Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Riley
I dont think I have experienced a fuel leak,at least that I am aware of.
What I normally do to keep a check on my fuel is -
1 - get max range as soon as I start the patrol,at cruising speed.I ask for 5 reports,then take an average.
2 - I then work out my fuel consumption for 24hrs,usually ends up around 520km worth.I then do another fuel check in 24hrs time.The fuel should fluctuate (+ -) no more than around 50-100km,depending on sea conditions.
3 - I then repeat fuel checks at 12:00 each day.
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I'm not normally quite as thorough as that. On the patrol in question I had a VIIC out of St Nazaire and as is my habit I ran about three 'max range estimates' as soon as I was up to about 8kts on a glassy sea. I expected, from past experience with type VIIs, to see a max range of over 20,000km. The results all came back at around 13,000km! I continued to monitor the fuel throughout the patrol, but it never rose above those first three estimates. I finally had to throw in the towel after only a couple weeks and return to base before I ran out of fuel.
I've always played with 'malfunctions/sabotage' and never saw that before or since.