SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - The S-Class Submarine: How I stop worrying and love the S-class.

groomsie · 09-28-09, 11:55 AM

I agree with SteamWake, I've found the S-boats to be very quick divers. The sub has definite limitations, but I'll admit I do kinda like them. I've used them as career start in the Asiatic fleet. I do like that the torpedoes are fairly reliable and while lower powered (explosive) and shorter range it is a challenge.
I also feels it introduces some frustration elements that no doubt happened in real life, such as: I find March 1942 a pair of cruisers (Takao I think) steaming at 16 knots in line and unescorted. I'm ahead but off to the side and found to my frustration that there was no way to achieve a realistic firing opportunity simply due to the lower range of detection (visual only) and limited surface speed. I hated to let 2 sweet targets go unmolested but I had no choice, just as I'm sure real life skippers faced the same.
Fuel is a major issue with these--my last patrol on one of these I had to get back to Brisbane and could not quite get the fuel to stretch...I ran out 148 miles out but still had a full battery. By submerging to ~ 32 feet (shallow depth) and nursing the speed at ~ 0.75 knots and surfacing every 12 hours to get fresh air, I did eventually make it back to port to complete the patrol but that was way too close.
I wouldn't want to do the entire war in S-boats but they are a lot of fun. And having never played the U-boats I'm told the S-boat is closer to the "real" u-boat experience (someone else would have to confirm).
I'd say give them a try!

09-28-09, 11:55 AM	#5
groomsie Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stoughton, WI Posts: 140 Downloads: 50 Uploads: 0	I agree with SteamWake, I've found the S-boats to be very quick divers. The sub has definite limitations, but I'll admit I do kinda like them. I've used them as career start in the Asiatic fleet. I do like that the torpedoes are fairly reliable and while lower powered (explosive) and shorter range it is a challenge. I also feels it introduces some frustration elements that no doubt happened in real life, such as: I find March 1942 a pair of cruisers (Takao I think) steaming at 16 knots in line and unescorted. I'm ahead but off to the side and found to my frustration that there was no way to achieve a realistic firing opportunity simply due to the lower range of detection (visual only) and limited surface speed. I hated to let 2 sweet targets go unmolested but I had no choice, just as I'm sure real life skippers faced the same. Fuel is a major issue with these--my last patrol on one of these I had to get back to Brisbane and could not quite get the fuel to stretch...I ran out 148 miles out but still had a full battery. By submerging to ~ 32 feet (shallow depth) and nursing the speed at ~ 0.75 knots and surfacing every 12 hours to get fresh air, I did eventually make it back to port to complete the patrol but that was way too close. I wouldn't want to do the entire war in S-boats but they are a lot of fun. And having never played the U-boats I'm told the S-boat is closer to the "real" u-boat experience (someone else would have to confirm). I'd say give them a try!