Maximum range at current speed has increased 50%

[Azgrim]

Hello everyone.
I've searched the forum, but didn't find an answer on what could this be.
Now, here is This:
I've restarted campaign after settling down with MODs setup.
Started in 1941.
Gone for the first patrol > got my tonnage > went home.
I use TMO 2.5, so I've checked the most efficient speed (on my Gar it's 9 knots). And with full load of fuel, maintaining speed 9 knots I had maximum range at this speed approx. 22000 nm.
I've already learned that number, so I wasn't surprised.
But, when I sailed from Pearl Harbor at my second patrol, I've measured the same thing, at same speed... And it shown 33000 nm.

I didn't change a thing in the game, didn't install any upgrades on my sub (there wasn't such an option in port). So where did these extra 11000 nm of range came from?

I don't think, that here are some mods entangled, but who knows...

It's not a big issue, I just want to understand mechanics of the game. But that aspect really puzzled me.

P.S. Sorry, if I've stated my thoughts a bit unclear. English isn't my mother-tongue, so I beforehand apologise.
I would appreciate any help on this enquiry of mine.

[merc4ulfate]

Tail winds and sea currents?? LOL

[fireftr18]

You presented your thoughts very clear. Unfortunately, I don't know how to help. I think you need to spend some time in the bilge and have a pint or two, or three, or four, or five...

[c13Garrison]

I'll take some measurements. After some early fuel issues, I have thought it strange that my range has been so significant on my sub too, though I never took the step to question it. Very keen observation. - If I find anything noteworthy I'll post it here.

ahead std is always your best fuel setting

maybe you lost your deck gun or some upgrade made your engines more efficient or the weather changed and your in calm seas now

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by Azgrim

Gone for the first patrol > got my tonnage > went home.
I use TMO 2.5, so I've checked the most efficient speed (on my Gar it's 9 knots). And with full load of fuel, maintaining speed 9 knots I had maximum range at this speed approx. 22000 nm.
I've already learned that number, so I wasn't surprised.
But, when I sailed from Pearl Harbor at my second patrol, I've measured the same thing, at same speed... And it shown 33000 nm.

I didn't change a thing in the game, didn't install any upgrades on my sub (there wasn't such an option in port). So where did these extra 11000 nm of range came from?

I think the variation is most likely due to when and how you are checking your range at current speed. When you hit the button, the game looks at how fast you're going and how much fuel you're burning, at that instant. This means, if I were to check my range/speed just after I give the order for flank speed from having a much lower speed, I will get a much lower estimate. If I get an estimate while traveling at 20 kts., just after I give the order for ahead slow, the fuel consumption will be low, and the speed will still be high. Thus, the range/speed estimate will be much too high.

The computer has no "common sense"; it will calculate the literal instantaneous value, which is not really what you need to know. I would keep checking periodically (after your speed has reached an equalibrium), and see how it goes. My guess is that your actual range at speed hasn't really changed much if at all.

[Azgrim]

Originally Posted by merc4ulfate

Tail winds and sea currents?? LOL

I've made observations on opposite courses, as seen on screenshots below. So winds and currents are not the case. (I understand, that you might be just joking, but there's a Russian saying "Every joke has a bit of truth"). And I assumed, that maybe currents were modeled in this game.

Originally Posted by fireftr18

think you need to spend some time in the bilge and have a pint or two, or three, or four, or five...

I will think about this.

Originally Posted by c13Garrison

I'll take some measurements. After some early fuel issues, I have thought it strange that my range has been so significant on my sub too, though I never took the step to question it. Very keen observation. - If I find anything noteworthy I'll post it here.

Did you have the same thing? Has your sub's range increased in some stage of campaign, or it was too high from the start?
BTW wiki says, that Gar sub had range about 10000 nm, maybe it's for standard speed, I don't know. I'm used to 22000 nm range, and it's OK for me, but 33000 seem like some kind of a cheat.

