What U-boat do you prefer and why? [Archive]

gord96

10-09-06, 03:37 PM

Hello,

New to the game and just wondering what everyone's favorite sub is and why. Not so much the "super" subs at the end of the war but the ones they used through most of the game. Trying to decided whether to stick with the VII or try the longer range boats. Thanks :)

Ducimus

10-09-06, 04:11 PM

My question to you is, how long do you like to stay at sea?

Personnaly im drawn to Long range boats, for many reasons. I think one of the most noteworthy reasons is simply the passage of time in the game vs how much time i spend playing the game sitting in my chair.

For instance, in the VII boats if find myself doing ALOT of down by day, up at night. Now i do this in an IX boat, but only after i get near or at my patrol area where i think the enemy presence might be greater. So in the process of getting to my patrol area, more time has gone by in game, with less time sitting in my chair. This in action gives me a sense of having accomplished something, because personnaly one of my underlaying motives is to survive the war. Pasage of time as an accomplishment in other words.

The passage of time in an VII boat, while the distance traveling isnt as far, the clock ingame seems to progresses slower because theres less travelling. Hence it takes me much longer to pass the same amount of time that i do in an IX boat.

On top of that, theres alot of distant areas seems to have chockpoints or generally areas where predicting shipping routes feels a bit easier to figure out. Although granted you could probably to the same thing sitting in a grid like (i think) AM54.

Hueywolf123

10-09-06, 05:09 PM

I like my little type VIIB, got speed, good diving times etc. I get bored on long range patrols and a smaller boat is harder to spot from above. My crew and I will be heartbroken if we get transfered away from it

mookiemookie

10-09-06, 06:26 PM

I love the Type VIIB/Cs. Plenty of internal torpedos, faster dive speed to avoid those pesky planes, lower profile than the type IX, and it doesn't handle as sloppy. I like being in the heat of the action instead of a million miles away. Personal preferences, of course.

Steeltrap

10-09-06, 06:30 PM

stabiz

10-09-06, 06:48 PM

VIIC. Its the best boat, IMO. Its agile and fast, two key requirements for survival.

(I am currently in an IXB, and I quite like that one too, despite the sluggishness)

Albrecht Von Hesse

10-09-06, 07:13 PM

I suspect answer to this will depend, also, on how you play. Do you use a mod? Which? I'd hate to be in a IX using NYGM late '42 on due to effectiveness of escorts and, especially, the savagery of planes. That extra dive time etc would be a killer!

Using a VIIC myself.

It doesn't help much if you get caught with your knickers down, but when I do approaches to convoys or other contacts, or if there is an escort about, I go to deck awash ( 7 meters). My dive time then is less than 15 seconds, and that's not a 'crash' dive, just a simple submergence to periscope depth. And yes, that's with an IXC boat.

Hybris

10-09-06, 07:18 PM

Depending on what carrer I'm working on I either use a U-Flak (VIIC with extra flak guns) or my XXI. Personally I like harbor attacks or surfaceing in the middle of a convoy manning of the flak guns and blow away the ship I can reach.

Ducimus

10-09-06, 07:19 PM

I like being in the heat of the action instead of a million miles away.

The action is all over the ocean, not just near the A and B grids ;)

Honestly this topic has been beat to death in the past.

Heres some more info, id get into a long speil and basically say the same thing:

http://www.communitymanuals.com/shiii/index.php?title=Type_VII_/_IX_Comparison
edit: Ill have to add the info is old and had the stock game in mind at the time of its writing. As said, alot depends on the mod your running.

On a side note, ive taken IX boats to the end of the war with some 600 odd days at sea, and it wasn't easy. Most of my career games ended prematurely.

GT182

10-09-06, 07:21 PM

I'll take a IX/D2 any day. The Type VIIs and IX/Bs and Cs are fine but the killing power of the D2 is so much better. 26 torpedos, 105 deckgun and the killer quad flakgun does the job just fine. 19.2kts surfaced, 6.9 submerged and her range are nothing to sneeze at either. She's a great boat IMO. She's saved our collective bacon many times, but what do I know. ;)

Ducimus

10-09-06, 07:29 PM

THat IXD2 has some incredible range. You can take that boat out of france, and cruise all the way to penang without having to refuel.

You can crash dive an IXD2 in about 20-22 seconds if your decks are awash. Ive taken one in the U505 mission and surived.. (once or twice :roll: ) On top of that if your pining for SH4, the IXD2 is VERY SIMILAR in stats to a gato class submarine.

Now, dispite all that, i still find myself looking at IXC's. Not sure why. I think i enjoy the challenge of fuel management, and while the type9's have more payload in general, you still have to be conservative with your fish.

Overall the type9's were really meant as the sole, solitary hunter, and not a boat you'd normally enlist into a wolfpack. Which i think is one reason why the type7's and 9's are designed the way they are. One works alone, the other in a group. Only problem is, there's no wolfpacks in SH3.

MothBalls

10-09-06, 07:50 PM

I like starting a career with a IIA and "earning" my way up. (II is a blast in rough weather.) Soon as I could I got a VII, then did 1 year in it and got a IX. When I got my 1st XXI I did two patrols, and actualy went back and loaded my last mission in a IX and finished the war in it. I wasn't a fan of the XXI.

