Not enough fuel to complete mission

[chazsi]

Hey guys!! I'm coming back to subsim after YEARS away and it all seems brand new. I'm a noob again.

So my first campaign mission based out of Pearl Harbor is to drop off six dudes at Yokosuka. It takes 80% of my fuel just to get there and that's alternating battery and fuel all the way.

Should I just skip this mission? Why would that be a mission? Is there a refuel port somewhere?

Seems weird?

Thanks in advance

[razark]

What speed are you running at?

Have you installed any mods, and if so, which ones?

[chazsi]

No mods yet

I've tried it at "full speed" alternating diving to use battery as well as "standard speed" alternating diving to use battery to conserve diesel

First try was all diesel. 3/4 of the way there I realized I was running out of fuel.

I just don't get why they would send someone from Pearl that far when there are other bases so much closer. ??

[Captain_AJ]

You need to not run at full speed everything from what I am seeing is that you are doing just that on the surface change your speed dial and run at 10 knts .. under the surface run your speed at 1-2 knots and everytime you surface unless your battery is completly depleted click off recharge batteries keep doing so that you will keep 75-100 charge

[propbeanie]

Pearl to Japan, stop at Midway along the way and top off your fuel tanks. There are no bases closer until into 1944. It is usually best to stay on the surface as much as possible. If you have air search radar, use it, and dive if necessary. Follow the Rockin Robbins' Rule:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hidf8p64_CE

When you dive and use batteries, the batteries get charged when you surface, which reduces your fuel efficiency, since one of the engines charges, while the other propels the boat. You can do what Captain_AJ suggests to preserve battery and fuel, but not letting the battery get down to begin with is better.

For most mods and Stock, for best fuel efficiency, use no more than Ahead Standard. A couple of them have Ahead Two Thirds (Slow), and another will have you set the speed on the knots dial Hover your mouse over that "boxy" area below the speed telegraph dial, and you'll get this (no red arrow, of course):

https://i.imgur.com/mZF1Lda.jpg
Click that area, and you get the knots. Click it again, and you're back to the telegraph


Likewise with the direction via compass to degrees of turn and back:

https://i.imgur.com/8br9D5N.jpg


... and the depth gauge shallow and deep:

https://i.imgur.com/XhZUVNr.jpg


... and, of course, stop at Midway on the way back and get more fuel... :salute:

[razark]

I don't remember if it exists in stock, but check under the navigation section of the command bar to see if there's a "Maximum Range" option. I know it exists in mods, and I have a hazy memory of it existing at least in the commands file, but not with a key assignment.

If it does exist, use it at various speed settings to get an idea of the most efficient speed. You'll find that running at high speeds will severely reduce your distance to fuel ratio. Running across the Pacific at lower speeds is not as exciting, but for most of the way, you can use rather high time compression. Just remember to lower it when you get closer to Imperial waters, or you'll be sunk by a plane you never even get a chance to notice.

[mikesn9]

Fuel range (and weather) fix. Manual type-in. (Remember to save file before you work on it) When using Ctrl-g, you'll notice significant range differences between charging/not-charging

Fuel range at current speed:
So, in: \Data\Cfg\Commands.cfg
Commands.cfg (open with a text editor like Notepad)

[Cmd257] <------------------ Step #1: Find "[Cmd257]"
Name=Report_time_to_turn
Ctxt=1
MnID=0x3F250002
Key0=0x47,s,"Shift+G" <--------- Step #2: Add this string

----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you also want the 'Weather Report' "Ctrl+W" make this [Cmd261] edit:

[Cmd261]
Name=Report_weather
Ctxt=1
MnID=0x3F250006
Key0=0x57,c,"Ctrl+W" <--------- Step #3: Add this string

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To remember "Shift+G" and "Ctrl+W" add them to your in-Game F1 Help file:
In: Data\Menu\Help\Help.cfg
Help.cfg (open with a text editor like Notepad, and find the 'OTHER CONTROLS' section:

[Chapter1.Phrase6]
Phrase=<b>OTHER CONTROLS</b>| NumPad - Decrease Time Compression| NumPad + Increase Time Compression| Backspace Pause|

[chazsi]

WOW. Tons of help. Thanks everyone.

I stopped at midway once and made way to a random dock, but didn't know what to do from there. I assumed there was no refueling as no menu or options popped up.

How does one refuel there?

I have to get some mods....

[razark]

When you get within a certain range of a port, you should have an anchor icon show up. Click that, select the refuel option, and you're good to go.
There's no need to actually sail all the way into port.

[Red Devil]

WOW. Tons of help. Thanks everyone.

I stopped at midway once and made way to a random dock, but didn't know what to do from there. I assumed there was no refueling as no menu or options popped up.

How does one refuel there?

I have to get some mods....

icon top right for refuel/rearm when in range, or take infinite fuel - its only a game!! :arrgh!:

[chazsi]

Thanks Red Devil. Infinite fuel may indeed be the best answer for me. It's about hiding and attacking not making government standards for fuel efficiency. LOL.

[propbeanie]

Usually speaking, with v1.5 for a fact, and I can't remember v1.4, but this was broken in one or two of the illustrious "updates" that Ubisoft came out with, was a message box that pops up when you get within range, like razark mentions, and it asks you if you want to re-arm, re-fuel or dock (if a home port). So, let's have you do this:

1. Navigate to your game install directory, and find the SH4.exe file. If you have the extensions hidden, there is an SH4.ico file also, so choose the 1st one listed.

2. Right-click on the file, and go to the bottom of the resulting "context menu" that pops-up, and left-click on "Properties.

