VIIB vs. VIIC What is the difference?
 

I was just reading the SH3 manual and noticed that the VIIC was the primary Uboot of the war, an upgrade of the VIIB. However, all the stats seem to be about the same or worse than the VIIB. So what is going on? The only possible thing I can imagine is that the VIIC was used cost saving features and that is why it was built and used more than the VIIB...

Is there any real difference in game between the two boat others than the slightly slower speed and slightly faster dive time?

VIIC has more fuel ;) i think.

EDIT: yes I the upgrades for VIIB are rather limited.

You can install better equipment/conning towers on the VII/C.

Is it a misprint in the manual then? It lists them both as having a 6500 nm endurance (with the VIIC having a 10nm less submerged endurance).

If I remember right, the main upgrades of the VIIC were in the mechanical and electrical systems of the boat, making it a bit heavier than the VIIB. I don't think this is something that can really be reflected in the game and the performance of your boat, aside from the availability of upgrades. The VIIC gets more than the VIIB.

VIIC could travel a little further but was larger and heavier so it was slightly slower. Also, I think that they can get more of the new technology in the later years.

The pressure hull of the VIIC was 1.5m longer, so they could fit in more equipment and more people to run that equipment. It had the same power plant, so the VIIC was a bit slower than the VIIB.

That extra equpment could include new or improved communication and detection equipment, better medical supplies, or more anti-aircraft ammunition.

In gaming terms the VIIC is more upgradeable.

Other than the flak upgrades/superstructure upgrades can the VIIB get all the other upgrades (engines, radar detectors and such)?

Checking a few references, other than the facts that the VIIC was a bit longer, a bit slower and drew a bit more water (all previously mentioned); the two types appear identical. One reference stated that the VIIC had 50m more diving depth, but diving depth is not commonly referenced so I don't know if that is correct. In-game both seem to have a max safe depth of 150m. One reference seemed to suggest that political or ease-of-construction factors may have been the reason for the focus on the VIIC.

I suspect that in the design work that added the extra 1.5m, some simplification for construction work was also done.

In-game, the VIIC can dive deeper than the VIIB (although it might not say so in the on-screen stats).

VIIC dives a bit faster than VIIB.

I might....trade my IXB for a VIIC, but I still don't know I sure will miss the extra torpedo capacity and since I have a high renown so far I want to wait for a IXD2 or maybe the mighty XXI

I may be biaised but I'd hang on for the IXD2 http://www.psionguild.org/forums/ima...ies/pirate.gif

Still 1 year and 6 months for it to become avilable :arrgh!: hopefully I'll gather the renown needed for it....something near 12k and I have like 4k :stare: