I would say IX is a good choice during the first part of the war, when there are so many unescorted and easy targets that the number of torpedo is the main interest.

But when things become rough, VII is the good choice if you want to participate to the main battle against convoys in North Atlantic from mid 1942. Low sonar signature, excellent handling (slaloming in the middle of a convoy with a VII is just a pleasure), fast diving speed, slighter profile which make it a target much more difficult to reach with bombs and DC... And with the fact that from 1943 you can consider yourself skilled and very lucky if you manage to launch 12 torpedos on a convoy without being destroyed, you will see that the number of torpedo won't be your main problem any more.

Well, in a few words, the VII is the best weapon in the worst areas and bad situations. That's why in 1943 Dönitz had to recognize that XIs were not fitted for the hard job in North Atlantic and sent them to less defended areas.
If you like to spend months having sunbath in tropical areas with low escorts and isolated merchants, then IX is for you.:sunny:
If you like to do the tough part of the Ubootwaffe duty,then come and join our VII fleet in the North Atlantic. Sunglasses are not usefull there, but diapers are strongly recommended!:dead:

Yeah, UVIIc rules!:rock:

Not in a nuclear-powered Einbaum! :arrgh!:

Anyways

Thanks for all the advice Gents,

I've 'bought' the IX, and am enjoying it so far. Dive time is terrible, but am going to run with the decks awash to reduce those times.

The amount of torpedo's you can carry is amazing. It does make all the difference when attacking a bigger convoy. If I had my way the weapons officer would be strapping even more to the deck with bungee cords :D!

I really hate to admit this to you guys, considering how much the realism is valued, but in-game I have it set for unlimited fuel. Part of my vocation is fuel-management, it's way too stressful some times when you don't know if you're going to have enough or not. So I don't use fuel-management settings in my choices of entertainment! What I do though, is keep the patrols in historical waters ie. no going to Japan in a VII, Caribbean, etc.

Could someone try out the different subs, and get a list over the diving times for each one (standard surface cruise & with decks awash?)PS: I would also think that the speed of the sub would have to be considered. :yep:

Diving times are in tehnical information in each sub, diving time depends of crew experience. Indeed type IX is very slow in reaction, in stock SH after June 44 I take VII/41 more faster and good diving. Altought with type IX I slought a convoy just 2 ship from 15 initially with escorts, but is really annoyng to go half of the Earth. Generally a mission in Brazil postoned because I intercept a convoy from Gibraltar and a mission to America was very juicy:D.

Nothing wrong with reducing "realism" to increase enjoyment. Sometimes we simmers get so wrapped up in "what is real" we stop having fun with our sims.

Me...I dont do my own torpedo solution calculations. I deal with math and stats all day and thats the LAST thing I want to do (trig).... I enjoy the hunt! To do the math would be like a deer hunter calculating his exact bullet trajectory before taking his shot!

Just another tiny point: while running decks awash, the speed isn't as great as it would be when running on the surface. Increasing speed means more fuel used. In such cases, i believe the IX would be a better choice, since the fuel capacity is greater than on the VII-boats.