Why do electric engines kick in when you submerge?

[Seefer]

I may be missing something obvious here but why do the electric motors automatically kick in when you submerge? I assumed these motors were of importance only when maneouvering amidst enemy ships to maintain silence.

Should they be kicking in when I submerge during non-combat navigation? Is there a way (and a reason) to prevent the electric motors from propelling the ship when submerged?

What is the general thinking to managing battery charge levels during patrols?

[kylania]

Without a snorkel to pipe out the exhaust smoke, your diesel engines would flood your boat with poison and kill you all.

The electric engines were your propulsion underwater until they figured out the snorkel system that let them use diesels underwater. Even then it was an unpleasant experience for everyone.

[Seefer]

Originally Posted by kylania

Without a snorkel to pipe out the exhaust smoke, your diesel engines would flood your boat with poison and kill you all.

The electric engines were your propulsion underwater until they figured out the snorkel system that let them use diesels underwater. Even then it was an unpleasant experience for everyone.

So there's no snorkel on this series of subs in SH5? I was curious about the snorkel entry in the command.cfg file.

I'm surprised the exhaust from the diesel engines in WWII subs was not somehow sequestered via a compressor into some tank under pressure, which could then be vented, either underwater or whilst surfaced, at will. Then again I'm no engineer so unsure of the technical difficulties of such a system. Though come to think of it, I suspect it would mean air pressure issues due to the diesel engines requiring oxygen from the closed-system air supply inside the submarine?

[Zachstar]

You have any idea how much oxygen it takes to run a diesel engine? ALOT

[Seefer]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

You have any idea how much oxygen it takes to run a diesel engine? ALOT

Yup, I neglected to account for the oxygen required from the very air the crew are breathing in order for combustion. It's a good job I don't design submarines for a living

[Sailor Steve]

A few u-boats which were snorkeling in less than perfect seas had to emergency surface when the snorkel dipped below the waves. There was a float to keep water from coming into the engines, but the engines sucked the air out so fast that people were already struggling to breath when they broke surface and the fans kicked in.

Standard procedure was to shut the engines down and switch to electrics as soon as the dive was called. The 'Christmas Tree', the board of lights showing which hatches and vents were still open, had to be all green before they even began flooding.

[TwistedFemur]

Originally Posted by Seefer

So there's no snorkel on this series of subs in SH5? I was curious about the snorkel entry in the command.cfg file.

I'm surprised the exhaust from the diesel engines in WWII subs was not somehow sequestered via a compressor into some tank under pressure, which could then be vented, either underwater or whilst surfaced, at will. Then again I'm no engineer so unsure of the technical difficulties of such a system. Though come to think of it, I suspect it would mean air pressure issues due to the diesel engines requiring oxygen from the closed-system air supply inside the submarine?

Are you serious?

[rocker_lx]

There where experiments with closed cycle diesel engines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-independent_propulsion

[Highbury]

Experiments, but no front line service units so it would not fit in the scope of the game IMO.

[raymond6751]

Originally Posted by Seefer

What is the general thinking to managing battery charge levels during patrols?

You want to conserve your charge for when you need to hide underwater. I travel on the surface until a contact is made or I am approaching known enemy locations. The only time that changes is when I am low on diesel fuel and need to conserve that. Then I only allow the charge to drop to 50% before surfacing for a charge. A surfaced u-boat is almost helpless if attacked.