at what point does one end a patrol in career

[Capt. Shark Bait]

i've had assignments added on to the original patrol whereever and just continued on without ending that patrol which lasted a coupla months atleast, before i had probs loading the save for it

[GnarPow]

I personally dont refit because loading is a bitch and I'd rather start my next patrol out of port....

I end patrol when either

1) Im running low on fuel
2) Im out of munitions
3) I've taken enough damage that im still floating but the next hit might be my last
4) I've finished 3 or 4 missions and I still have maybe 2-4 torps left and a couple shells of deck gun ammo so I just mosey my way home and usually find a target to empty them on a long the way.

[-Pv-]

Agree with GnarPow.

It's best not to drag a patrol out too long and get frustrated with the long load times. Besides, your score and satisfaction will only improve once you get the new tech, boats, and trained crew from a Base docking. Well worth the effort to go home once in a while.
When the patrol starts getting long in the tooth, I empty the weapons on available targets while heading home. I'm also studying the possibility that the crew fatigue level gets accellerated when far from home too long.
-Pv-

[Capt. Shark Bait]

yeah, this time around, i'm gonna just do a coupla refits and then end it

[EAF274 Johan]

I was actually ordered to RTB in my last patrol. I had run out of torpedoes, but sent a contact report on an enemy task force. I then received a pop up message saying something like "Excellent work, we will direct other assets to the target. RTB at your discretion."

Other than that, I usually RTB after about 2 months at sea. I can't imagine a sub crew would hold out much longer than that in reality.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by EAF274 Johan

I was actually ordered to RTB in my last patrol. I had run out of torpedoes, but sent a contact report on an enemy task force. I then received a pop up message saying something like "Excellent work, we will direct other assets to the target. RTB at your discretion."

Other than that, I usually RTB after about 2 months at sea. I can't imagine a sub crew would hold out much longer than that in reality.

Thats the default message it seems when your low on ordinance. If you had a full load out you would get the message to attack them.

Ive gotten that message when I had two or three torps left. "at my discretion" indeed. Just say that I dident have any torpedoes left afterwards.