I need a tow

[heliflyr]

This is lame. Why would the Dev put in a mission that is sooooo far away from any chance of refueling just ruins the game for me. I'm sure there were sub tenders or ships passing by that the real guys could get fuel from. But we are left to find ways to cheat by altering our game files to get fuel to make it home is upsetting for me. At least they could have simulated a fueling stop somewhere. Here was my solution to this problem. I return to port the next day and storm into Grand Admiral Karl Dontiz"s office and demand that this oneway mission be given to a NOOB. Rank has it's advantages.

[Admiral8Q]

Originally Posted by heliflyr

This is lame. Why would the Dev put in a mission that is sooooo far away from any chance of refueling just ruins the game for me. I'm sure there were sub tenders or ships passing by that the real guys could get fuel from. But we are left to find ways to cheat by altering our game files to get fuel to make it home is upsetting for me. At least they could have simulated a fueling stop somewhere.

I agree with you.

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by heliflyr

This is lame. Why would the Dev put in a mission that is sooooo far away from any chance of refueling just ruins the game for me. I'm sure there were sub tenders or ships passing by that the real guys could get fuel from. But we are left to find ways to cheat by altering our game files to get fuel to make it home is upsetting for me. At least they could have simulated a fueling stop somewhere. Here was my solution to this problem. I return to port the next day and storm into Grand Admiral Karl Dontiz"s office and demand that this oneway mission be given to a NOOB. Rank has it's advantages.

First of all, you have PLENTY of fuel in the game. At no time are you on any mission where you are forced to cheat and edit your game files.

Secondly, at first, when you are operating out of Pearl, there is just one forward base and that's Midway. USE IT! Anything west of Midway was a Japanese lake and there were no tenders or refueling stations that an American submarine could use. Putting them there would be unrealistic.

Operate on the surface keeping the batteries fully charged. You submerge when you're forced to and stay under the minimum possible time. Travel at 9 knots on the surface unless you are in active pursuit or avoidance. Watch the damaged battery status and shut off the charge to save fuel when you get to the maximum charge the batteries will handle. You can complete any mission and return to Pearl with a half tank of fuel.

[Armistead]

Yep, I can go to Formosa from Midway on a little over 1/4 tank.

[tomoose]

Concur with RockinRobbin and Armistead.
In my efforts to be "realistic" (a debateable term I know), I monitor the fuel gauge like Scrooge counting his money, LOL. I follow my assigned orders and conduct my patrol in the assigned area. IF I am sidetracked, en route to or coming from, my patrol area, by a possible enemy contact the FIRST thing I do is look at my fuel gauge and make the command decision whether the chase is worth it. En route to my assigned area is not so problematic (although any goosechases will affect my time on-station) but coming home I'm much more conscious of my boat chugging down that precious fuel and sometimes discretion may be the better part of valour.

I have yet to run out of fuel during a mission, even with a damaged boat. Part of your job as skipper is to get your boat and crew home ergo getting stranded in the middle of the Pacific is never an option.

[commandosolo2009]

here are my 2 cents:

On average, and I'm talking about the Porpoise,

a 100 % full tank serves you about 23,850 km at 10~11kts speed = Ahead Slow, which is the standard for globe trekking and ferry ops.

that means every 1% of fuel gives 238.5 kilometers of map.

Note also that the boring auto recharge on surface needs rum, so you might as well assign a hotkey to standard propulsion, and when you surface, leave battery as is, unless you plan a port attack (where you'll need all the juice to get in, maneuver and trek within, evade and finally get out)


also, 1 % of fuel gives 89.5 kilometers of map at 17~19kts = Flank speed, so doing maths, you're best having 8950 kilometers range at flank, maybe less becuz of recharging.


One more thing, once the mission started, as a general rule, put an x on ur position, a circle and zoom out to a radius of 5960 km.

this zone is the 25% zone, and if you operate within (meaning mission objectives dont exceed 5960 km around Perth or Pearl, you could gash the tank at flank for 75% and the rest is the ride ticket to home)


Cheers

[Takao]

I never much cared for how the Devs handled the fuel situation and engines. A fleet boat had four diesels and a small backup "donkey" diesel. Whenever you read about US boats, their using one, two, three, or four engines. Unfortunately, this is not an option in SH4, all 4 engines are on, all the time. Captain William J. Ruhe relates in his book "War in the Boats", that, while on patrol, they usually cruised at 15 knots on two engines.

As such, I just don't turn on the "limited fuel" option. But, I don't go racing around at flank speed all the time either. I do limit my sub to normal routine patrolling operations of a fleet boat and make all the pit stops I can.

[commandosolo2009]

furthermore,

if you use underwater propulsion, you can cover only 38 kilometers over 4 hours, 55 mins, at flank speed. What will happen afterwards, is that you are stuck with 2 % of power and cant move. so,

[SPOILER] this is a cheat. You CAN surface passively by blowing ballast, stop the engine, and stand for 2 hrs and 19 mins, this should recharge your battery without affecting diesel fuel , although unrealistic, there you go.
Although this is a bug, yet, you have to endure a tonne of pain to reach home base, but for 150 kilometers or less, I would do it for a rookie sub skipper.[\SPOILER] Cheers

[TorpX]

I do not believe this is correct. I'm using RFB and recharging does consume fuel, standing still or not. On my S-18 class boat, I figure to get 2 or 3 charge cycles for 1% fuel. You may not see how much you are using, as the guage does not allow for it, but it is being consumed. Half your engines run at flank until the battery is fully charged.

[commandosolo2009]

Originally Posted by TorpX

I do not believe this is correct. I'm using RFB and recharging does consume fuel, standing still or not. On my S-18 class boat, I figure to get 2 or 3 charge cycles for 1% fuel. You may not see how much you are using, as the guage does not allow for it, but it is being consumed. Half your engines run at flank until the battery is fully charged.

Probably you're right, specially that I noticed fuel cover lower than expected. Well, to correct myself, recharging does consume diesel whether parked or on the move.