Electric Engine Question

Captain J. Borne · 10-23-10, 08:18 PM

Is there a way to use your electric engines while surfaced? Sometimes my engines are destroyed, but have enough battery power to finish a patrol. But if I need to get my reserve torpedo's off the deck, I am dead in the water once I surface.

Maybe there is a control or button to press to do it, idk.

Thanks in advance for all your input

FIREWALL · 10-23-10, 08:22 PM

Sorry no.

Captain J. Borne · 10-23-10, 08:28 PM

Isn't this game supposed to be like a simulator? Im pretty damn sure U-Boats would have and probably did use electric engines on the surface, particularly when they had diesel engine problems.

Ok next question - Could you point me to a file that switches the crew from diesels to electric via depth? Perhaps I could change it that way..

K-61 · 10-23-10, 08:37 PM

Although it is a simulator, it is not a complete simulator. Corporate bean counters often force a game to market for cash flow reasons, not because the produce is fit for release. There are a number of reality issues with the game, but it is still a fairly decent simulator. One feature missing is the ability to manipulate the port and starboard engines independently, or, as you state, the electric engines while surfaced, something which was often done while maneuvering in port.

There is also a little known bug feature where your batteries will recharge, even if you are out of fuel. I'm not sure if your batteries will recharge if the engines are destroyed, but I would not be surprised if they will. Some members have used this exploit to get home in a pinch, when their diesels have been destroyed.

Gargamel · 10-23-10, 09:55 PM

As i found yesterday, when i lost my Aft batteries and my Starboard Diesel, your batteries will not recharge unless the Stb diesel is firing.

I could maneuver just fine with one engine, it acted just like it was charging, but nothing was actually happening. So I was stuck decent surface speed, but only about 15-20% battery life left if I had to dive.

You could try slowly going decks awash deeper and deeper until MAYBE the Electrics kick on but you still have a deck crew. But I doubt it since it's governed by the exhaust and air intake height.

Would be nice to steam along at 10-12 kts on battery on the surface though.

Captain J. Borne · 10-23-10, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-61

Although it is a simulator, it is not a complete simulator. Corporate bean counters often force a game to market for cash flow reasons, not because the produce is fit for release. There are a number of reality issues with the game, but it is still a fairly decent simulator. One feature missing is the ability to manipulate the port and starboard engines independently, or, as you state, the electric engines while surfaced, something which was often done while maneuvering in port.

There is also a little known bug feature where your batteries will recharge, even if you are out of fuel. I'm not sure if your batteries will recharge if the engines are destroyed, but I would not be surprised if they will. Some members have used this exploit to get home in a pinch, when their diesels have been destroyed.

That answers alot. Thank you for the information. I will see about changing a file somewhere to were I can run on electric engines at 7 - 8 meters or so. Or even mod the game heavily and make my own switch for the engines. Perhaps I can make a mod that will do that and let you run on the starboard and port engines independently. Wouldn't be that hard to do. I might just make it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gargamel

As i found yesterday, when i lost my Aft batteries and my Starboard Diesel, your batteries will not recharge unless the Stb diesel is firing.

I could maneuver just fine with one engine, it acted just like it was charging, but nothing was actually happening. So I was stuck decent surface speed, but only about 15-20% battery life left if I had to dive.

You could try slowly going decks awash deeper and deeper until MAYBE the Electrics kick on but you still have a deck crew. But I doubt it since it's governed by the exhaust and air intake height.

Would be nice to steam along at 10-12 kts on battery on the surface though.

I tried to do that, but it just wont let ya, once im able to get on the bridge, the electric engines cut off. Good idea though.

This isn't that big of a problem normally, unti today. Both diesels destroyed, 3 ships left to sink, but I was out of torpedo's, so I had to get some distance then surface to get the reserves. But once I was surfaced, I was a sitting target. It takes over a minute to go from surfaced to periscope/electric engines depth when you have no propulsion. Crash dive seemed to flood the tanks a bit quicker, But if there were close destroyers, I would have been toast.

Btw, I finally got 3 of the torpedo's loaded, and ran down and sank the 3 remaining boats in the convoy, never wasted 1 torpedo. Not bad for a beginning player , eh?

