At Sea Question
 

Couple of questions for the history experts!

1. What were the required patrol limits for a crew and for a Kaleun before transfer or reassignment?

2. How long (given provisions and fuel limitations) did a typical patrol operate at sea?

3. Is there a matrix online or other that maps the patrol limits per boat type and per year?


:salute:

For #2: If you go over to U-boat.net you can look at the patrol lengths for every listed U-boat (as well as other related info of course). If you look at the patrols for various boats from each class you can get an idea of the average patrol length. I can't give you a number myself, but hey, there's a ton of other interesting stuff at the website as well ;)

:salute:

Thanks. Am familiar with the site. I should rephrase a bit as I am interested in the GWX sim aspect using the SH3 Commander utility and folks personal play here (and in keeping with traditional and historic norms).

I am into my 12th patrol and not sure if I should switch out the kaleun or crew or keep going until death. LOL

Research tells me my U-56 was a training boat with 12 Commanders and she went out only on 12 patrols through the entire war. I should get off her I guess. (?)

:salute:

I read while I am on patrol and listening to era music .. I use my laptop for reading and researching U-Boats and play on my PC. I wonder if I can try to play accurately ... hmmm

Ideas welcome!!

For a Kaleun, just use SH3Cmdr's "Realistic career length" option. It is based on detailed research of actual Kaleun patrol lengths and takes into account various factors such as the u-boat type you are in and the number of days spent at sea. You're guaranteed to be retired at a time that's within the limits experienced by real Kaleuns in the same boat type.

For crew, it's based moreso on promotion. Generally, a promotion meant transfer to another boat that had a vacancy at that level. It may also mean transfer to training school.

Personally, I just let SH3Cmdr do its thing with "realistic crew transfers" selected.

I usually spend about 30 days at sea in a VII, perhaps 60-90 in an IX. Of course, less if I have expended my torpedos and more if things are a bit quiet.

Checkout Prien's patrols as an example of varied patrol lengths.

Define "patrol limits" please.

Ah, alright, I thought you meant the typical patrol length. I usually go over and check out several boats to get a quick average and go by that. (While going over Type IID patrols I saw one that lasted more than 30 days - that must've been just miserable)

ANYWAYS

I had 'Realistic Career' switched on before my 12th patrol, but when I reached it SH3C 'offered' me retirement, (Which of course I 'declined' :smug:) and then tried to retire me every patrol afterwards until I turned that off. I guess it sounds good to play a realistic career length, but just when things are getting fun and you've gotten into the swing of things it retires you. :doh:

Thanks fellas. I do have my SH3 Commander set to realistic career length - I was waiting for when that would come and your explaination was what I needed. I see crew transfers all the time before new patrols. I guess I have to wait until I get bounced.

BTW love the JSGME. Slick. I keep both utilities on my desktop and make good use of both features.

Oh, if I get retired do I get a new command under a new name and keep my crew or do I lose my crew?


:salute:

If you reach 16 patrols then you are a very lucky (or unlucky depending on how you look at it) man.

Basically when you are retired you get transferred to one of the U-boat schools and your war career is over. However, at any time you can come out of retirement by clicking on your status, and you get your old crew back.

funnily enoygh i havent bothered checking that option for me, since i like the cresw i've got. the oldest members, who were with me from U1 have like me 34 patrols under their belt, witch more than 400 days at sea and 1.6 billion tonnes sunk :D