Tempo

[Monk29]

Playing TM, I am slowly inching my way up the full realism ladder. I use map updates (should I feel guilty?) and I only use external view for one thing (I am a complete sucker for 3D damage - I wait for impacts and my torps to clear the target before zooming to the ship....*hangs head low*). I have been digging into old threads for TTPs, and a consistent TTP I see is running submerged during daylight hours, and recharge during the limited vis.


-The three areas I am trying to cover are: scanning my targeted hunting areas with my sonar (sonar out-strips my visual scanning, correct?), fuel/battery management, and moving to new engagement areas if I receive no contacts (night or limited vis).


-By first light, I try to be in the vicinity of of my engagement areas (based on known shipping lanes, or radio reported trends, or just a guess). Altering a method I reviewed, a series of10nm circles within the patrol base, I set two, maybe three 10 nm circles and move through the area at around three knots/80 ft depth to conserve batteries and get the best performance from my sonar (i read some posts that say coming under periscope depth improves performance).


-Generally, moving at three knots gives me a short route while using daylight hours (0800 until darkness) as a guide. To conserve fuel, I recharge my batteries at the halt, and then proceed at standard to the next engagement area. Recharging my batteries at the halt consumes several hours prior to me moving out, and reduces my range to the next hunting area prior to first light. Also, running submerged during daylight hours pushes my CO2 to to about under 20 (what is the acceptable level? The warning sounds at 10. Am I slowly killing my crew, or at least reducing their effectiveness over time?)


-Am I operating too conservatively? What is the most effective method?