Request Advice from Seasoned Kaleuns -- Longevity of New Command

[Deathfrombelow23]

Greetings, my fellow Kaleuns!! Sorry about the long post, but I wanted to post it in detail for you savvy, veteran skippers to advise me.
I started a career in 1939 with U-11 and soon I will be ready to upgrade, and may have to transfer flotillas to do so. This is my first career from 1939 where I'm treating it as a real life situation while playing DiD... meaning I'm not doing anything I wouldn't do as a Kaleu in real life (like sink ships with a deck gun 10 KM from the English coast in broad daylight.) Anyway, I digress... my goal is to try to survive the whole war. So, my question to you is... which boat would be a better upgrade... the VII or the IX? I'm not so much worried about the B or C-type designations, just the VII or IX in general. I was thinking about a VIIC or perhaps a IXC (although the B-types of each boat are cheaper). With a VIIC it seems that your patrols are always in the thick of all the action near England, with a few patrols off northern Africa and Gibraltar. However, being in the thick of the action is probably bad for me and my crew during 1943 and after. I've never played wtih a IX in a career for long, but I would think you get more distant patrol zones, more single ship contacts, and thus, perhaps, a greater chance to survive the war? I'm going to edit the config files for this career and completely remove the XXI... I don't even want the temptation!! I'm going to try to survive the war in a historically accurate boat, with only the historically accurate upgrades. So, after my diatribe, have any of you survived the war using only historical methods and do you have any advice for this Kaleun?? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!! GOOD HUNTING!!

[nikbear]

All I can say is that I've got 2 careers to 1944 and an other 2 to 1943.2 type7's and 2 type9's,the type 7 ones were much harder as you correctly observed by being in the thick of the action but once you get to mid 42/early43 any career is going to be hell really,I'd try a type9 career and go off hunting afar picking up single contacts and the odd small convoy,might just be a bit safer,having said that a type7 is a lot more agile underwater and can dive deeper:hmm: whatever you do,after late42 I wouldn't bother attacking large convoys,the escorts and the tools they are equipped with will bring you swift closure thats for sure good luck and happy long hunting

[Hanomag]

Kaluen,

You will find good arguments on both sides for either boat. So basically you have to try them both and find the one you like best.

[irish1958]

Some People have reported surviving the war. Personally, I have never gotten past late 1943. (at 100% realism and DID)
To get a later career, I sometimes start later in the war. I once started in 1945 and just barely made it out of the harbor.

[Myxale]

The Boot Type doesn't matter it's how you handle it!

1. Be careful
2. When in doubt...then don't.
3. Never engage Planes!
4. Never stay around to watch a Torp. hit or the resulting fireworks!
5. Good watch-crew is mandatory! Later in war Snorkel!

[nikbear]

Originally Posted by Myxale

The Boot Type doesn't matter it's how you handle it!

1. Be careful
2. When in doubt...then don't.
3. Never engage Planes!
4. Never stay around to watch a Torp. hit or the resulting fireworks!
5. Good watch-crew is mandatory! Later in war Snorkel!

Excellent advice

[papa_smurf]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Myxale
The Boot Type doesn't matter it's how you handle it!

1. Be careful
2. When in doubt...then don't.
3. Never engage Planes!
4. Never stay around to watch a Torp. hit or the resulting fireworks!
5. Good watch-crew is mandatory! Later in war Snorkel!




Excellent advice

I agree with that aswell

[Deathfrombelow23]

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

I agree with that aswell

Excellent advice Myxale!! The schnorkel is a life-saver in 44 and 45, I'm sure!! I never made it that far, but hope to. So far I am ready to start my fourth patrol in U-11 and it is January 3, 1940. I survived through 1939!! YEEAAHH!!! LOL! I am thinking that I will probably try a Type IX when the time to upgrade comes... my logic is that I have tried many DiD, historically accurate careers in a VII, and have always been sunk before late 1942. I figure I have nothing to lose by trying a IX. It may have a slower diving time and present a bigger profile for asdic when submerged, but the idea of more remote patrol zones, a few lone ships and smaller convoys is appealing. The only thing I am going to edit in the game is the renown cost for acoustic torpedoes... I am going to load up on them from mid-1943 on... and historically torpedoes didn't "cost" kaleuns anything... right? This way, even if I run across some destroyers or a hunter/killer group, I will at least have a chance. So... which IX... the IXB or IXC? I'm thinking IXC... do any of you Kaleuns have any IXB or IXC experience from 1942 or later? (I'm only curious about IXC, not IXC/40 or IXD2) THANKS!!

[Jimbuna]

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

[Deathfrombelow23]

OK, scratch that! I just checked the basic config files and the IXC is not available until July, 1941.... and I plan on upgrading long before that. I only want to upgrade once and then try to stay with that boat through until the end of the war, so... would you advise this Kaleun to go with a IXB or take a VIIB/VIIC? I'm still thinking about going with the type IX. Anyone have any 1942-45 experience in a IXB? I'm thinking about U-104. (I feel bad taking one of the very successful boats because, historically, some other Kaluen was commanding it and sinking ships with it at that time... and as far as I can tell, U-104 was the only relatively unsuccessful IXB. I like to take command of U-boats that were either 1) never comissioned or 2) sank no ships. I use uboat.net and check the boat's history to see how successful it was. One more rule I have... I NEVER take command of a boat that was commanded by a captain who won the Knight's Cross. Anyone else do this, or am I the only weird Kaleun in here when I strive for historical accuracy??)

[nikbear]

Type IXC is your best option I'd say,just like the B and C differences in TypeVII's,the Type IXc has more upgrade options than its B cousin.its a happy compromise between endurance,flak/turm options and dive/surface speed without being as large and clunky as a TypeIXD2 happy long successful hunting kaleun Deathfrombelow23 keep us informed of your exploits

[nikbear]

Oh bugger,didn't factor in release date of typeIXC I've never taken a typeIXB past 41 cause always upgraded to C,no reason why it can't be done:hmm: see how you go and give it a try

[harzfeld]

I like using IXB in early war years, cuz more torps, fuel, bigger deck gun, & surface speed. I haven't tried IXC in GWX2 yet, I am still in spring of 1940, only one more year to go. I would get it when it comes out for my curiously since it a long way to 1943-1945 when more variants and variety technology & upgrades come out. Also I like more fuel to go further or faster rather than camping for convoy or lone merchants all the times to save fuel. I would also get IXC/40 for going deeper before I get VIIC/41 over any IX when it comes out, XXI too.

[Myxale]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

Typical BDU propaganda! It's not like he's out there and with you on patrol!


It's easy sayin' this when one is in a castle far away and plays with miniature U-Boots with stickers!

[Steel_Tomb]

I'm a bit of a VIIC fanatic, never truly got on with the type IX. I prefer the VII for its maneuverability etc. Had some good successes in my VIIC , especially during the Norwegian campaign. I bagged an Illustrious carrier and a Revenge class BB in one patrol!!! . Really at the end of the day, we can (and have) argued about "Which is better, VII or IX" until the end of the known universe. Just go with what you think you will enjoy more, close to home attacking convoys and lone merchants. Or do you like terrorizing the Eastern waters of the US of A?