Clive Bradbury wrote:
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Some historical stats for those who lobbied so urgently for milchcows in the game - as if it was critical to any sense of realism - and vital to any campaign
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I'm afraid that you've overlooked:
1. Type XIV U-tankers U-459 to U-464.
2. Type XB U-minelayers, almost every one of which was used for refueling purposes (reasons too long to give here).
3. Type IXD2 and IXC boats pressed into duty as emergency refuellers when the custom-built tankers were sunk or 'sold-out' (out of spare fuel).
According to Doenitz, the U-tankers doubled the patrol times of the attack U-boats, and enabled them to reach distant waters that would otherwise be accessible only with difficulty. They had a major effect on the U-boat campaign between April 1942 and -roughly- April 1944. This was also understood by the Allies, who made them priority targets when a choice existed between U-boats to attack (eg at a refuelling rendezvous).
The milk cows really were as important as people keep saying. The 'blanket coverage' offered by U-suppliers in the Atlantic during 1942-1944 is carefully mimicked in the new Tonnage War mod. The next release will also feature an addition to reduce the refuelling time to just one day and to get rid of those irritating 'NULL' patrol grids.
Stiebler.