pros and cons of diff u boats

[94cruiser]

Currently it's 1940 and I have the type VIIC.
upgraded engine, batteries, sonar, and dual machine gun.
I'm running a stock game except the commander mod.
When can I get the U-Flack?
only with VIIC?

can anyone list the pros and cons of each boat?
I know the type IX is bigger, and has slower dive time, but more fuel.

[3Jane]

In calm water the type IX is a little slower than the VII, but not too much. In rough seas however it is much slower.
You get more external torpedos with the IX which is fine in the early war years, but later it becomes redundant because loading externals becomes impossible. It's worth thinking about switching back to the VII for the late war years because of that.

[Nerazzurri]

Originally Posted by 3Jane

You get more external torpedos with the IX which is fine in the early war years, but later it becomes redundant because loading externals becomes impossible. It's worth thinking about switching back to the VII for the late war years because of that.

Really?!? Does it get that bad? I'm in my first carrer with SH3 GWX - I'm only in 1940 at the moment.

[3Jane]

With aircraft and radar loading externals is very risky. So far I have only survived to October 41 with the IXC in GWX 1.03.

[Nerazzurri]

Originally Posted by 3Jane

With aircraft and radar loading externals is very risky. So far I have only survived to October 41 with the IXC in GWX 1.03.

What you say makes sense. But as a pointer to both of us I noticed a few people talking about the IXc in later years here http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...light=transfer

[T.Von Hogan]

Jully 1944

In my 4th mission with an IXD2, had 19 missions in an IXB before that, i don't consider loading torps from the deck any more dangerous than charging 1's batteries.

[sasquatch]

Originally Posted by 3Jane

With aircraft and radar loading externals is very risky. So far I have only survived to October 41 with the IXC in GWX 1.03.

Maybe it's just me, but I haven't had any trouble with this. I took my IXB to the end of 41 w/o any problems loading externals. The only reason I didn't last longer is because I went on a harbor raid to sink the HMS Nelson

[KeptinCranky]

The IX subs are bigger, faster, go further and carry more eels and more flak early on but they're slower to dive, less maneuvarable when submerged, and larger so far easier to find by active sonar.

It's a tradeoff, for long patrols to exotic places, take the IX, you can still take on convoys and yes, even harbor raid with it but it's trickier

for your basic "battle of the atlantic" or for you rabid raiders out there, I'd say the VIIc

I personally like the IXb best, not too big, still goes a long way and has a lot of eels

[Mush Martin]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Maybe it's just me, but I haven't had any trouble with this. I took my IXB to the end of 41 w/o any problems loading externals. The only reason I didn't last longer is because I went on a harbor raid to sink the HMS Nelson

yeah I havent had problems loading from deck
just be completely out of contact when you start
and dont be in a known traffic area.
M

[Jonathan]

Why am I not hearing any love for the Type IIA or Type IIB?

Y'all are a bunch of haters!

[Sledgehammer427]

considering the last type 2 was launched in 1941 as a training boat, a lot of people just consider it worthless to talk about a boat that only lasted 3 years (speaking of 3, how bout them reloads?)

type seven. just because its just the base model (sometimes its nice to be ordinary)

that and im in RN hotspots 24/7 so i need that fast alarm dive time

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer427

considering the last type 2 was launched in 1941 as a training boat, a lot of people just consider it worthless to talk about a boat that only lasted 3 years (speaking of 3, how bout them reloads?)

type seven. just because its just the base model (sometimes its nice to be ordinary)

that and im in RN hotspots 24/7 so i need that fast alarm dive time

But I would counter by saying that it is a pretty good 'boot for harbor raiding, and its small size gives it alot of maneurvability and diveability. Not to mention it is harder to track.

[Sledgehammer427]

and i would counter your counter by asking which harbours you can reach with such limited range. granted the type 2's ability to turn under water and its small sonar profile give it what you need for your instant action abilities, but it lacks in other departments

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer427

and i would counter your counter by asking which harbours you can reach with such limited range. granted the type 2's ability to turn under water and its small sonar profile give it what you need for your instant action abilities, but it lacks in other departments

I counter your counter to my counter by saying that one could reach Scapa Flow or Hartlepool or whatever is called on the east coast of Great Britain. Also, if a person is playing with unlimited fuel, then sure, they could go ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!

Counter that

[Fenris_Wolf]

Type IX boats are good if

- you want more tonnage at the end of a patrol.
- you want a little more toughness for duking it out on the surface.
- you want a slightly better punch with it's 108mm deck gun.
- you want to kill the incomming litter of catalinas.
- longer range etc.

Drawbacks:

- Detection! You will be detected much easier once they find out you're nearby. Prepare for withstanding long periods of depth charging at near realtime TC.
- It's not a VIIC

Suggestions:

- Switch your strategy and tactics (duh!) if you were used to a type VII. Strike from longer ranges and keep in mind your boat is much bigger and near impossible to hide in scenarios where a clever type VII kaleun would confidently manage to escape.


The Type VII:

Ah what a boat. This is the choice of an artist, not a tonnage hording bonehead. The type VIIC is a far more capable boat once upgraded.

- Medium sized U-boat. Comfy interiors, solid wood panelling, no mails, no telephones. All in all, a smart seawolf unit that's much more effective even though it does not carry all the eels a type IX does. This boat can go places where a type IX simply won't fit!

- Survivability! You can escape all the nasty ASW cheap tricks the tommy's are employing these days. It's much easier to hide your flanks due to the size of your boat. Later you can get a type VIIC/41 boat that has a much thicker pressure hull and you can go way deeper than a type IX can even dream of.

- Due to the advantage mentioned above, your tactics have precise results each time that will give you confidence.

- This boat will save your time by enabling you to escape faster and better and thus return to higher TC and onto the next encounter and victim(s) much faster.

- Your bridge is a familiar, roomy place and with a type VII you feel "at home" if you also happen to like the Das Boot movie.

Disadvantage:

- As I said, if you want more tonnage with little skill, you'll need more eels that only a type IX can provide.

- Don't even think of staying surface a moment longer when an aircraft is spotted or detected. No heavy flak and some fragility means you should avoid them at all costs, even the fat, slow moving "churchill" types.