Ressupply Ship Question

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by USNSRCaseySmith

ended up chasing 2 merchants and wasting alot of fuel,

Put that in your N00b manual: don't go tearing around the ocean at flank speed.

In a VIIB/C you have 32,000 km of range...no reason to run out of gas. Torps, yes. Diesel... that's realllly hard to run out of.

Uhh why does it say my VIIB has 6,500 km max range in game then?? and I know it was a no no but I planned on hitting the supply ship on the way and he was heading in that direction so I figured why not chase her. I was a bit more. lenient since I was going to get re supplied anyways

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by USNSRCaseySmith

Uhh why does it say my VIIB has 6,500 km max range in game then?? and I know it was a no no but I planned on hitting the supply ship on the way and he was heading in that direction so I figured why not chase her. I was a bit more. lenient since I was going to get re supplied anyways

As noted above, you need to run at the optimum speed for fuel efficiency to get the most range for your available fuel.

When you ask the navigator for your maximum range, he is giving you the maximum range at your current speed. If you are not running at 7-8 knots, the number will be smaller and smaller depending on how much slower or faster than that you are going at the moment.

Try the thing I mentioned about running at different speeds and asking for maximum range at all of them. You will see that running at the optimum speed for most of your patrol will give you way more range than setting your speed for ahead standard or above and just leaving it there (or just plodding along at ahead slow, for that matter). Yes you can go faster if necessary for evasive maneuvers or to catch up with or outflank a target and get in good position - but you do that only when you need to, and only for targets that you have a decent shot at without endangering your fuel reserves.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

Put that in your N00b manual: don't go tearing around the ocean at flank speed.

In a VIIB/C you have 32,000 km of range...no reason to run out of gas. Torps, yes. Diesel... that's realllly hard to run out of.

It's also not the best thing for your engines. I don't know if the game or GWX models the extra risk you run of engine damage when going ahead flank for extended periods of time, but in RL I understand this was a big no-no. Only to be used in emergencies and/or for short periods of time.

FWIW, Casey, the most fuel efficient speed for a Type VII seems to be right around 8 knots. You can order this speed by setting the engine telegraph at the second lowest setting (one third ahead? can't remember what it reads in German offhand) and then clicking the dot below it to switch it to the knot-meter, and selecting 8 knots.

You can also get a good idea of how running at different speeds affects your fuel efficiency by selecting a speed and, when the engines have responded accordingly, asking the navigator for your range at current speed. You will find that the numbers vary widely and you'll also see very quickly which speed will get you the most distance for your available fuel. (Going slower than the "optimum" speed is no better than going faster in this respect.)