it still crashes with the mod de-activated the problem is elsewhere.

[Schiffmorder]

Gotta raise the dead to make an addendum/correction to post 2 regarding changing the cfg file. By itself, this will not work. I know it doesn't work because I tried it.
It then occurred to me to check my saved games files. You HAVE been saving periodically, right? Sure enough there's a cfg in the saved games. I changed both the autosave on leaving base and my current save. THIS DID NOT WORK.

Then I noticed in my current save a folder at the top called UPCInitial.
There is yet another cfg file there. Change it to false as well...MAGIC, your tank is now full. I did not go back (yet) and change the other save cfg files. It ain't broke and I'm not going to fix it. I've got 79k in tonnage bagged and all I want is to get back to Pearl so Lockwood can pin more medals on me.