Best Long range speed?
 

Hello all,

Just to confirm that for best long range 2/3 standard propulsion is the best speed selection?

Depends on the boat. Gato will be best at 10 knots or so.

Depends if your running a mod, or not.

If vanilla. 2/3rds or about 9 to 10 knots.

If running a supermod, "ahead standard" might be the best long range speed.

Depends on what you mean by "best".

It's one speed i you mean "get there in a reasonable amount of time", and another if mean "get there with lots of fuel left over".

Click to set your speed at various points, and check to see how far you can go. Figure out what you want, either speed of fuel conservation, and travel at that speed.

Can I trust what TMO's navigator says? By clicking on the Maximum range...I mean is it accurate? I saw that in 2/3 Standard Propulsion is the farthest mileage achieved...

I don't take it as gospel. But if you do it several times, you'll see several different ranges. Get a few of those ranges, and see where they fall in general. It's not perfect, but it's close enough. (And if you're counting on the navigator's report to get back home with half a gallon of diesel in the tank, you're probably not going to make it.)

I'm currently with TMO 2.2. It does change the fuel figures doesn't it?
By the way, is there any indication in a file which reveals the fuel level in gallons /liters instead of percentage?

And herein lays a problem with SH3, 4 and 5. Fuel usage doesn't scale so well. TMO was designed so you could go to your patrol areas at speeds the subs most accurately traveled in real life. In TMO ahead standard is the fastest economical speed for the fuel used. Yes you can putt putt around at 2/3rds, but you'd be taking advantage of a flaw in the game, and having two to three times the range you should have.

Personally, im starting to wish i didn't adjust speeds to be realistic at ahead standard. Regardless of what I had intended, everyones going to go around at 2/3rds and exploit the flaw in design. So, what the hell, "all ahead harbor speed at 2/3rds for teh win!"

Japs won't know what hit 'em, and hit 'em again, and again, and...


:yeah:

I know what you mean.

The whole fuel use-range issue bugs me (and not to forget battery capacity either), but what can be done about it really? Since the game uses a flat earth, the distances are off, and the weather never allows the wind speed to go above 15 m/s. These flaws seem to be unfixable. :cry:

Programming/design flaws aside, it doesn't take much time to do some speed runs to determine fuel consumption rates at various speeds. And to do the same for battery usage. It's a good way to stay busy during the voyage out to your assignment.

The results are useful, not only for predicting patrol range, but also being able to answer questions like whether I have the charge to try, while submerged at flank speed, to intercept a target. And then how much will I have left if the escorts start hassling me and I have to stay under.

I am currently pursuing the Midway task force, which I ran across while coming back from a patrol. I know how long I can go at flank speed before I have to give up and let them go.

Everyone shut up and listen to a veteran. (I'll stick with Ducimus.)

LOL...Well, if it makes you feel any better, I use Ahead Standard because that I've figured that is most historically accurate and try to not 'game' the game.

Oh, and thanks for TMO. I appreciate the hard work. :up:

I went in and readjusted mine to match the original values. My thinking is that, at least for fleet boats, that "Ahead Standard" was the speed meant for cruising with the fleet, and the surface fleet standard cruise speed was 15 knots. I may be wrong of course, but I haven't seen any real numbers from people who served on diesel boats as to what speeds actually matched what settings.

Just my thinking, of course. :sunny:

Not everyone, in a TMO Fleet Boat I transit at Standard but once in the patrol area, cruise at 2/3. The theory is quickest practical time to get on station and then maximum time there since I'm not trying to get anywhere in particular.

Actually I think you nailed it.