Thank you 'BigWalleye'! And I hope I am not speaking too soon . . .

[GJO]

Following the guidance provided by 'BigWalleye' in another thread, I started a new career with a squeaky clean install of SH3 + GWX + SH3 Commander and the following Mods all set up on MS Windows 8.1:

GWX - 16km Atmosphere
GWX - Enhanced Damage Effects
LITE RADIO TRAFIC V1
Spirit of machines
Torpedo damage Final ver2.0
Wooden_Lifeboats_Mod_1.1
WBs Renown Replacement
Waterstream+Exhaust Combi V2.3 for GWX3
GWX - Integrated Orders
GWX - No Medals on Crew
GWX_DFa-Flag&Pens_2010
Supplement to V16B1 (with the 'Torpedo Fix' deselected)

I am now on my 7th Patrol and, so far I have been able to save the game (even when submerged) put the computer to bed and restart the game whenever I want. In fact, when playing last night, I ran into a large convoy SW of the Scilly Isles - visibility was poor and I had been running on the surface at 7 kts - I submerged and ordered Schleichfahrt, using the Hydrophones I found that I was surrounded by ships - a quick peak up top confirmed this, I identified some of the major targets and set the boat on a parallel course before saving the game and putting the computer to bed - well it was nearly midnight and I was too tired for a convoy battle. I have just re-checked and the save (made while submerged and surrounded by ships) will reload!

I now need to decide which target(s) to attack - the choice includes a 'Large Tanker', HMS Renown, a Whale Factory Ship, an 'Empire' freighter and a 'Large Merchant'? I have tried attacking a Renown class heavy cruiser in a previous career (albeit from a greater distance) and it just increased speed with such a high rate of acceleration that all my torpedoes sailed past astern of it.

[RConch]

First choice is tankers(whale factory ship+lg tanker).
After that it is a fielders choice.

[Jimbuna]

I'd go for HMS Renown with electric eels.

[BigWalleye]

Originally Posted by GJO

Following the guidance provided by 'BigWalleye' in another thread, I started a new career with a squeaky clean install of SH3 + GWX + SH3 Commander and the following Mods all set up on MS Windows 8.1:

GWX - 16km Atmosphere
GWX - Enhanced Damage Effects
LITE RADIO TRAFIC V1
Spirit of machines
Torpedo damage Final ver2.0
Wooden_Lifeboats_Mod_1.1
WBs Renown Replacement
Waterstream+Exhaust Combi V2.3 for GWX3
GWX - Integrated Orders
GWX - No Medals on Crew
GWX_DFa-Flag&Pens_2010
Supplement to V16B1 (with the 'Torpedo Fix' deselected)

I am now on my 7th Patrol and, so far I have been able to save the game (even when submerged) put the computer to bed and restart the game whenever I want. In fact, when playing last night, I ran into a large convoy SW of the Scilly Isles - visibility was poor and I had been running on the surface at 7 kts - I submerged and ordered Schleichfahrt, using the Hydrophones I found that I was surrounded by ships - a quick peak up top confirmed this, I identified some of the major targets and set the boat on a parallel course before saving the game and putting the computer to bed - well it was nearly midnight and I was too tired for a convoy battle. I have just re-checked and the save (made while submerged and surrounded by ships) will reload!

I now need to decide which target(s) to attack - the choice includes a 'Large Tanker', HMS Renown, a Whale Factory Ship, an 'Empire' freighter and a 'Large Merchant'? I have tried attacking a Renown class heavy cruiser in a previous career (albeit from a greater distance) and it just increased speed with such a high rate of acceleration that all my torpedoes sailed past astern of it.

Losing a save, especially with fat targets in sight, can be very frustrating. I'm glad my advice seems to be working for you. I spent a month or so fighting my savegame problems, and it's good when somebody else can profit from my experience. I owe a lot of people who were very helpful to me when I was struggling. SubSim is a great place.

Good luck and good hunting! Please post an update with the results of your current convoy battle.

[GreyBeard]

Originally Posted by GJO

Following the guidance provided by 'BigWalleye' in another thread........

I know the thread you are talking about and since reading BW's comments on saves in that thread I started making saves without any restriction. So far to date I have had no problems, even saving submerged. Caution and diligence about conflicts between mods must be the answer. Thanks BW!

[VONHARRIS]

I would have gone for the tankers.

The battlecruiser , although a mighty ship , will not be able to run without fuel.

Good luck.

[BigWalleye]

Originally Posted by VONHARRIS

I would have gone for the tankers.

The battlecruiser , although a mighty ship , will not be able to run without fuel.

Good luck.

A wise man. Hear him!

[Paulebaer1979]

Originally Posted by VONHARRIS

I would have gone for the tankers.

The battlecruiser , although a mighty ship , will not be able to run without fuel.

Good luck.

That´s right - in real live. But in SH3 the fuel is only simulated for the players sub - as fas as i know. So in that case the cruiser would be able to escape at high speed.

[BigWalleye]

Originally Posted by Paulebaer1979

That´s right - in real live. But in SH3 the fuel is only simulated for the players sub - as fas as i know. So in that case the cruiser would be able to escape at high speed.

I believe VONHARRIS is referring to the impact on the long-term strategic situation - which, of course, exists only in the player's imagination. By destroying most of the Japanese tanker fleet, the US Submarine Service rendered that island nation's surface fleet, which was still quite powerful late in the war, completely impotent. The IJN literally did not have the fuel to sortie and engage the USN. It's not clear that the U-bootdienst could have achieved as much against the combined ship-building power of the US and UK, but it was probably a better bet than trying to whittle down the RN surface fleet to parity with the KM.

