So do you keep your same boat when you transfer even if the others in the group can only sail in a different type?

Yes, you always keep the same boat.


For instance, you are using a TypeIXC at 2nd Flotilla. One day, you transfer to the 7th Flotilla, which only uses the TypeVII. BDU will still allow you to keep your TypeIXC, upgrades and all.

But I'm not sure if you can purchase TypeIX upgrades at a base which does not service the TypeIX. Someone might want to check this for me...

It all depends on what year you decide to get your new boat. Its not so much that your upgrades transfer to the new boat, but that your new boat is already equipped with these items. If you get a VIIC in 1942, it has no new toys, but if you get the VIIC in 1943, it comes equipped with a radar detector and Bold launcher. My tastes are with the Type IX boats, so I kept My VIIB until I could purchase one. If you have the time to search through your Basic.cfg file it will tell you, by year, what each boat is equipped with.
Look for "[SUBMARINE_AMMO0]; IIA"


As to the questions of upgrading a Type IX in a Type VII Flotilla, I have had no problems keeping my IXs up to date on upgrades in these Flotillas. Currently it is early 1943 and my Type IXC, U-505, is raising hell in the Med with the 29th Flotilla. After two outstanding patrols, this third one has become a bear. Two weeks on patrol and only three single contacts, all sunk.

Cheating your way to an upgraded submarine
 

What the game won't let you do (and what would probably get you shot if you tried it in the real Kriegsmarine) you can always hack in the save files. Before editing any files you should make a copy/backup, I am sure there is 101 ways to ruin the game even if I have been lucky so far.

Go to port, load your C:\Documents and Settings\<user_name>\My Documents\SH3\data\cfg\Careers\<career_name>\Patro ls_0.cfg (substitute <user_name> with your login name in Windows, <career_name> with the name of your officer who needs a new sub). Scroll down to the last mission and find the lines with these variable names:

SubType=2
SubVersion=2
SubName=U-646

Change SubType to 0 for a type II, 1 for a VII, 2 for a XI and 3 for the XXI (if you try to get i.e. a XXI before the XXI conning tower is invented, you will end up with a XXI with your old tower and a XXI with a VII tower on top looks pretty silly :P ).

Then set SubVersion to the generation you want. This example, 2/2, is a type XIC so at least XIs start as type XIB = 1, perhaps the XIA would have been 0 if it existed in the game. I am not sure if type VII starts as SubVersion=0 or 1, test it, then just count generations and enter the right number.

You can also change your SubName if you don't want to keep your old.

The benefits of switching sub this way compared to upgrading to a new (Google for "Silent Hunter III cheat" for how to edit the save file to get rich enough for any upgrades) is both that the equipment is still there and you can have any sub in any base. Some of the bases are horrible to leave, having to run at 1x speed for ages because I am too close to land, so getting a XIC to Brest is much to prefer to running them through a narrow channel forever.

The same could of course be done by transfering, buying the sub, then transfering back, but if this sounds like too much work just pretend your nice uncle Karl's last name is Dönitz and have him give you what you need ;)

Crym
My father was a submariner. I am just a gamer.

LOL, I do that all the time... But you guys should learn from my personal experience: Just remember not to get too greedy... :lol:

Listen, listen! Those are words of wisdom, it can be fun to get a big boat far too early, give your crew all medals Das Vaterland has to offer, a zillion reknown etc., but not for long. I have i.e. warped a XXI back in time (be in Bergen, edit the saved game's patrol time to winter 1945, get the boat and edit back to whatever year you want) but it is just too much complexity if you can't even use a VII properly and you have no big prize to work towards. Still it can be fun to take a XXI for a trip and then return to your BdU issued VII or XI (or II, if you prefer canoes).

Crym
My father was a submariner. I am just a gamer.