Patrol questions

[Bathrone]

Ok, went on my first patrol.

I was sent to a grid reference, and on the way I encountered Tommy warships and coastal merchants. I sunk six of them, including one destroyer.

Q1. I was really happy, but then when I went to save it said I sunk 6 nuetral vessels when I got a radio message saying engage the British forthwith so I dont understand. Is it not counted because I wasnt in my grid?

Q2. Whats the purpose of reporting contacts? Seems useless.

Q3. When on F5 the nav map, where do the ships a long way away come from? Is it reports from other u boats? On the surface Im not running hydrophone so I dont know how they could be known.

Q4. Im going to do a new career. The two flotillas have a type 2 and type 7. The type 2 is a disadvantage over the 7, do I get extra renown or something for picking this one instead?

Q5. Not only didnt I get to my grid reference cos it was so far away, by the time I got half way I had used all my torpedos sinking 6 British ships. I got into hot water when I surfaced thinking I could go the deck gun to take out of a 7th, but I couldnt shoot due to bad weather and had a desperate session trying to get away after revealing myself. So I how do I know in advance the waves are too bad for the deck gun for certain before surfacing?

Thanks
Bathrone

[cobalt]

Originally Posted by Bathrone

Ok, went on my first patrol.

I was sent to a grid reference, and on the way I encountered Tommy warships and coastal merchants. I sunk six of them, including one destroyer.

Q1. I was really happy, but then when I went to save it said I sunk 6 nuetral vessels when I got a radio message saying engage the British forthwith so I dont understand. Is it not counted because I wasnt in my grid?

Q2. Whats the purpose of reporting contacts? Seems useless.

Q3. When on F5 the nav map, where do the ships a long way away come from? Is it reports from other u boats? On the surface Im not running hydrophone so I dont know how they could be known.

Q4. Im going to do a new career. The two flotillas have a type 2 and type 7. The type 2 is a disadvantage over the 7, do I get extra renown or something for picking this one instead?

Q5. Not only didnt I get to my grid reference cos it was so far away, by the time I got half way I had used all my torpedos sinking 6 British ships. I got into hot water when I surfaced thinking I could go the deck gun to take out of a 7th, but I couldnt shoot due to bad weather and had a desperate session trying to get away after revealing myself. So I how do I know in advance the waves are too bad for the deck gun for certain before surfacing?

Thanks
Bathrone

1. Did you make sure you sunk them after war was declared in 39' ? And were they even English?

2. its useless, but theres a chance the luftwaffe will show up if they're in range

3. can't help you out, ive never used that option

4. no, you dont get extra renown.

5. First of all, if your grid seemed too far away, you probably used too much fuel. try running at 7-9 knots on the surface. as for tellin if they are too high, if the wind is over 8 knots(i think) you won't be able to use the deck gun

[High Voltage]

Originally Posted by Bathrone

Ok, went on my first patrol.

I was sent to a grid reference, and on the way I encountered Tommy warships and coastal merchants. I sunk six of them, including one destroyer.

Q1. I was really happy, but then when I went to save it said I sunk 6 nuetral vessels when I got a radio message saying engage the British forthwith so I dont understand. Is it not counted because I wasnt in my grid?

Q2. Whats the purpose of reporting contacts? Seems useless.

Q3. When on F5 the nav map, where do the ships a long way away come from? Is it reports from other u boats? On the surface Im not running hydrophone so I dont know how they could be known.

Q4. Im going to do a new career. The two flotillas have a type 2 and type 7. The type 2 is a disadvantage over the 7, do I get extra renown or something for picking this one instead?

Q5. Not only didnt I get to my grid reference cos it was so far away, by the time I got half way I had used all my torpedos sinking 6 British ships. I got into hot water when I surfaced thinking I could go the deck gun to take out of a 7th, but I couldnt shoot due to bad weather and had a desperate session trying to get away after revealing myself. So I how do I know in advance the waves are too bad for the deck gun for certain before surfacing?

Thanks
Bathrone

Hey Bathrone,
welcome to the community!


2. Reporting contacts doesn't really affect you in any way other than to possibly get you detected later on in the war, but it adds to the realism of the game, as real U-boat captains would communicate contacts between themselves and BDU to coordinate attacks and for planning purposes...

3. Ships that suddenly appear on your Nav Map are meant to represent contacts communicated to you from other German sources (Luftwaffe, other U-boats...etc)

5. You don't have to patrol a grid if you're either too tight on fuel or out of torps, you won't lose any points for not getting there; you just won't get additional renown points for achieving this objective. Again, realistically it didn't make much sense to continue a patrol once you'd expended all your torps, except possibly early in the war when attacking surfaced with deck guns wasn't too dangerous an option.

Hope this helps,

High Voltage

[Sailor Steve]

What was the exact date? Germany wasn't at war with Britain until September 3rd.

[melnibonian]

Also don't forget that although Germany goes at war with England on September 3rd if you don't read the message from BdU and you sink a British ship afterwards it will still count as neutral.

[Sheerin]

Originally Posted by melnibonian

Also don't forget that although Germany goes at war with England on September 3rd if you don't read the message from BdU and you sink a British ship afterwards it will still count as neutral.

Really? If you don't read the message then you are not technically able to sink Britihs warships?

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Sheerin

Really? If you don't read the message then you are not technically able to sink Britihs warships?

Well, think about it. Your a Kaleun out in the ocean. You have no message to sink British vessels. After you come upon one why would you sink it? As far as you know you are not at war. Therefore, you are either a psychic or a mad man. You should get negative renown and the vessels should show as neutral. Now, if you read the message like a good Kaleun, sinking the vessels would be ok now because you were directed to do so by BDU. Then and only then should be credited with Allied sunk.