Not managing a IIA sub at all

[Roghain]

So. Running this game for two weeks now and enjoying the possibilities - well, actually, not even overseeing them, but that's another story.

Got the GWX and SH3 Commander installed. Think I'm ready for my first career.

1st flottila, assigned the U6 type IIA. First mission, patrol AN21.

Verzeihung, kommandant... AN21? The navigator scratches his ears. We be a coastal sub, herr kaloun.

Not to worry, junge - we can refuel at the end of the Kiel-channel.

Refueling... then returning to... HEY!

I sailed all the damn way to Cuxhafen, docked there (to refuel or we can't make the roundtrip) then returned 9or so I thought) to the mission. To my surprise this is suddenly mission patrol 2 (?) and orders are to patrol grid "NULL".

I must be doing something hideously wrong... how do I refuel without "abandoning" the mission?

[Penelope_Grey]

the IIA will reach AN21 and return.

regards your question sir, you go near a friendly port, hit escape, and then exit patrol, if it tells you "Dock at:....." You're sorted. If it says "return to base" not sorted.

the IIA runs at its most fuel efficient speed at 6 knots. that should give you enough range to go out, chase things, and return. If you want a type II career, I strongly advise upgrading to the IID as soon as its available in October.

[Roghain]

Cheers for the quick response.

I checked a save just before Cuxhafen - it does state "Dock at Cuxhafen. Then when I return to the mission (leave port, I imagine) I have no more orders and the briefing states "patrol grid NULL".

[Penelope_Grey]

Sadly its a limitation of the game, resupply was no moddelled into SH3, but SH4 has it.

You could use commander though to give yourself a new patrol grid. And, also, to set your time at that dock to 1 day.

[Roghain]

Ah... okay.

I am hard pressed to run SH3 with current puter, I assume SH4 will tax the old feller to its limits.

Though running a Gato up close and personal to sink the Yamato does have a certain... lure.

I don't quite get the thing with days in port - I set it to "random" as that feels the most obvious. If I were to set it to 1 day, doesn't that upset the crew "between missins"?

[Brag]

Welcome to Subsim, Roghain. Your crew will obey you unblinking (well, most of the time). With each patrol they will acquire more stamina. Good hunting, Herr Kaleun!

[Roghain]

heh.

Thanks, but I think they are already looking for R&R 12 hours into the first (again) mission. that 100% realism is HARD...

[donw]

Allow me to suggest...if you are simply pulling in to refuel...(keep in mind that you will also be rearmed with a full load of fish, ammo, etc etc) you would use Cmdr to make it just 1 day in port. If you have fired off any fish, you can just "simulate" that you just took on fuel, and don't use the added eels. Then...when you return to your "home" port....re-adjust Cmdr to "random days in port" to keep things "authentic"

[Roghain]

Thanks all for the ideas.

I think that you are suggesting I play, save before a refuel, restart with the setting to "1-day", reload, refuel (losing the mission in the process apparanetly?) then play on until I am close to ending, save, restart with setting to "random days", reload and end the mission? That takes a lot of time, seeing how it takes up to 8 minutes to do a reload on this "poor" 2 Gb P4-3 Ghz.

Uhm... that solution, though workable, doesn't adress the biggest problem (for me now): the loss of orders. I was under the impression I needed orders to gain renown - "do-as-you-please" sailing seems hardly fair or realistic?

I do like the orders since they send me to spot I'd nowmally never go.

Don't get me wrong, I tremendously appreciate all the answers and suggestions. I am, after all, a mere bilgrat...

[donw]

Ummm..not quite that complicated....
If you have decided to pull in somewhere to refuel...(no need to save at this point)...Dock at that port. Quit the game completely, and as you return to your desktop, you will be asked if you want to return to SH3 Cmdr. Do so.

Set time in port to one day, and also set your assigned patrol grid to whatever you were initially given.

Launch SH3 from Cmdr. Go directly to the wall map, and start the game. You will be in the port you docked at to refuel, and one day should have elapsed. you should also now still have your original PZ assigned.

Continue your patrol...and return to your "home" port and dock there. Quit the game completely, and again, back in Cmdr, re-set time in port to random. Then, when you again launch SH3 from Cmdr, you will be in your home port, a random number of days will have passed, and you can be on your way to the next round of Tommy thumpin!

[PapaG39]

If you are operating out of Kiel/Wilhelmshaven in the IIa-D boat you are mostly restricted to the area along the east coast of Britian to just above Scapa Flow & over to the west coast of Norway. You have the Commander so pick your area each time. Don't let the computer do it for you. it will have you going clear off the map somewhere...
I did the IIA for 6 missions & then 11 missions with the IID until they transferred me to Brest.

The North Sea area is a real fun area...I do suggest that you shy away from DD's when you hear them though. Especially if you are in a shallow water area. You will live longer.
Within 150km or so along the British coast in fair weather will bring aircraft to you as soon as you sink something, So submerge & get out of the area as fast as possible. If you surface to soon after a sinking...They will find you..

When you get "Aircraft spotted" while in the shallow water just hit crash dive to get your boat started down. As soon as it starts to submerge hit the "A" key to stop the rapid descent & as it levels off at 15m or so then hit the "A" key again & it should level off in a safe depth. If you only have 10-12m below you then just do a standard dive by clicking on a specific depth. You must Get in the habit if sounding your depth quite frequently..Know what depth is under you at all times in that area.

Also, A-way to conserve fuel is to submerge, go 30km at 3-4kts, surface, charge batterys & then go back down & do it again. A bit time consuming, but it works.
I usually pick a good area. go directly there, pick a spot & submerge, listen & then attack, ...kill... then move a short distance & do it again..

Enjoy...

[LeafsFan]

I can't imagine using a Einbaum very much. As a IX fiend, I can't imagine going without all those eels, and especially the 105mm.

HB

[piri_reis]

Hi, I just completed a similar patrol in the TypeIIA. As we were assigned to grid AN21, I decided to take it easy with the fuel, running slow and 1/3 most of the way. Patrolled the area and decided to check out Lerwick Submarine Base. (New in GWX i guess)
It's spring 1939 so night time is very limited, it gets dark around 22:00 until around 4 or 5am. Weather was bad as always and it's pretty shallow. So I kept my distance, watching patrols going in and out of the harbor, and collected information for a strike in the future

Anyways, let me cut the chase, when I returned, and about to go in to the Kiel Channel, I was already running very short on fuel. With all the confusion and time acceleration frustration (Ship sighted! 8x tc! .. & again & again!)

My engineer tells me we are out of diesel.... So I dove and continued my passage thru the channel at 10 meters. Of course I had to come up to replenish oxygen. Thats when I found out the diesel was still running. I had to use it a few more times, it never coughed... So perhaps something wrong with the IIA diesel calculations..

[Penelope_Grey]

Manually set the IIA for 6 knots, ahead slwo and 1/3 it uses more fuel. At 6 knots, engine RPM's are just right for optimal fuel efficiency. Its little 700 bhp engines will then happily beat away merrily.

[Myxale]

Grey is right! Listen to that seasoned Kaleun!

The IIA is quite decent if you are into good diving times and agility. Hovever seen how you have to mind the "Treiböl" and goin 6 knots all the time can be longwinded. And a small trip to the channel and back can take weeks.

It's not impossible! I had a IIA patrol to the coast west of ireland and back in my tiny sub, and i made it home! On fumes and what not, but i made it!