In reality, at the outset of the war, BdU did not have enough boats to keep patrols everywhere they needed, but high command ordered them all out anyway to try and find merchant convoys or lay mines.
If all had stayed until the end of their fuel-supply, there would have been long spell with no u-boats on patrol at all, with everyone heading home & resupplying.
This would have meant the u-boat scare would fade away periodically, which was bad since initially sightings was part of the psychological warfare as well.
Instead some were recalled early, to be sent out as relief patrols to those who stayed the full patrol time, that way there was always someone on patrol.
Ingame it won't matter if you return ASAP or not, but it's a nice touch (in GWX, I guess).
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