At present I'm in a campaign with a VII-C/42, mid-1944.
Here's a small speed-change I made to the VIIC class submarine .cfg file (NSS_Uboat7c.cfg).
Default values:
[EngineProperties]
AllStop=0.00
AheadSlow=0.40
AheadOneThird=0.57
AheadStandard=
0.80 <---CHANGED to: AheadStandard=
0.45
AheadFull=0.94
AheadFlank=1.00
BackSlow=-0.26
BackStandard=-0.40
BackFull=-0.53
BackEmergency=-0.66
This helps me in 2 ways:
1.) Submerged, and 'accidently' creating a new plot-course, especially when extremely close to a pack of DD's, or convoy merchants.
Since SH3 defaults to 'Ahead-Standard' when plotting a new course, sub-noise (props, electric motors, etc.) increases greatly! If this happens I usually get detected; mostly during critical points when trying to slip past escorts, and into a convoy of merchants.
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2.) Setting for best fuel-economy cruise speed with the VIIC/42.
The VIIC/42's best 'econ-cruise' speed seems to be right at 9-knots. The change above sets 'Ahead-Standard' setting to 9-knots.
During a single patrol, I make a -lot- of course-plotting changes. If any new course-plot is created from scratch, speed always defaults to 'Ahead-Standard'. For the VIIC/42, that translates to about 16-knot cruise-speed, which really burns-up a lot of fuel.
Anyway, the main reason I changed the value is for 'quiet' submerged speed. I can't figure out a better way to do this, because 'Standard-Ahead' is the default speed when resetting a plot-course. Plus, the value of .45, is very close to 'Ahead-Slow' speed of .40, which I use a lot when silent running.
So far it's worked great, with much less submerged detection, and nice to have a 'default' econ-cruise speed on the surface with the VIIC/42 (no more manual speed settings with the telegraph number-gauge :/\k
.
Btw I tested number-values only for the VIIC/42.
I will probably try the same with all other subs, setting 'Ahead-Standard' speed value very close to the 'Ahead-Slow' default value. That will help with those dang 'accidentally new' plot-courses
p.s. For some reason I can't reproduce the same 9-knot 'econ-cruise' speed in single missions, even with veteran-crew. It works only in campaign/patrols.