Originally Posted by Webster

ahead std is always your best fuel setting

maybe you lost your deck gun or some upgrade made your engines more efficient or the weather changed and your in calm seas now

First of all, I want to thank you for your MODs of torpedoes and ship maneuvering.
As for topic of discussion: For me it's a big surprise, that Standard - is the best fuel setting. From what I've tested, for Tambor and Gar the most economic speed is 9 knots, which is a little less then 2/3. Please, correct me, if I've got this wrong.
About deck gun and engines - I didn't do a thing in port. My deck gun is in its place, torps are in place, everything is like it was at previous patrol. And my measurements were made in calm sea. I just love clicking the "estimation range" button during patrol, I do it very often, and I do know how speed, momentum and weather can affect this feature readings. I always test my range when I go at constant speed, without charging batteries (weather don't have that much influence)

Originally Posted by TorpX

I think the variation is most likely due to when and how you are checking your range at current speed.My guess is that your actual range at speed hasn't really changed much if at all.

As I mentioned before, and will describe below, here's not the case of momentum from previous acceleration or charging batteries or whatever.

After the first post, I've tested the sub's max range at 9 kts speed on different courses. It was the same 33000. then I've docked to port, started new patrol. Nothing happened, it was the same max range.
Here are some screenshots:



So still, I'm puzzled.
BTW, I was playing SH4 1 or 2 years ago, and I can recall the same thing with max range accur. Don't remember if it went back to place itself.

For now, I assume, that it's some kind of a bug (or glitch, don't know is there a difference).

Still looking forward to any ideas of what can this be.

[BrucePartington]

Check your crew (F10).
See if any of your crewmen has a special ability represented by a fuel canister (jerrycan ).
However I do realize it shouldn't improve your fuel economy by as much as 50 percent, but...

[Azgrim]

Originally Posted by BrucePartington

Check your crew (F10).
See if any of your crewmen has a special ability represented by a fuel canister (jerrycan ).
However I do realize it shouldn't improve your fuel economy by as much as 50 percent, but...

Thank you for your attention, but no, the crew isn't the case. I didn't add new crewmen with special abilities to my sub. Only a few seamen.

[c13Garrison]

There's the obvious answer! Someone became a specialist when the last patrol was finished. Good thinking. Now let's wait and see if it is correct!

...

And my new name is Two minutes Too slow. Lol. Ah well.

[merc4ulfate]

TorpX has the correct answer. I forgot about that Torp. I have seen my mileage go way up and way down depending on when I clicked it simply due to the lag from time of speed change to actually being at that speed.

Ahead 1/3 click range at current speed, then hit Flank and instantly hit range at current speed again .... now time compress for an elapsed ten minutes and check it again and it will not be the same.

In your photo your going against a current in one direction and with it in another so do two comparison photos but be in the same exact location and both in the same exact direction for a more accurate reading. Science duplicate experiments exactly and watches the results. If you have variables that are not the same in each experiment you'll never get accurate information.

[Azgrim]

Originally Posted by c13Garrison

There's the obvious answer! Someone became a specialist when the last patrol was finished. Good thinking. Now let's wait and see if it is correct!

Originally Posted by merc4ulfate

TorpX has the correct answer.
In your photo your going against a current in one direction and with it in another so do two comparison photos but be in the same exact location and both in the same exact direction for a more accurate reading.

Believe me. I hit "Maximum range at current speed" button for several hundred times each patrol. On this patrol my max. range at steady speed 9 kts is always 33000 nm minus fuel I've already depleted. Again, it's not about current and not about time compression, it's not because of changing speed and not because of UFO atack. I've already mentioned it above.

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

In TMO "Ahead Standard" is the most fuel efficient setting, for the speed.As in RL, it's made so can transit to and from patrol area at Ahead Standard, patrol areaat ahead 2/3 or 10/5 knots .Of course, if your area is far off, make adjustments for transit speed, in a Gato or Balao, if long ways to go, ill drop speed to 12.5 knots or 13 even, still a decent transit speed but saves a little more fuel, gives a couple more days in station.Of course this is more a concern in 41/42/early 43 as by then plenty of places to refuel so can transit at high speed.

mods I use:

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

Also, dont rely on range estimate if batteries are charging, that will throw off the accuracy.Sea state also affects this as heavy seas will slow your boat down but youre still burning the same amount of fuel, just for less range.

Sorry, but we've already discussed how weather or battery charging can affect maximum range calculation.

The truth is out there...