Batteries, CO2 and Air
 

I've been playing 2 or 3 weeks now and I've been gradually increasing the realism, the most recent thing being limited fuel.

Now I want to limit the batteries, air and CO2. Thing is there's nothing in the game manual about them and not much in the community manual.

I'm just looking for general tips regarding these - how long each last, things like that. For one thing, if your stationary while submerged are you still draining power? That's just an example. Any tips would be good.

You don't drain any power from the batteries while the E-motors are still. Technically, things like lights and other auxiliary electrical equipment would be but I don't think the game takes those into account and their effect on such huge capacity batteries as there are in a U-Boat would be rather minimal.

Batteries will last 15-16 hrs on slow, the faster you travel the quicker they go down. Compressed air rarely is a factor unless you are blowing ballast often. Co2 levels will rise to unsafe levels about the same time your batteries go down. Once Co2 levels enter the yellow your crew will tire out quickly if you let it go too far into the red.....well it was nice knowing you lol

Remember to snorkel if you find yourself heavy on the CO2 and are in diving mode.

That's a good start for me mate, thanks.

Is that battery life true of all boat types? I'm currently in a VIIb

I believe that as you buy upgrades for the batteries, then you should be able last longer and longer...and when you are surface going, be sure to set your engines to recharge if you can spare the fuel.

I just rescently had an experience where C02, batteries and compressed air was starting to become a factor 2 Black swans just wouldn't give up I had to use alot of compressed air offset flooding while we plugged the leeks! I was starting to think i might have to think if this goes on much longer im going to have to surface and take what ever comes. Thankfully they gave up before I was forced to take drastic action :doh:

Note that when your batteries run low, say at about 10% charge remaining, your electric motors slow down and so does your boat. If you listen carefully, the noise produced by the motors changes too... This is your warning that you're getting close to 'the line'...

And, to be honest, unless you're travelling at silent speed or static the whole time, your batteries will run out before the oxygen does.

I hope to never experience this!

[quote=JonathanI believe that as you buy upgrades for the batteries, then you should be able last longer and longer...and when you are surface going, be sure to set your engines to recharge if you can spare the fuel.[/quote]

Actually battery upgrades deal more with shorter recharge times rather than longer milage which really helps later in the war when planes are interupting your recharging 3-4 times a night

Lots of good info and advice in here people. Thanks very much. But if anyone wants to add there opinions, keep them coming.

Batteries take a long time to recharge. Hence, when transitting, I try to be on the surface (or using schnorkel) as much as possible to preserve battery. When forced under by planes, I run at the slowest possible speed (ahead 1/3rd?) and I find that the battery is only about 1/5th used when I need to surface for air. Fresh air (i.e., resetting co2 levels) comes quickly, and hence is no big deal. Recharging a completely run-down battery can take a long time, so it's not good to burn it out while transitting - just stay under long enough for the planes/attackers to go away(like an hour or two), then surface and try to get recharged and out of the area. The logic is, when you encounter a TF or a fast-moving convoy, you will probably have to dive and run in as close as possible (i.e., running flank on battery) to get a good shot, since you can't overhaul them. You will need a full battery to pull this off along with the evasion that follows.