Which sub is best?

[horrgakx]

I have the VIIC (Type 7 C), time period is just before the Snorkel comes available.

Ultimately I'm after that nice sleek sub later in the war, but should I upgrade subs as soon as they become available?

Dave

[enaceo]

When it comes to upgrading to the IX (if that's what you're talking about) you should wait a bit untill the IX/C(or the IX/D2 if you don't mind the range bug and the fact that it comes out a bit later in the war)comes out and not get the IXB right away.The VIIC isn't that bad and can be used untill the later IX versions or if you want the XXI come available.
Which sub is the best?Well,hard to really say...the IIA-IID are best for the early-war period,for attacking ports without being detected...but they get kind of obsolete with time...the VIIB/C/C40 whatever is a very balanced sub .Good range -but you might find that it has too few torps sometimes.
The IX class subs are a bit bigger than the VII's ,have more mass and are a bit slower ,but they have greater range +a lot more torpedoes(I personally like these best).
The XXI is a "special" type of sub.Has some bugs here and there (like the battery bug -but that has a fix for it,or some parts don't function properly) +it is HUGE but has a sh**load of torpedoes in internal rezerves but the problem is it only has frontal torpedoes.Well,we can overlook that ,but sometimes you really need those...Choosing the best sub is really up to you.

[STEED]

Try them all out. :up:

[HunterICX]

Depends what u like

I like to battle with the Brits so I stay in my VIIC,
mostlfy if u take the IX type you'll be sended to USA....

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Don't try locking horns with the Royal Navy in a type IX, especially late in the war - or it's a watery grave for you. They're best for hitting ports far away where both air cover and surface escorts are scant.

If you're going to operate near along the GIUK or in the Med, stick to the VIIs

[JSalinger]

Personally, I ran my first career as a convoy predator (sorry, dumb term), so I fully upgraded to a VIIC/40 before getting deep-sixed in March of '44 by an American HK group (I gave 'em hell! Sank two of the escorts and damaged the jeep carrier before they got me).

Now, on my second career, I started off with a VIIB in '39, then switched over to a IXB as soon as it became available, and right now, I'm in December of '43 with a IXC (currently patrolling the Eastern Seaboard, which can be fun).

If you take a VII series boat, you'll be attacking a lot of convoys in the North Sea etc. On the other hand, if you take a IX series boat, you'll be going anywhere from the Eastern Seaboard to the Carribbean to the South Atlantic (that patrol was boring) to the Arctic (grid AK something or another...south of Greenland and north of Iceland)!

Pig boats rule the world! :D lol

[SteamWake]

Try them all out. :up:

Good advice if you have limitless renown :hmm:

[horrgakx]

Thanks guys.
A couple of questions though if you can help;

1) I'm at Brest at the moment in a VII-C, I don't have any later subs available; do I have to go to another base to get others?

2) How much would I expect to pay in renown to upgrade to a better sub?

3) If I upgrade my sub, can I have just that one? For example can I have both my current VII-C AND another later model? Or just one at a time?


Thanks,
Dave

[STEED]

Try them all out. :up:

Good advice if you have limitless renown :hmm:

Try loads of careers.:yep:

[HunterICX]

HorrGakx

1) Transfer to the 2nd Flotilla (Lorient) later in the war they have all the VII types and the IX types

2) That depends on the Type of sub IX are mostly expensive

3) No You cant have more then 1 Sub per Career. so think of what you like
Convoy Pounding with the VII can be fun, also its an suitable sub to raid an harbour.

[andy_311]

Don't try locking horns with the Royal Navy in a type IX, especially late in the war - or it's a watery grave for you. They're best for hitting ports far away where both air cover and surface escorts are scant.

If you're going to operate near along the GIUK or in the Med, stick to the VIIs

I disagree with that I run an IXD2 when it comes available and I think it's a great boat to take on the RN it might have a dive time of 42 seconds but it sure holds a lots of torps more than a VIIC and if you can't get a sub to pd in 42 sec when a convoy is 25-30 km away then there's something wrong.

[Takeda Shingen]

With the battery fix installed, I always go for the XXI. Most of my sub simming experience is with modern SSN simulations (DW, SC, 688, et al) so the Walther boats make me feel more at home than a VII or IX.

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Don't try locking horns with the Royal Navy in a type IX, especially late in the war - or it's a watery grave for you. They're best for hitting ports far away where both air cover and surface escorts are scant.

If you're going to operate near along the GIUK or in the Med, stick to the VIIs
I disagree with that I run an IXD2 when it comes available and I think it's a great boat to take on the RN it might have a dive time of 42 seconds but it sure holds a lots of torps more than a VIIC and if you can't get a sub to pd in 42 sec when a convoy is 25-30 km away then there's something wrong.

You'll still end up suffering from the lack of manouverability. It's a good boat if you don't mind having to be a bit more patient, and hitting convoys with a lower level of protection. But operating near the UK, you're just asking for it.

I'd prefer my ability to escape after putting a couple of merchants to the bottom. The lack of submerged range is also a pisser when you're trying to aggresively follow a convoy submerged whilst reloading. When I break contact with an escort I always try to break contact towards the merchants. But you need the speed, manouverability and endurance to do it.

[horrgakx]

Whats this about a battery fix? I'm using the Grey Wolves mod.

[enaceo]

The battery fix makes it so that the XXI's battery has correct range .Don't worry it is included in GW mod as BBW said.So feel free to use the XXI if you want !