Sailor Steve · 10-23-10, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain J. Borne

Im pretty damn sure U-Boats would have and probably did use electric engines on the surface, particularly when they had diesel engine problems.

It was also common to use the electric motors when leaving and approaching the docks, just because it's easier to control speed that way. This has been a problem with every one of the Silent Hunter series. It would be nice to have, but I don't think you'll be able to do it.

I hope so, though, so don't think I'm trying to discourage you.

Captain J. Borne · 10-24-10, 12:06 AM

Cool, thanks for the info. I will see about making a program that will install a bunch of these 'goodies'. Some realistic, some not, with a switch to pick which one you want before you open the game. Watch, Im going to release it and call it "Silent Hacker". :P

raymond6751 · 10-24-10, 08:17 AM

I've had similar experience. It would be a great thing to extend the range of the boat if you could use the batteries on demand.

I have had to spend time submerged on long voyages so that I could conserve diesel fuel. It would be better surfaced.

In the real boats you could put one diesel to charge, one to drive the boat, and decide which.

10-24-10, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymond6751

I have had to spend time submerged on long voyages so that I could conserve diesel fuel. It would be better surfaced.

I'm just waking up and kinda fuzzy right now, but why is this? Waves and so forth, tend to slow you down on the surface and lower your fuel economy. I would rather just use the batteries underwater if I'm after fuel economy.

However, for emergencies it would be nice to have the option to use them on the surface.

timmy41 · 10-24-10, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Uberman

I'm just waking up and kinda fuzzy right now, but why is this? Waves and so forth, tend to slow you down on the surface and lower your fuel economy. I would rather just use the batteries underwater if I'm after fuel economy.

However, for emergencies it would be nice to have the option to use them on the surface.

uhhh....how would pushing a uboot through a solid medium of water be more efficient than pushing a uboot over said medium in which only half of the boat is meeting resistance?

10-24-10, 01:48 PM

Waves carry kinetic energy.
Why do people dive under waves when swimming away from shore?
Cause it's easier.

The same applies to a Sub surfaced or submerged.
We can have a lesser Mass exert a greater force then a greater Mass.

timmy41 · 10-24-10, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by privateer

Waves carry kinetic energy.
Why do people dive under waves when swimming away from shore?
Cause it's easier.

The same applies to a Sub surfaced or submerged.
We can have a lesser Mass exert a greater force then a greater Mass.

only the type 21 is more hydrodynamic underwater than above
additionally, despite how it looks, that kinetic energy is not going against the submarine, its going up and down.

10-24-10, 02:27 PM

Remember we're talking about the game, and how it does things, not necessarily real life physics, or how it should be.

In-game during a storm, you go slower while producing the same amount of energy (e.g. - one third power), but underwater you go the same speed as always. I think the game simply considers underwater to be far more calm, and doesn't alter the speed in any way. As far as the game is concerned, on the surface, rough waters slow you down, underwater there is no effect simulated from currents, waves, or other phenomenon.

Also, while waves are generally moving up and down, they do indeed forward to a degree. Boats not only go partially through waves, but expend energy traveling up them.

Freiwillige · 10-24-10, 06:58 PM

Not to mention the loss of propulsion when your props are out of the water.

Still except in the most severe weather the U-boots (Excluding XXI) are more efficient on the surface.

If you use your battery's up just keep in mind that fuel is burnt and efficiency is lost while one motor is used to charge them.

10-23-10, 08:18 PM	#1
Captain J. Borne Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 118 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Electric Engine Question Is there a way to use your electric engines while surfaced? Sometimes my engines are destroyed, but have enough battery power to finish a patrol. But if I need to get my reserve torpedo's off the deck, I am dead in the water once I surface. Maybe there is a control or button to press to do it, idk. Thanks in advance for all your input __________________ I AM U-571 SH3 + GWX3.0, SH4(v1.5), SH5 Laptop: IntelCore2Duo 2.4 GHZ (4MB L2 Cache) 17 Inch Glossy Widescreen ATI Radeon X1600 (256mb Dedicated) 1000 GB HD 4GB RAM WIN 7 x64

10-23-10, 08:22 PM	#2
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Sorry no. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