As I said, all of this is purely illusory, since players' actions in the game do not (Thank Heaven!) affect the course of the war in-game. But Rockin' Robbins said it: "Realism isn't about the settings. It's about how you play the game." It's fun to sort though such strategic decisions, which an R/L skipper might have to make.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Paulebaer1979

That´s right - in real live. But in SH3 the fuel is only simulated for the players sub - as fas as i know. So in that case the cruiser would be able to escape at high speed.

Take the highest amount of renown points on offer....HMS Renown will respawn on your next reload of the game anyway.

[GJO]

Yes! The save worked! I reloaded the game and set myself on a parallel course within the convoy. There were 25 ships. Mostly small fry of about 2,000 tons they were in five lines of five travelling at 8 Kts. The big warship was right in the middle with two escorts - one zig-zagging about a 1,000 Metres ahead and the other trailing behind - my boat is at periscope depth just inside the starboard line abreast of the front row but the fog has cleared and I have to stay submerged because the warship in the centre is bristling with guns. I have to act quickly because I need to slow to less than 4 Kts to use my periscope - the 'Large Tanker' is in the middle of the front row and a 'Small Merchant' in the nearest row is partially blocking my shot - as I start to fall back through lack of speed, I fire three torpedoes from the bow and secure from silent running to permit reloading. One of the torpedoes hits the 'Small Merchant' amidships but the other two pass it and hit the tanker - one at the bow and one at the stern. I then decided that the tanker looked as if it might not sink so I quickly fired a 4th torpedo but I had already fallen back too far and it passed by the tanker's stern and miraculously hit an 'Empire' freighter that was abreast of the tanker one row further over. With all four bow torpedoes expended I searched for a target that is somewhere near 250 degrees so that I can use my stern tube at a 90 degree giro angle. I choose an 'Ore Carrier' in the third row that will pass me at a range of about 550 Metres - the torpedo passes in front of the ship and hits nothing at all! Shortly afterward the bow torpedo crew report that tube one is ready for firing - simultaneously the hydrophone operator reports 'warship closing fast' - try to stay cool and raise the periscope to see that I can still get a good shot at the 'Ore Carrier' - this time from the reloaded tube at the bow. I shoot just before my scope seems to be filled with the sight of a destroyer heading straight for me! Time to get the hell out of here! Crash Dive to 185 Metres turn 90 degrees to Starboard and creep away at 1 Kt. The depth charges exploded way above me but there is minor damage only to the flack gun and attack periscope.

I kept in sound contact with the convoy from a distance - the convoy made a 90 degree turn towards the North West which was in my favour and I noticed that two ships had started to fall behind - even behind the trailing destroyer. In the meantime my log showed that I had sunk the 'Large Tanker' and the 'Small Merchant' that got in the way. Two hours later and I no longer have the underwater speed to keep up with the main convoy but I might catch the two stragglers so with night drawing in I head for my last recorded position of the stragglers - these turn out to be the 'Ore Carrier', listing heavily with decks awash but still making 5 or 6 Kts and the 'Empire' freighter which appears to be stopped. I Mark the position of the latter on the chart and chase after the 'Ore Carrier' - the sea is calm with a wind speed of 7 Metres/second so I man the deck gun and sink it at a range of 1500 Metres - then returned to sink the Stopped 'Empire' freighter - also with the deck gun - perhaps I should have attacked the big warship in the middle - my initial identification was wrong and it may have been a 'Revenge' class Battleship but I got the tanker and a few more too!

This is the first time that I have been able to save a game whilst submerged and in the thick of a convoy battle - it worked. Time for a drop of Nelson's spirit, Splice the Mainbrace!

[Paulebaer1979]

Originally Posted by BigWalleye

As I said, all of this is purely illusory, since players' actions in the game do not (Thank Heaven!) affect the course of the war in-game. But Rockin' Robbins said it: "Realism isn't about the settings. It's about how you play the game." It's fun to sort though such strategic decisions, which an R/L skipper might have to make.

Yes. That´s right. Until someone creates a mod that simulates fuel for all vessels i will sink the biggest ship in a convoy first - even if it´s not a tanker.

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Take the highest amount of renown points on offer....HMS Renown will respawn on your next reload of the game anyway.

So we need a database for each career and a mod for the game for using this datebase. When does the SDk from Ubi arrive?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Paulebaer1979

Yes. That´s right. Until someone creates a mod that simulates fuel for all vessels i will sink the biggest ship in a convoy first - even if it´s not a tanker.

So we need a database for each career and a mod for the game for using this datebase. When does the SDk from Ubi arrive?

Tomorrow I hear, just don't go holding yer breath though

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Rconch

First choice is tankers(whale factory ship+lg tanker).
After that it is a fielders choice.

Originally Posted by VONHARRIS

I would have gone for the tankers.

The battlecruiser , although a mighty ship , will not be able to run without fuel.

Good luck.

Precisely! The U-boat is a tonnage war weapon not a warship fighting weapon! Your "itchy neck" will be sated by the 'Old Lion' on tonnage alone in keeping with his vision and concept of the Battle for the Atlantic. The war will be won if we sink 700,000 tons a month...or so the Gross Admiral's theory says?! Resist temptation and save the faulty eels for the Allied supply line. Prien wasted too many shots for his propaganda victory at Scapa IMHO! Whoop's! I've just received new orders for the Eastern Front...as a private!