3. On that little Window, click on the "Details" tab.

5. About the middle of the "SH4.exe Properties" dialog will by the "Product version", which is just above the highlighted "Copyright" in my picture below:

https://i.imgur.com/TTb3Msl.jpg

Let us know what yours has there, please.

Also, is your game a disk version, or did you purchase a downloaded version? What directory is the game installed in?

[aanker]

9 knots is the best speed in an un-modded game. I hope you have a fleetboat and not a S-class or PORPOISE.

A TAMBOR, GAR, GATO, etc have a much longer range.

Running on batteries doesn't save fuel either because it costs fuel to charge the batteries.

If you are trying to be historical, you can run on the surface until you reach Empire waters and then patrol 9 knots surfaced at night and submerged at 2 knots during daylight hours.

Happy Hunting!

[chazsi]

My SH4 is a download version from Steam

v 1.3.0.0

It is located here on my system

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Silent Hunters Wolves of the Pacific

I have a post started in the main SH4 directory asking for help installing mods. I was following the instructions there for the THEBERBSTERS all in one megamod and it crashed the game.

But before that I tried to change it out of a steam (x86) folder and steam wouldn't let me. Said it had to be where it was. Won't allow multiple folders on same drive. (??)

[aanker]

v1.3 needs to be updated to v1.4. In downloads there is a free upgrade to v1.4 you need to install.

But first, check out the Tutorial on how to install SH4 if you got it from Steam.

Even though v1.4 will give you a playable game you really should buy v1.5 the U-Boat expansion. It has many improvements for the US vs Japan campaign and most mods require the v1.5 U-Boat expansion.

First though, install SH4 using the instructions in the Tutorial.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2508481&postcount=5223

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2297821&postcount=3

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2297825&postcount=7

It will be worth it, have patience, I know it's a lot to do.

[merc4ulfate]

You can make it from Midway to Yokosuka and back using less than one tank of fuel. Keep your cruising speed at a manually adjusted ten knots.

[chazsi]

Yeah, I've found that 10 kts will allow you to travel ANYWHERE on very little fuel

I've had a couple of close calls making it to an allied port though because I stretch patrols out till torps are gone and gas is critically low.

What happens in-game should you run out?? Is there a call for a tender or something?

[merc4ulfate]

Yeah, I've found that 10 kts will allow you to travel ANYWHERE on very little fuel

I've had a couple of close calls making it to an allied port though because I stretch patrols out till torps are gone and gas is critically low.

What happens in-game should you run out?? Is there a call for a tender or something?

No tender, no luck. You restart your save or career. I do remember a mod some time back that allowed you a milk cow but you would also acquire a renown penalty.

I do not remember what it was called but it might be in the downloads.

[aanker]

Yeah, I've found that 10 kts will allow you to travel ANYWHERE on very little fuel

I've had a couple of close calls making it to an allied port though because I stretch patrols out till torps are gone and gas is critically low.

What happens in-game should you run out?? Is there a call for a tender or something?
I wish, you can't even abandon ship. Some are trying a mod called "Rescue Sub" - I haven't tried it. It says it will do repairs and refuel & refit. Worth a look.

Pages 2 & 3 in this topic has up to date posts:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=193872

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

Happy Hunting!

[Red Devil]

No tender, no luck. You restart your save or career. I do remember a mod some time back that allowed you a milk cow but you would also acquire a renown penalty.

I do not remember what it was called but it might be in the downloads.


Could be wrong but thought it was only the germans who had 'milchcows', dont recall ever reading of the americans having them, or indeed us brits.

[propbeanie]

True, but the game has restrictions, with there being no "Abandon Ship" and being either rescued or captured, nor having an alternative to having to quit your career after running out of fuel just short of a base with fuel. There is no way to have a vessel come "tow" you into port. Traveller used those restrictions to attempt having a semblance of a viable alternative to being helplessly stricken in the middle of nowhere, with dead engines or inoperable rudders, by having a submarine "dispatched" as a repair vessel. You still had to make emergency repairs on your sub, and then get to the "rescue" location, which wasn't always possible... Some folks like the mods, others don't, but there is no elegant way around some of the game's issues. :salute:

[aanker]

True, but the game has restrictions, with there being no "Abandon Ship" and being either rescued or captured, nor having an alternative to having to quit your career after running out of fuel just short of a base with fuel. There is no way to have a vessel come "tow" you into port.
Years ago (2007 - 2008-ish) my entire crew died of CO2 poisoning because my boat was damaged and couldn't rise above 26'. External view showed my stern down about 30' and my bow sticking up unless we were moving, then we could level out.

I could get up on the bridge but none of my crew could. The missing Abandon Ship button/command didn't make me too happy. At 26' my diesels wouldn't fire up so it was batteries only until they were gone, then we slowly sailed vertically until CO2 killed my crew. Un-modded Stock at the time.

I doubt Rescue Sub would have helped me, but Traveller did the best he could with what he had to work with. You posted some nice screenshots in that topic showing what Rescue Sub could do in the Pacific. Post 30, Thanks! (somebody needs to toot your horn propbeanie ;) :woot:

Post 30:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2540105&postcount=30

Rescue Sub Topic:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=193872

Happy Hunting!

[propbeanie]

Why, thank you aanker, but my wife says I toot too much already, only it's methane, and not CO2 that my crew dies from... :roll:
:salute:

[merc4ulfate]

aanker thank you ... rescue sub was the one I was originally thinking about. It worked for me back when I used it. I have went through the verticals before. Once I was sinking and at ahead flank I was able to make it to shallow water and bang around on the bottom long enough for a few repairs to take place and get me back on the surface.