What do I do - an interesting dilemma . . .

GJO · 07-30-16, 07:45 AM

I am playing SHIII with GWX and it is late 1944. My Type IXb boat (probably the last of this type still on active service) is returning to Lorient after a very successful patrol in the Caribbean Sea (just NW of Trinidad & Tobago) - more than 70,000 tons of shipping sunk that were mostly tankers and, so far, I have evaded enemy warships so I still have three acoustic torpedoes left. The crew are all in good spirits and we have enough fuel to get back to one of the European bases that are still available.

The Radio operator has just reported:
"The base was changed to Penang"

There is no way that I can reach Penang with the fuel that I have left and there are no longer any refuelling options at sea. What are my options?

My current plan is to dock at the nearest French Port and then sail for Penang at the most economical speed. This would be possible but I do not relish the idea of a 20,000 mile voyage that will take the best part of three months. Also this option means that because I will not be docking at my home port I will be loaded with new torpedoes and will not have the option of keeping or choosing acoustic torpedoes which are a necessary defence against warships.

Of course, after docking in France, I could just use SH3 Commander to switch bases to my home base but would this be realistic? In November 1944, could a captain and crew be transported to Penang by air to take over a boat that was already there? Doubtful!

07-30-16, 07:45 AM	#1
GJO Engineer Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: On the Oxford Canal in England Posts: 202 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	What do I do - an interesting dilemma . . . I am playing SHIII with GWX and it is late 1944. My Type IXb boat (probably the last of this type still on active service) is returning to Lorient after a very successful patrol in the Caribbean Sea (just NW of Trinidad & Tobago) - more than 70,000 tons of shipping sunk that were mostly tankers and, so far, I have evaded enemy warships so I still have three acoustic torpedoes left. The crew are all in good spirits and we have enough fuel to get back to one of the European bases that are still available. The Radio operator has just reported: "The base was changed to Penang" There is no way that I can reach Penang with the fuel that I have left and there are no longer any refuelling options at sea. What are my options? My current plan is to dock at the nearest French Port and then sail for Penang at the most economical speed. This would be possible but I do not relish the idea of a 20,000 mile voyage that will take the best part of three months. Also this option means that because I will not be docking at my home port I will be loaded with new torpedoes and will not have the option of keeping or choosing acoustic torpedoes which are a necessary defence against warships. Of course, after docking in France, I could just use SH3 Commander to switch bases to my home base but would this be realistic? In November 1944, could a captain and crew be transported to Penang by air to take over a boat that was already there? Doubtful!