10-23-10, 08:28 PM	#3
Captain J. Borne Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 118 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Isn't this game supposed to be like a simulator? Im pretty damn sure U-Boats would have and probably did use electric engines on the surface, particularly when they had diesel engine problems. Ok next question - Could you point me to a file that switches the crew from diesels to electric via depth? Perhaps I could change it that way.. __________________ I AM U-571 SH3 + GWX3.0, SH4(v1.5), SH5 Laptop: IntelCore2Duo 2.4 GHZ (4MB L2 Cache) 17 Inch Glossy Widescreen ATI Radeon X1600 (256mb Dedicated) 1000 GB HD 4GB RAM WIN 7 x64

10-23-10, 08:37 PM	#4
K-61 Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 795 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	Although it is a simulator, it is not a complete simulator. Corporate bean counters often force a game to market for cash flow reasons, not because the produce is fit for release. There are a number of reality issues with the game, but it is still a fairly decent simulator. One feature missing is the ability to manipulate the port and starboard engines independently, or, as you state, the electric engines while surfaced, something which was often done while maneuvering in port. There is also a little known bug feature where your batteries will recharge, even if you are out of fuel. I'm not sure if your batteries will recharge if the engines are destroyed, but I would not be surprised if they will. Some members have used this exploit to get home in a pinch, when their diesels have been destroyed. __________________ Last edited by K-61; 10-23-10 at 08:54 PM.

10-23-10, 09:55 PM	#5
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	As i found yesterday, when i lost my Aft batteries and my Starboard Diesel, your batteries will not recharge unless the Stb diesel is firing. I could maneuver just fine with one engine, it acted just like it was charging, but nothing was actually happening. So I was stuck decent surface speed, but only about 15-20% battery life left if I had to dive. You could try slowly going decks awash deeper and deeper until MAYBE the Electrics kick on but you still have a deck crew. But I doubt it since it's governed by the exhaust and air intake height. Would be nice to steam along at 10-12 kts on battery on the surface though. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

10-24-10, 12:06 AM	#8
Captain J. Borne Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 118 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Cool, thanks for the info. I will see about making a program that will install a bunch of these 'goodies'. Some realistic, some not, with a switch to pick which one you want before you open the game. Watch, Im going to release it and call it "Silent Hacker". :P __________________ I AM U-571 SH3 + GWX3.0, SH4(v1.5), SH5 Laptop: IntelCore2Duo 2.4 GHZ (4MB L2 Cache) 17 Inch Glossy Widescreen ATI Radeon X1600 (256mb Dedicated) 1000 GB HD 4GB RAM WIN 7 x64

10-24-10, 08:17 AM	#9
raymond6751 Admirable Mike Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,338 Downloads: 421 Uploads: 0	Aagh!! I've had similar experience. It would be a great thing to extend the range of the boat if you could use the batteries on demand. I have had to spend time submerged on long voyages so that I could conserve diesel fuel. It would be better surfaced. In the real boats you could put one diesel to charge, one to drive the boat, and decide which. __________________ Game Designer: Close The Atlantic - World War Three https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/...orld-war-three

10-24-10, 01:48 PM	#12
Madox58 Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Waves carry kinetic energy. Why do people dive under waves when swimming away from shore? Cause it's easier. The same applies to a Sub surfaced or submerged. We can have a lesser Mass exert a greater force then a greater Mass.

10-24-10, 02:27 PM	#14
Hans Uberman Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Remember we're talking about the game, and how it does things, not necessarily real life physics, or how it should be. In-game during a storm, you go slower while producing the same amount of energy (e.g. - one third power), but underwater you go the same speed as always. I think the game simply considers underwater to be far more calm, and doesn't alter the speed in any way. As far as the game is concerned, on the surface, rough waters slow you down, underwater there is no effect simulated from currents, waves, or other phenomenon. Also, while waves are generally moving up and down, they do indeed forward to a degree. Boats not only go partially through waves, but expend energy traveling up them. Last edited by Hans Uberman; 10-24-10 at 03:07 PM.

10-24-10, 06:58 PM	#15
Freiwillige The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phx. Az Posts: 1,458 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Not to mention the loss of propulsion when your props are out of the water. Still except in the most severe weather the U-boots (Excluding XXI) are more efficient on the surface. If you use your battery's up just keep in mind that fuel is burnt and efficiency is lost while one motor is used to charge them.