Testing the Type XXI

[DeepSix]

I know this thread is a year old, but I wanted to say thanks for doing all that work in testing the XXI. My current career is in 1942 and I've run the whole thing in the 7th, so I was curious to know how early I could get into a XXI. I knew it wasn't introduced at the historically accurate (I think the devs said this was intentional) time, but didn't know how soon. Too bad about all the quirks. Thanks again.

[VonHelsching]

In the stock game it is available in April 1944 in St. Nazaire (and Bergen?). In RuB, I think it is available only for one patrol in March 1945. Don't know about NYGM or Grey Wolves modpacks.

I admit that I am an XXI nut / anorak.

If you try it, make sure you have this:

http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=47637

Or, if you are using Grey Wolves, this:

http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=49412

[DeepSix]

Woohoo! Thanks, VonHelsching! Dl'd it and am ready to install it now. After I read about the goofs in the stock SH3, I was disappointed (I've never driven the Type XXI); now I'm looking forward to it again!

You say it's available in St. Nazaire? That's where I'm based now (7th Flot.); is it available to the 7th or do you still have to transfer to the... uh, 11th? I'll probably transfer anyway, just to be "historical," but I'd like to know anyway.

Thanks again!

[pythos1]

Earlier I posted about the actual problems encountered with the type XXI's charging system. The charging voltage was just under the needed voltage to fully charge the battery therefore the batteries never got fully charge. This was due to the XXI in effect being a diesel electric sub. While cruising on the surface the weak diesles were supplemented by the electric motors. Not to mention the tremendous electrical load of the sub's systems added to the strain to the charging system. All auxillary pumps, hydraulics and so were electrically powered, very few engine driven auxillaries.

Concerning the snorkel. All german subs had the snorkel fresh air exhaust into the pressure hull, to both provide ventilation, as well as air for the diesles. Only American subs with snorkels had units that directly connected to the diesles, this was because of the unacceptable need to keep the engine room doors open while snorkelling, and the heinous negative pressure experiences when the snorkel valve got closed by wave action. But this required extra blowers connected the air supply of the snorkel which caused more noise, whereas the german method actually cause a circulation within the hull. Fresh air induction into the pressure hull would indeed take less than an hour as it does with the SHIII type XXI, along with the older boats snorkel equipped.

[VonHelsching]

Originally Posted by DeepSix

You say it's available in St. Nazaire? That's where I'm based now (7th Flot.); is it available to the 7th or do you still have to transfer to the... uh, 11th? I'll probably transfer anyway, just to be "historical," but I'd like to know anyway.

Thanks again!

What I did, was to get the XXI as soon as it was available in St. Nazaire and used it in missions in the middle of the Atlantic. After 2-3 missions, I transferred to Bergen and did my last missions (in total 8-10) from there. Getting out of the fjords with your brand new XXI, it's out of this world. I am almost sure that it is available there as well at the same time (April 1944)

I'm also waiting to do this with my current career in GW (still in 1939 with a IID though ). Most of the missions from Bergen are around England, which is a death trap in late 1944. But with the XXI, youre driving a death trap yourself (for the others) anyway. Whith your fast reload (6 torps in 10 minutes) and the homing torpedos you can wreck havoc both to Task Forces and convoys!

Have fun