[TorpX]

Originally Posted by drakkhen20

ok fellow shipmates. this is a problem ive always wondered about and it really is i huge 100% reason why i never play the Fleet side of SH4. i find very hard to believe in reality that American submarines set out to sea knowing they couldnt make it across the pacific to there patrol zones because a lack of fuel.

Since this matter comes up now and then, I did a little math to check my opinion. Usually, people have trouble when they try to circumnavigate the Pacific, or use fuel needlessly cruising 24 hours a day.



First, some quick math. (Your figures may vary.)

route....................real life distance..............game distance

Pearl to 29N, 130E....... 3,890 nm................ 4,344 nm

Midway to same.......... 2,896 nm................ 3,302 nm

Note that the game distances are somewhat higher than the actual distances, but the difference is not that large. This is due to the "flat earth" model of the game, and not to the mod.

Most of the fleetboats should give you an endurance of about 10,000 nm @ 10 kts. If you go straight from Pearl you will need 8,700 nm endurance and this does not leave much for contigencies, but if you stop at Midway to top off your tanks, you would have 10,000 - 6,600 = 3,400 , and this would allow much more for patrol/persuit.

I would also point out that you do not have to cruise 24-7 once you reach your patrol area. Excessive zig-zagging, speed boating, unnecessary battery charging all waste fuel and should be avoided if fuel is a consideration. You should periodically check your fuel situation by having your navigator give you your range at current speed. Do this when you start to make sure you can get the 10,000 or 11,000 nm you should have.

Really, if you are reasonably prudent, you should be able to make these long distance patrols ok. This does not mean it is easy or that fuel is not a consideration, though.