Here's a useful page: http://uboat.net/ops/top_patrols.htm

As you can see, some pretty impressive patrols were made in real life, although given the total number of outings, the fact that there's only 31 patrols with over 45,000t recorded - well, you can see these were not the norm. But some (like Luth on the U-181) certainly had repeated success.

Note the mention there, by the way, of the fact that most of the really successful patrols were long cruises by Type IX's in distant, poorly-defended waters.

On further investigation, I actually overestimated HLW's time "at the front" as he took command of U-5 in Dec 1939 but did not begin the first combat patrol until April 1940.

I would guess that 2-3 years was the longest any one man served as an active frontboot commander - simply because those that were already in that position early on (if they weren't killed or captured) had in most cases been transferred and/or promoted to other duties by mid-war, and those that began their commands mid-war or later either didn't survive that long or couldn't serve longer if they did because the war ended.

That is a need list. And indeed, most are Type IX.

Its funny to see, the first (correct me) ALL type VII commanders are very known.

only 4 out of 31 used a type VII
Otto Kretschmer
Günther Prien
Joachim Schepke
Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock

I sank a ship once!

That's actually pretty impressive for a kaleun whose typical career lasts from August 1939 until the next must-have mod comes out. :O:

Eric Topp 3rd most succesful U-boot commander commanded type VII:know:
And IIRC Robert Gysae commanded type VII too.

And statistically the third war patrol for U-boot was it's last. But that just an avarage. Many went down on their first.

U-98 Type VIIC

http://uboat.net/boats/u98.htm

what i do is :)
 

I play with others at normal .( BUT) I have changed two thing in MY game # 1 ship sinking time = false # 2 is torpedo lode time = false all other settings are at true . i sink one ship = if luck be with me . I fire , dive at 8k turn as i dive to 100 meters . go to silent run keep diving to 150 meters and turn till i am at 180 meters . NEVER GO BACK TO CONVOY TO ATTACK . IF A SHIP THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVOY IS COMING MY WAY AND THE DDS ARE GOING AWAY AND THERE IS TIME LEFT = 9O MIN TO A GAME I WILL USE THE TWO TORPEDOES THAT ARE LEFT = SUB IS A 7B = ATTACK THE SHIP.

Yes. Uboat.net is my friend too.
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As to normal tonnage.

Even if I have 100% realism, no map contact update, hitman's GUI and several "out of the game" restrictions, still tonnage count is quite high.

1. Patrol 31 393
2. Patrol 6 113
3. Patrol 34 271
4. Patrol 22 714
5. Patrol 18 881
Total 113 372

Avarege 22 674.

5th patrol was almost zero one, but during return trip I encountered two big ships.