Supply run?
 

Ok, so, i'm on patrol just now, based out of Midway after I transferred my boat there. I'm heading to a patrol point in the South China Sea, and that is where my boat is just now. I've sunk 4 enemy ships and I'm out of bow torpedos. One of those ships was sunk with the deck gun after all 4 fired torps under-ran the friggin target. They were all hits....they just under-ran :damn:

Anyway, i'm coming up to having used up half my diesal fuel, despite only travelling at a max speed of 7 knots when i'm on the surface. I'm thinking I might have to make a lengthy trip to a supply base to get more fuel for the trip back to Midway.

Has anyone else had to do this before to get their boat home?

Serveral times:rotfl:
But my base was in Pearl and I had to make a supply in Midway.

My Balao had the most range at 10 knots.
(For this information I looked into the sim files;))

Even though 10 knots is the common number stated for best fuel economy, I actually find 9 knots to give me the best economy. It don't matter if it's stock, TMO, or RFB.

Is it known what the best speed is for the other subs?

It's just a guess, but I'd say the slower you go, the less fuel is consumed for a given distance.

AFAIK the reason people stick to 10kts, is because that's the speed used to calculate a subs cruising range. Like "11,000 miles @ 10 knots (surfaced)" for the Gato-class.
http://www.mareisland.org/Wahoo/docu...esentation.pdf

Yes and no. The reason why people go at ten knots is because that's usually the standard speed. The most efficient speed.

11,000 at 10 knots is the best balance between speed and range. Of course you can get better mileage at lower speeds, but it will take that much longer to get to where one needs to go. I've a feeling people "game" this a little too much, because we don't have a limited amount of provisions.

No what i did was speed time up to 8x then play with the speed and press the button that gives you range at selected speed. I found 9kts was the best for the fleet boats

So basically 10kts was historically the most economic speed and in SH4 it's 9kts, no matter what class of sub?

I'm currently an SH3/GWX player, soon to have SH4/UBM. If it's anything at all like SH3, and I'm sure it is, it certainly matters what class of sub you're driving. I recommend you do exactly what seaniam81 does to determine the best range. After changing speeds I recomend that you allow your sub to travel several minutes before asking your Nav Officer how far you can go at present speed again.

Sometimes you might find that you will be given a little bit longer range for a (1 knot)lower speed, but it might be very little. At that point, I'd say that the Nav Officer is trying to tell you that you might as well bump it back up that extra knot.

Note: Speeds can actually be set in tenth's of a knot. If you set a speed of a half knot, the response will be that speed is set to zero knots, but you will discover that your engines are moving you at half a knot. Every little bit(tenth) counts when trying to determine best range!

There's a function called "max range at current speed" in TMO. I don't remember whether this is enabled in Sh4 stock, but using this report I find that the my range is greatest when I'm cruising at 9 kts.

Well, what do you mean with 9kts? I mean, the knots indicated below the dial will only change to the next number up when you reach that exact speed, meaning 9.999kts is still registered as 9kts and it jumps to 10 when it reaches 10.000.

Reason I'm asking is because the subs .sim files seem to contradict your findings. Those list 10kts for the fleet-boats and 9.5 for the S-class.

"Range at current speed" isn't available in stock, so I have no way of testing myself.


*and if those aren't the most economical speeds, I tend to agree with LukeFF:

There is a little button under the telegraph, click it. It changes the telegraph to a knotmeter. Then you can set your own speed buy clicking on the dial. Again i find 9kts to work the best. I rarely use the telegraph unless I'm using 1/3, when my scope is up or full/flank for high speed runs, other then those speeds i give precise speed orders

(no offense, but) Really?! :roll: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I do just about the same thing, but I actually never use the telegraph. Either set exact speed or press 1~5 for respective telegraph settings. Like I said, 9kts indicated can be anything from 9.000 to 9.999, but nevermind, I think the matter can be considered solved: Use 10kts for good speed/range balance, use 9kts if you want better fuel efficiency. Anyone feel free to disagree, but that's what I'm sticking with. :smug:

Ya, well didn't know if you knew about that button. thought you might be new since you didn't know about the 10kts thing