[UKönig]

I had a similar effect recently.

Finished the 12th patrol with 77,000 tons. Almost the entire convoy. I was totally out of ammo and returned to base. I sailed back part way in a simulated return trip (which I normally never do, but am glad I did), and saved before entering the grid that Brest is in. Then I hit "return to base" from the menu. I get to hand out awards and promotions like they are candy. Start next patrol.

Here's where it goes funny.

The game did not save my file in the same location as it normally does (and did). I quit after saving and went to pick up the game later. My save file was not there on the list. My only options were start from the last mission save (patrol 12 outside the base and have to hand out awards again) or start "in base before mission". But when I tried that it said "cannot load after war". My war was over as of Dec. 1940!

So I tooled around with it for a bit and I found a sort of compromise. I started mission 12 again and ended patrol by sailing back to wilhelmshaven. Then I started another patrol right away, with the goal of getting back to Brest. I did not save the game at any time. I also did not decorate the crew this time either. I got back to Brest and switched fleets, to the 7th out of St.Nazaire, then launched another patrol. I think I let it go to patrol 16 before I saved the game again. It seems to have worked. Even if i go back into the previous save game list, I see patrol #13 as "the war ended" but I continued all the way to #17, it seems to have bypassed the error. I am suspicious that it will fail again somehow so i am wary, but so far everything is holding.

Stock SH3 is playable, but is also badly bugged. Be careful.