[Kapt Z]

These are a few tricks I use to make my careers more 'realistic' tonnage wise. For type VII

Fire two torpedoes into the abyss as soon as out of range of home base. These signify 'misses' or duds because though I use manual targeting I also use the WO assistance which is way too reliable.

Use two torps for anything larger than 2000 tons. Lower that to 1000 tons if target is armed.

Run the diesels at 2/3 which is not optimal fuel efficiency speed and usually ends patrols at around 45 days even if torpedoes still left.

Stay in assigned grid or neighboring grids for entire patrol. Even if no ships sighted for weeks do not head straight for known sweet grids(This can be especially hard to resist on boring patrols)

Rarely if ever use external reloads unless off African coast or far into Atlantic away from convoy routes.

Do not respond to single ship contact reports.

Never attack harbors

Use SHCommander's 'malfunction/sabotage' feature and return to base if damage is too severe rather than reloading save which often 'repairs' the damage.

Use SHCommander's 'realistic career length' which often beaches your kaleun before his totals get too ridiculous.

Using these tricks has kept my average patrol totals to under 20,000 tons(unless I sink some large warships or tankers) and my careers usually end around 7 patrols with 150,000 tons.