When I traded my trusty IXC in for a DX2 I loved it. Not only traveled farther, but farther faster. Slipping up into the middle of a convoy and being able to use 12 fish..... well sometmes anyway....ok, maybe just a couple times I got away with it.... it was lots of fun.

Only thing I didn't like was the limited submerged range, sneaking away in the later war was tough. I did some harbor raids with it, there were some difficult situations getting the beast turned around, but again, the extra fish saved my bacon a few times.

Can't wait until SH4, pleeeeeeeeeenty of tubes.

mookiemookie

10-09-06, 08:18 PM

I like being in the heat of the action instead of a million miles away.
The action is all over the ocean, not just near the A and B grids ;)

Hee hee....reason I said that is that I'm in the middle of a boooooring patrol down in grid EJ93 (that's Cape Verde...they sent me there in my type VIIB! :88)). I haven't seen or heard anything for a couple weeks now. I'm about to milk cow it back to Lorient and give Onkel Karl a piece of my mind.

Ducimus

10-09-06, 08:31 PM

Honestly i hate any grid south of freetown. There really isn't that much traffic down there. You have some coming out of capetown but not a whole lot. The waters directly SW of capetown is sometimes lucrative. You go up on the shelf, and theres this deeper region. Between this area and freetown harbor is an island. You'll catch single merchants in this area.

North of freetown is ok too. I dont know which ilsand it is, but the main shipping route runs right in between the west african coast, and this island. This area is north of freetown. I think hunting south of this straight is the best location, as i think they typicaly zig at some point before they enter this straight, which is fairly wide.

Hartmann

10-09-06, 08:47 PM

I like the IX-B and C boats , and they are very similar to the pacific subs.

great load of torpedoes (22),good speed (20 knts) decent dive speed at deck awash, and a good range,

i use always large boats in sh1 and aces of the deep. :up:

HunterICX

10-10-06, 05:13 AM

:D Type VIIC aka Backstabber
well backstabber thats why I use it a lot...good to sneak up close to an enemy ship and BANG nail some eels into it. and I can stay quit a long time on PD depth in the middle of the convoy before the Escorts finally figure out where I MIGHT be...they always drop their load of barrels on a spot where I was about 30 minutes ago :rock:

Pants

10-10-06, 05:29 AM

VII because it's a beautiful looking sub.

flakmonkey

10-10-06, 05:46 AM

Type IIa all the way...
I love the feeling of vulnerability you get + with a IIa every torpedo is a precious thing and not to be wasted, ive spent ages tracking courses of ships just for that perfect shot, when you only have 5 fish you have to make every one count!

danlisa

10-10-06, 06:03 AM

I certainly prefer the larger IX boats, mainly the IXD2. My main hunting ground is the US East coast down to the Gulf of Mexico.

The IXD2 is a very large boat but It moves along the surface so gracefully in stomy conditions and is much more steady at periscope depth during storms.

The downside, if there is one, is that it is a very large target for aircraft and convoy attacks, can be lengthy with mulitple approaches to avoid detection.

I did recently try a VIIC again (this was my first/only choice of boat before IX's) and I just can't go back to them.

Respenus

10-10-06, 08:40 AM

Can't go over my dear XXI!

gord96

10-10-06, 08:45 AM

mookiemookie

10-10-06, 08:52 AM

Its June 1941 in my career, and I'm based out of the 2nd flotilla in Lorient. The Type IXs have been available for me for quite a while now (can't give up my Type VIIB though....unrelated question. Does the 2nd flot. ever get the VIIC? When?) Maybe you're just in the wrong flotilla?

Torvald Von Mansee

10-10-06, 08:59 AM

Type XXI all the way!!!! No fiddling w/getting external torps into the boat, and an amazing speed underwater (22 w/snorkel!!!). Also can dive down REAL fast, etc.

gord96

10-10-06, 10:42 AM

I have the type VIIB right now and the VIIC is available. I cannot see a difference between the two though. Is there more upgrades available for the C or something? RIght now the 3000 renown does not seem worth it when I compare the basic stats. The B actually seems better.

HunterICX

10-10-06, 11:24 AM

:smug: Gord , read the dive time,
the VIIC is 3 seconds faster
:rotfl:

Well I went from an IIA type to an VIIC , and Planning to keep it till the VIIC/41 comes out

Ducimus

10-10-06, 11:58 AM

thanks for the responses guys. good stuff and has given me lots to think about. I am on my first career patrol right now and am still using the VII-B in may of 41. When approximatly does the first type IX become available?

IXB is already available. IXC will become avialable i think 7/41 or thereabouts. Personnaly if i were in your shoes and wanted to try an IX boat, id wait a couple months and get the IXC over the IXB. Although the IXB will probably be cheaper in renown costs.

gord96

10-10-06, 12:10 PM

thanks bro. I think I may have to try the IX boats. Like the idea of doing the whole US East coast thing!! Big tonnage!!

mookiemookie

10-10-06, 12:16 PM

thanks bro. I think I may have to try the IX boats. Like the idea of doing the whole US East coast thing!! Big tonnage!!

