SUBSIM Radio Room Forums



SUBSIM: The Web's #1 resource for all submarine & naval simulations since 1997

Go Back   SUBSIM Radio Room Forums > Silent Hunter 3 - 4 - 5 > Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific
Forget password? Reset here

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-28-08, 12:59 PM   #1
CobraDriver
Watch
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 21
Downloads: 0
Uploads: 0
Default I need better fuel economy here, a 4 cyl would help!!

Ok so I've gotten into the bay, took the pictures of the subs, snuck out and half way home out of gas.

I've gone into the bay, did the recon of merchants, killed a few, haf way home out of gas.

Now it was obvious I wasn't going to make it home because it took more than 50% fuel to get there. I was at 2/3 speed and and standard and making sure that as soon as my batteries were charged I would go to periscope and run off batterythus maximizing my fuel, and it still took a bit over the 50% to get to the objective. Silent running was not an issue cause I don't do that much. I even went as far as coming to a complete stop to recharge my batteries so I wouldn't burn gas and still didn't make it.

Someone have a reason for this?. I keep thinking when you compress time it screws the economy up, and I run alot of compresion to and fro. I keep it around 1000.

Any help would be appreciated.

Oh yea, running 1.5 with no major mods, just green bulbs, the compass rose and clearer torpedo wake.
CobraDriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 01:19 PM   #2
claybirdd
Frogman
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Pulaski Tennessee
Posts: 290
Downloads: 32
Uploads: 0
Default

Where is your home port? And also where was the photo recon mission. On a side note I only run submerged when absolutly necessary, and run at standard bell except when recharging batts at 2/3. I have never run out of diesel except when damage was taken.
claybirdd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 02:11 PM   #3
Task Force
Rear Admiral
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SPACE!!!!
Posts: 10,142
Downloads: 85
Uploads: 0
Default

surfaced you should run at 1/3 speed, Ive gotten over 9,000 in a S boat and over 10,000 in a fleet boat.
__________________
Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"
Task Force is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 02:46 PM   #4
-Pv-
The Old Man
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,434
Downloads: 5
Uploads: 0
Default

I agree with Task Force. You should not be using anything higher than 8-9 knots when on long missions and you're not chasing a target. You should be charging batteries at 1/3 speed so they charge at a fast rate, thus when they are charged, you will get maximum speed. Also, mods which try to lower the sub in the water to reduce the visual effect of wave striding, also reduce the sub's range to less than historical.
-Pv-
-Pv- is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 03:44 PM   #5
Quillan
Samurai Navy
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 579
Downloads: 2
Uploads: 0
Default

Assuming you're in a Gato or a Balao, your most efficient speed on the surface is between 9 and 10 knots. I can go from Midway to the East China Sea, patrol there for two weeks with intercepts along the way and make it back to Midway with plenty of fuel to spare.
__________________
We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.
Quillan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 04:41 PM   #6
CobraDriver
Watch
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 21
Downloads: 0
Uploads: 0
Default

I leave from Pearl, go to Midway, refuel, went to the Tokyo bay, saw the 7 subs, took some pics and was already past 1/2 fuel on the way there.

As far as speed, I have it at 2/3 and standard....neither have done it for me.

So in short I figured out how to kill stuff I just suck at driving the thing

CD
CobraDriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 05:23 PM   #7
jamz
Sailor man
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 46
Downloads: 1
Uploads: 0
Default

I did the math on this a few weeks ago. If I understand you corectly, you are travelling mostly at PD.

However, unlike SH3, where this method works, in SH4 it actually uses almost twice the fuel. Do not run on battery, run on the surface at best range speed (9-10kts) and you will get much better range. Submerge only when necessary, and you will find the range and fuel economy you are missing.
jamz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 05:37 PM   #8
Rockin Robbins
Navy Seal
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: DeLand, FL
Posts: 8,900
Downloads: 135
Uploads: 52


Default

Ditto what jamz said. Keep it on the surface and batteries on full charge most of the time. 9 knots is the sweet spot for fuel economy, and that should be 2/3 throttle in stock, ahead standard (thanks for the correction claybirdd) in RFB and TMO. If in doubt, click the button under the engine annunciator and just click 9 knots.

A World War II submarine is a surface vessel which has the ability to submerge in an emergency for a limited length of time. Working it that way saves fuel, develops more targets and puts more enemy steel on the bottom.

Last edited by Rockin Robbins; 09-29-08 at 11:49 AM.
Rockin Robbins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 06:49 PM   #9
Task Force
Rear Admiral
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SPACE!!!!
Posts: 10,142
Downloads: 85
Uploads: 0
Default

Couldnt you take the distance you traveled( times that by two) also you might want to add in 600 km to that. Then see what your range at that speed is, and see if you can make it. ( always use ahead standard when on long crusies)
__________________
Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"
Task Force is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 07:44 PM   #10
claybirdd
Frogman
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Pulaski Tennessee
Posts: 290
Downloads: 32
Uploads: 0
Default

In TMO standard bell is 9 kts. 2/3 is about 6 kts.
claybirdd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 08:23 PM   #11
Task Force
Rear Admiral
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SPACE!!!!
Posts: 10,142
Downloads: 85
Uploads: 0
Default

If you go slower than the standard bell you use up more fule cause your motors are useing fule at a higher rate than you are moveing.
__________________
Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"
Task Force is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-08, 08:52 PM   #12
SteamWake
Rear Admiral
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 13,224
Downloads: 5
Uploads: 0
Default

9.5 knots... best range for all but the S boat
SteamWake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-08, 07:02 AM   #13
Seminole
Ace of the Deep
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,012
Downloads: 102
Uploads: 0
Default

Learn and use Shift G and Ctrl G these keys are key...they are your fuel friends.
__________________
Seminole is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-08, 02:34 PM   #14
SteamWake
Rear Admiral
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 13,224
Downloads: 5
Uploads: 0
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Seminole
Learn and use Shift G and Ctrl G these keys are key...they are your fuel friends.
Hrm :hmm: wonder what those do?

Seriously neve used them... range at current speed perhaps? If so I just click the buttons or are those buttons just an RFB thing.
SteamWake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-08, 03:41 PM   #15
aanker
Pacific Thunder
 
aanker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yellow Sea
Posts: 1,896
Downloads: 236
Uploads: 14


Default

They're in TM too I think. You can edit your own Commands.cfg with a text editor like Notepad. It's in Data\Cfg\Commands.cfg

Find Cmd257 and edit to look like:

[Cmd257]
Name=Report_time_to_turn
Ctxt=1
MnID=0x3F250002
Key0=0x47,s,"Shift+G"

I even edited in a new button on the Nav HUD in OrdersBar.cfg to use instead. Why not? It's in Data\Menu\cfg\OrdersBar.cfg

In [Station2] in that OrdersBar.cfg file if Button7 is your last button add a button 8:

Button8Command=Report_time_to_turn
Button8IconRowColumn=2,3
Button8Tooltip=Maximum range at current speed

If Button8 is already used make the new button - Button9 etc.

I don't use the Ctrl + G function. I think I "borrowed" the above edits from TM. The max range at current speed is very useful. And he's right 9.5 kts - 10 kts is the most economical speed.

Art
aanker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 1995- 2025 Subsim®
"Subsim" is a registered trademark, all rights reserved.