Accuracy of sub ranges

Archive1 · 10-12-08, 10:18 PM

Although the surfaced range of each sub appears to conform to historical numbers, it seems to me that in the sim the subs do not actually demonstrate a real range.

As an example: if one leaves Midway, runs surfaced only during night hours at ahead 1/3, dives appropriately from dawn to dusk, it takes almost 60% of fuel to reach the Truk area. There is no way to carry out the assigned mission with the fuel left and return to Midway. Certainly one would be in bad shape if one headed for the "off Japan" icon first...you'd be out of fuel and too far from a seconday base to refuel. From Truk one can get to an Australian or a nearby base to refuel and then return to the patrol. But historically US subs could go from Midway to the hunting grounds off Japan, remain on station a couple of weeks, and return to Midway without refueling. It seems something is wrong.

In GWX it was determined that the 'flat' sim map demanded abnormal fuel requirements from the real world amounts and the sub ranges were adjusted accordingly - I believe increased by about 20%.

My question: should the ranges in SH4 be similarly adjusted? I have looked at the "sub surfaced ranges" with S3D but cannot adjust the range as was possible in SH3 because the surfaced range number (as well as the submerged range number) cannot be 'opened' with S3d and edited. Yes one can select 'unlimited fuel' as a setup option, but I do not want to make that rather crude 'arcade' selection.

Any ideas anyone? Am I way off base here?

10-12-08, 10:18 PM	#1
Archive1 Captain Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington State south of Tacoma Posts: 495 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Accuracy of sub ranges Although the surfaced range of each sub appears to conform to historical numbers, it seems to me that in the sim the subs do not actually demonstrate a real range. As an example: if one leaves Midway, runs surfaced only during night hours at ahead 1/3, dives appropriately from dawn to dusk, it takes almost 60% of fuel to reach the Truk area. There is no way to carry out the assigned mission with the fuel left and return to Midway. Certainly one would be in bad shape if one headed for the "off Japan" icon first...you'd be out of fuel and too far from a seconday base to refuel. From Truk one can get to an Australian or a nearby base to refuel and then return to the patrol. But historically US subs could go from Midway to the hunting grounds off Japan, remain on station a couple of weeks, and return to Midway without refueling. It seems something is wrong. In GWX it was determined that the 'flat' sim map demanded abnormal fuel requirements from the real world amounts and the sub ranges were adjusted accordingly - I believe increased by about 20%. My question: should the ranges in SH4 be similarly adjusted? I have looked at the "sub surfaced ranges" with S3D but cannot adjust the range as was possible in SH3 because the surfaced range number (as well as the submerged range number) cannot be 'opened' with S3d and edited. Yes one can select 'unlimited fuel' as a setup option, but I do not want to make that rather crude 'arcade' selection. Any ideas anyone? Am I way off base here?