Newbie question about patrols

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Paulski

The mission are always "patrol grid XX for 24 hours". ... But, is this realistic..? How were the real patrols in WWII? Did the U-boats patrol a certain area for a certain time, and then immediately return to base? Or did they patrol als long as they wanted?

(by the way; If I'd turn fuel limit on, what would happen if I run out of fuel? Is it a mission fail or is it possible to get refuelled on sea, by friendly units?)

As Rivet points out, BdU micromanagement is not something the game offers.

Inspired by older salts in other threads, my policy is to go to the assigned area for 7-10 days. After that, I flip a coin to decide whether to return to base or push on. Where to push on? Coin flip decides if I stay in area another week or go somewhere else. Where else is determined by successive coin flips.

I know that is capricious, and it does sometimes lead to long, fruitless patrols, but I would imagine many commanders felt their orders capricious -- and long, fruitless patrols were the norm, not the exception.

By the way, I aim to stay out 45 days per patrol. I generally start heading back to camp around day 35-38, depending on where I am.

As for fuel, it isn't a scarce commodity. If you cruise at around 8 knots, sprinting only when tactics demand it, you will probably have at least 40% fuel left when you get home. I have done 55-60 day patrols many times and come home with a third of a tank. So, by all means, turn limited fuel on. It's an easy bump in realism.