[Takeda Shingen]

The battery fix makes it so that the XXI's battery has correct range .Don't worry it is included in GW mod as BBW said.So feel free to use the XXI if you want !

No, the battery mod fixes the near-infinite 99% recharge bug. Without it, you will charge your battery for nearly 24 hours before reaching 100%.

EDIT: I see what you are talking about. I am using version 1 of the mod. You are talking about version 3. I adjusted my files to give the realistic submerged range long ago, before there was a v. 3.

[VonHelsching]

Just to clear any potential confusion about the battery fixes.

Me and Ducimus made the XXI Battery Fix for the stock game. It eliminates the eternal recharging to 99% stock bug for the XXI (and some other minor fixes). I also made the IXD/2 range fix (which includes some other minor fixes) for the stock game and the Real Battery Life Fix for all u-boat types for the stock game and GW, which corrected (reduced to historically correct levels) the underwater ranges.

All the above modlets / fixes are included in the Grey Wolves modpack, so there is no need of installing them over that.

[horrgakx]

Excellent, transferred to 2nd, got a nice big heavy boat :)

[andy_311]

Don't try locking horns with the Royal Navy in a type IX, especially late in the war - or it's a watery grave for you. They're best for hitting ports far away where both air cover and surface escorts are scant.

If you're going to operate near along the GIUK or in the Med, stick to the VIIs
I disagree with that I run an IXD2 when it comes available and I think it's a great boat to take on the RN it might have a dive time of 42 seconds but it sure holds a lots of torps more than a VIIC and if you can't get a sub to pd in 42 sec when a convoy is 25-30 km away then there's something wrong.

You'll still end up suffering from the lack of manouverability. It's a good boat if you don't mind having to be a bit more patient, and hitting convoys with a lower level of protection. But operating near the UK, you're just asking for it.

I'd prefer my ability to escape after putting a couple of merchants to the bottom. The lack of submerged range is also a pisser when you're trying to aggresively follow a convoy submerged whilst reloading. When I break contact with an escort I always try to break contact towards the merchants. But you need the speed, manouverability and endurance to do it.

I don't operate near the uk in late war Jan 45-end of war I tend to go for convoy's from Freetown or NY to Freetown or Gibralter or go for the baltic convoys depending what grid am assigned to.
But like I said IXD2 super boat if you know it's limitations she will get you beyond May 45.

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Don't try locking horns with the Royal Navy in a type IX, especially late in the war - or it's a watery grave for you. They're best for hitting ports far away where both air cover and surface escorts are scant.

If you're going to operate near along the GIUK or in the Med, stick to the VIIs
I disagree with that I run an IXD2 when it comes available and I think it's a great boat to take on the RN it might have a dive time of 42 seconds but it sure holds a lots of torps more than a VIIC and if you can't get a sub to pd in 42 sec when a convoy is 25-30 km away then there's something wrong.
You'll still end up suffering from the lack of manouverability. It's a good boat if you don't mind having to be a bit more patient, and hitting convoys with a lower level of protection. But operating near the UK, you're just asking for it.

I'd prefer my ability to escape after putting a couple of merchants to the bottom. The lack of submerged range is also a pisser when you're trying to aggresively follow a convoy submerged whilst reloading. When I break contact with an escort I always try to break contact towards the merchants. But you need the speed, manouverability and endurance to do it.
I don't operate near the uk in late war Jan 45-end of war I tend to go for convoy's from Freetown or NY to Freetown or Gibralter or go for the baltic convoys depending what grid am assigned to.
But like I said IXD2 super boat if you know it's limitations she will get you beyond May 45.

So then you're just contradicting yourself, because you said

I think it's a great boat to take on the RN

You are in effect just agreeing with me, that it's strength lies in its ability to hit areas further away that are generally poorly defended.

[macstu23]

Is the VII-C really that much better than a VII-B ? According to the stats the only obvious advantage is the 3 seconds faster dive time. The C variant is a little bit slower under the surface as well.

I'm on my 12th patrol and I'm still in the same boat I started with (VII-B, using the GW mod.) Is it really worth spending 3000 renown on the VII-C, or should I save those renown points a Type IX ? Right now I'm going for the latter, since I like my little B variant. So far in my current career I've managed to sink 3 Illustrious class Carriers with it. Those poor British are never going to win the war now :lol:.

[U-104]

Don't try locking horns with the Royal Navy in a type IX, especially late in the war - or it's a watery grave for you. They're best for hitting ports far away where both air cover and surface escorts are scant.

If you're going to operate near along the GIUK or in the Med, stick to the VIIs
I disagree with that I run an IXD2 when it comes available and I think it's a great boat to take on the RN it might have a dive time of 42 seconds but it sure holds a lots of torps more than a VIIC and if you can't get a sub to pd in 42 sec when a convoy is 25-30 km away then there's something wrong.
You'll still end up suffering from the lack of manouverability. It's a good boat if you don't mind having to be a bit more patient, and hitting convoys with a lower level of protection. But operating near the UK, you're just asking for it.

I'd prefer my ability to escape after putting a couple of merchants to the bottom. The lack of submerged range is also a pisser when you're trying to aggresively follow a convoy submerged whilst reloading. When I break contact with an escort I always try to break contact towards the merchants. But you need the speed, manouverability and endurance to do it.Well, I admit it's not designed to go in the English Channel, but I've used them in the Irish Sea with no problem.