have-ing just looked it up i'd have to agree!
62 of this type had entered service by the end of the war--

9 seconds crash dive time--very handy--max submerged speed 12.5 knots
could cruise at 4 knots submerged for allmost two days

a coastal boat so less glamourous than a XXI but --far more relevant

Speaking for myself, and my 2 alter-ego captains, I have fond memories of the Type IIA and D. I started out Joachim Steiner in 1st Flotilla in a Type IIA. It's a very manouverable boat. No doubt about it. It can turn on a dime, and it dives quickly. It's like the ninja of the Uboat world. A ninja doesn't beat you to death - he stealthily assassinates you. Also, I loved the way in storms, the boat would rock all over the place. Seasick or what. I did jump at the chance to upgrade to the Type VII. More torpedoes, and a longer submerged range. Those were the big factors for me. The VII can still dive quite quickly. Especially compared to the Type IX. Oy.

I'm still making my way from Lorient down to Capetown in a Type IXC, as commanded by KL Karl Fischer. I've been at sea since Feb. 2nd 1942, I have 4500 kilometers to go, and it's March 8th. Which brings up another benefit of the Type II - you don't get assigned these ridiculous long patrols. I've endured calm weather and foul weather, and the big Type IX just ploughs its way along. It's very steady in bad weather. It's got a big two-stage gun platform, for 2 20mm zwilling emplacements. It's got more torpedoes than I can count. BUT...
It dives slow. 45 seconds to get down past 10 meters depth. And in 1942 that is very dangerous. I've been bounced by Catalinas and Sunderlands 4 times on this trip. There doesn't seem to be any way to avoid getting the rear deck plastered with bombs as I'm diving away. The Type II doesn't have that problem. It's too small, and too quick. The first time I was bounced I had flak and deck guns destroyed, and the radio knocked out. I stopped at Bordeaux that time for repairs. 2nd time, I just got some light repairs to the conning tower. 3d time I had some more light repairs to the conning tower and flak gun. 4th time... wellllllllllll I was distracted at the time.... I was running on the surface in calm seas because my wife distracted me and I didn't dive at dawn like I usually do. Stop playing that stupid computer game... so I had the flak guns destroyed, the diesel engines destroyed, flooding and 1 dead crew. He was in the diesel compartment at the time and got fried, I guess. The boat was slowly sinking, and bleeding oil (nice effect!) when I decided to dump that, and revert to the earlier save. Yes, yes I know, but I have my excuse.

So learn to love the Type II subs. Damned fine boat if you learn how to use it.

The modders are working out all the tricks of importing new models, perhaps oneday we will get the XXIII :)


Also, although the II's don't get the snorkel it's the only boat I feel safe on the surface with from '44. Day or night, its too hard to see, too hard to hit, and will dive quickly enough from anything :know:

Once I get my snorkel in the VII or IX we never see sunlight again ;)

I have looked all over for a picture like that, and here i find it, in a seemingly unrelated thread :rofl:

I like the Type II just because it's cute.

Because if you miss the target or in case of a not successful mission, you can always blame it to the boat and fell good about it. With a better boat you cannot do that...

You've got me on your team, those of you who love the Type II. By the way, which is better, IIa or IId??? :|\ :|\ :|\

Whoa! I had quite a strange experience in the Type II. And it's never happened in any other type, trust me! I was approaching a convoy from the bow, with an angle of about 45 degrees. I was on periscope depth, and as I closed in I ordered silent running. As there were two destroyers up front I decided to dive to 100m and stop the engines, quietly waiting for the destroyers to pass and the convoy to be above me. Well, the destroyers sure passed and I ordered periscope depth and still silent running with engines stopped. I popped up in the midst of the convoy, during a clear day without much waves. I sank two C2's, (incredible) and the destroyers headed directly for me. Howewer they did not know where I was, and so I ordered 126 meters dive (the bottom) and stopped engines. Peacefully resting on the seafloor I then waited hearing the destroyers over me. They didn't recognize me from the bottom. But as I used the free camera view to look at my boat, i got shocked noticing a huge bubble "fountain" coming from my boat and heading for the surface. My crew told me that "OXYGEN RESERVE DOWN TO 5%, CAPTAIN"! And no sign of damage at all!!! Just as if someone would have opened all the air walves! I had no choice but to surface, using my last eel to try and hit the destroyer. It certainly hit, and the destroyer sank. After that I hurried to my home port, trying to dive on the way, but always the same thing; on the surface oxygen reserves was 100%, but as soon as I dived the oxygen would start bubbling out of my boat at incredible speed. Well in port I used my renown to buy the IId, and that solved the problem. It's never happened before, and I just wonder what "it" was!!! Anybody able to help me???

~S~

:arrgh!: :|\ :arrgh!: :|\ :arrgh!:

Oh, and if you wonder where the other destroyer went, so do I!!! It disappeared!

Very strange, am in late '39 and still using the IIa (IId doesnt seem to be aviable yet) and ive been submerged for over 48 game hours (i was sneaking past the straight of gibatier) and i had no problems with oxgen, but my batt was below 25% when i finally got out of the patrolers range.

Strange indeed, I must say!

:huh: :huh: :huh: :huh: :huh: :huh:

I don't use the Type II, but I must agree with Sailor Steve. I think he has a good point...

And it comes with a net cutter. Cute indeed! :D :D :D

Cute.. .to hell with that...


Its DEAD Sexy!!! :yep:

Absolutely right (again), Spaxspore :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up:

I played both types. VII is neat, but its missing a deck gun. And the deck gun saved my day more than once in shallow waters (against patrol crafts), so I know that I defiantely dont wanna miss it.

Well, the VII's deckgun has saved me too. But still I like the Type II more! :hmm: :hmm: :hmm: