Cruising Speed?
 

Fellow U-Boat commanders!

How fast do you generally cruise the oceans while on patrol?? My last couple patrols have come up empty and I'm worried I've been going too fast for the conditions and have missed contacts.

I pretty much run at "Standard" unless things get hot then I kick it into "Flank" speed and run like a little girl!

I've installed the fuel effeciency mod, which set's 1/3 speed to my most fuel effecient. I usually cruise around 8 knots every where. Right before my computer died, I finished a 56 day patrol (type IX), and I still returned with 1/3 of a tank left (and 5 eels, sigh).

While I could go faster and have the same results, I'm always worried about that one time I get some damage and lose a diesel tank. half of nothing is, well, let me do the math, carry the nothing, ummm... nothing!

Yeah, for the Type IX, I just click on "Ahead 9 knots." This seems to be the most efficient speed (note: it will rarely actually make 9. More like 8 or even lower on high seas.)

Set for 8 knots and forget it (in heavy seas, you won't make 8 knots, but don't worry about it).

If you want to get fiddly, go up into the tower, look for the RPM gauges, then adjust your speed until the RPMs hit 200. That seems to be the most efficient setting.

You can also prick your CE on the shoulder, take over his station, and do the same thing.

Fuel is the last thing you should run out of in SH3, either in stock or GWX. I regularly come home from 50+ day patrols with enough fuel to stay out another 20 days.

When transfering to patrol area or returning to port I set 12kts.

Inside patrol grid/area 8kts.

Yep, 8-9kt is about correct and historical. Actual U-boats achieved this speed with efficient fuel consumption by having only one diesel running at a time, driving both screw shafts. While SH3 doesn't model that, the fuel consumption at that speed is about ideal in the game anyway.

Like everyone has said, it falls in the 8 knot range.
If you want to find out exactly, set a speed, go to TC16 and have your navigator check your range to empty. Set a different speed and repeat. Check various speeds and you will find the most efficient speed where the range peaks and then falls off again.
Try to do this on a calm day because conditions will change the numbers. As long as you do it in the same conditions, it gives a pretty good idea of the most fuel efficient speed for the particular type of boat.

I do this each time I get a new type of boat. I chart it as well as the speeds(surfaced and submerged) at various settings, as well as reverse, and the speeds when running decks awash so I know exactly what speed I should be running at each setting and condition. Sea state chnges these numbers, but at least I know what I should be getting.

:)

Do you happen to know what's a historical correct cruising speed for the type II's?

Thanks for all the info! Sounds like I've been running too fast.

Going fast is okay if you're just foraying in to the North Sea from Wilhelmshaven but out into the Atlantic you never know how much you'll need for convoy chasing and your return. I too use the fuel efficiency mod :D

Eight knots, according to www.uboat.net.
http://uboat.net/types/iib.htm

I always use the second setting. In a Type II it comes to 7 knots, and I've never had a problem with it.

As been said I think 8kts is the ideal for type VIIs. In order to factor in food consumption I have been using 9kts on my last patrols and that has reduced my range so that I can still do pretty much what I want, but will usually make me return to base after about 40 days or so. Sometimes with unused torps still aboard.

For me it depends on what type i'm in. Usually its:

- Type II; 6-7 knts
- Type VII/B and C; 7 knts
- Type IX; 8 knts

" a father bull and his son are sat on top of a hill. the son says to the father bull " hey dad, look at all those cows down there in the field. why dont we run down and **** one of them?"
the father bull turns to his son and says " why dont we walk down and **** them all?"

take your time. between 7-9 knots before the action hots up!

Thanks! :)