Big unescorted tonnage. With little to no air cover. :up:

And I just learned that the 2nd flotilla doesn't get any better Type VII than the B. I want a C, dangit. I may have to transfer. Does your crew transfer with you, or do you have to start from scratch?

gord96

10-10-06, 12:27 PM

the crew does transfer with you as far as I know. Where did you find the info on what flotillas get what boat?

Ducimus

10-10-06, 12:32 PM

thanks bro. I think I may have to try the IX boats. Like the idea of doing the whole US East coast thing!! Big tonnage!!

Big unescorted tonnage. With little to no air cover. :up:

Not in MY game! :arrgh!:

the crew does transfer with you as far as I know. Where did you find the info on what flotillas get what boat?

Crew transfer with you, you just swap boats. Off the top of my head,

VII uboats are 1st, 7th, 11th, and 29th flotillas.
IX Uboats are 2nd, 10th, and 12th flotilaas.

mookiemookie

10-10-06, 01:17 PM

the crew does transfer with you as far as I know. Where did you find the info on what flotillas get what boat?

http://www.communitymanuals.com/shiii/index.php?title=Career_Timeline#Available_Ports.2F Flotillas

gord96

10-10-06, 03:13 PM

thanks for the link.

quick question;

when do more flotillas appear to transfer into. I am may 1940 (i said 41 above by mistake:oops: ) and only the 1st and 7th are available. Grazi

Ducimus

10-10-06, 04:08 PM

Look here,
http://www.uboat.net/flotillas/combat.htm

game follows the dates and descriptions almost verbatum.

CaptainNemo12

10-10-06, 05:08 PM

Just a quick question, does the VIIC/41 become available as a standalone sub to purchase or just as an optional upgrade to the VIIC? I'm currently crusing in my VIIb, LOVE IT ALL THE WAY. The Type II is a lovely looking sub too.

Ducimus

10-10-06, 05:13 PM

Just a quick question, does the VIIC/41 become available as a standalone sub to purchase or just as an optional upgrade to the VIIC?

Unfortunatly theres only ONE playble VIIC model being used by the game. In SH3 I dont think theres any difference between the 7C and 7 C/41 at all, excepting what their equiped with when you purchase them. the C/42, the only difference in sh3 is you'll get 3 foward external torpedo stores and a better radar which i think is bugged and wont work correctly.

To get the statistical difference, you have to modify the subs files and run it as a plugin to overlay the existing 7c model. YOu can do this with SH3 commander or JSGME.

gord96

10-10-06, 05:29 PM

thanks for the reply Ducimus. So in May of 40 there should only be the 1st and the 7th? according to some notes the 2nd was active too.

Ducimus

10-10-06, 05:43 PM

Yah, 2nd flot should be available. In 1940 i think it's still based out of wilshemhaven.

Inajira

10-11-06, 03:37 AM

The IXD2 is a very large boat but It moves along the surface so gracefully in stomy conditions and is much more steady at periscope depth during storms.

The downside, if there is one, is that it is a very large target for aircraft and convoy attacks, can be lengthy with mulitple approaches to avoid detection.

I did recently try a VIIC again (this was my first/only choice of boat before IX's) and I just can't go back to them.

Can't agree more, after having free-ranged across the Atlantic in one (my previous campaign) I can't bring myself to try a Type VII in the Med... its "a knife fight in a phone booth", too much congestion, too many destroyers... my ideal environment is an open sea, stormy weather and a stubborn merchant to home on to.

gord96

10-11-06, 11:45 AM

Ducimus

10-11-06, 11:53 AM

Yah, 2nd flot should be available. In 1940 i think it's still based out of wilshemhaven.

hmm...I am in June 1940 and still only the 1st and 7th are available. Is this a bug in my game? I would really like to try an IX boat. Perhaps they open up when France is taken?

You can do one of two things. Start a "test" career and scroll it to 1941 and see if the 2nd flot is avialable, or open sh3/data/cfg/flotilla.cfg, using FIND, try and find "2nd". If you look at whats there, it should say when it starts.

Hans Schultz

10-11-06, 11:55 AM

I prefer the larger type IX boats because of their range, the 10.5cm gun and the larger torpedo load. of course i love the type XXI when it becomes available.

gord96

10-11-06, 12:30 PM

Thanks Ducimus! i appreciate your help :)

TarJak

10-12-06, 03:50 AM

Love the VIIC.:up: Small, fast, plenty of upgrades as you progress through the war, easy to manouver.

Redwine

10-12-06, 09:39 AM

Type IX... I never played another model if i can have a Type IX.

I save renown to reach to have a Type IX D2 as soon as posible, always use Lorient as base.

Long action radius, lot of torps, big gun, and good AAA, only one knot below Type VII when submerged, at surface i alyay sail at 5 knots, and submerged, rarely i pass 45 meters depth, so the crush depth of the Type IX is enought for me. I never let the DEs or DDs to discover me.... and when thy do it, silent running and maneuver must be enought to shake them from me, if not, the crush depth of the Type IX is enought any way in extreme situations.

:up: