So, what would you do?

[U777]

If the diesels are beyond repair without outside help and BdU cannot send help in time then I would broadcast in plain language for rescue, and then scuttle the boat after destroying the enigma and burning the code books. Getting the crew back to land alive is all that would matter to me as a commander.

[sharkbit]

I like the dice roll thing. The simplest would be to maybe assign a percentage of what you think the chance of rescue from friendly forces is and what the chances of being captured is and roll a couple of dice based on those percentages. Maybe have boxcars mean nobody came and you all starved to death.

Or do the wait for 10 days thing, rolling dice each day. On a 4(or something else) or less you are captured-game over. If baddies really do show, then I guess you don't need dice.

Interesting dilemma though-good luck!

[VONHARRIS]

I agree with U777.
In that situation it is game over.
Been there and done that.

[Gargamel]

Honestly, I think it depends on how far you can get on just your electrics.

If your protracted battle drained your batteries, then you probably would have to scuttle. BUt if you could slip at least a dozen k away or so, that would be a start. That'd at least give you a chance to do the major repairs needed without alerting the inevitable RN rescue ships on the way. 25-30k And you're golden. As Tessa said, they would be able to fix these things.

Then, depending on the other circumstances involved, you could apply some game theory (ie rolling the dice). Weigh your chances being rescued by another u-boat, apply a percentage, then roll a die.

[maillemaker]

I'm pretty sure I could have puttered along on battery for a bit, though the aft battery was listed as "destroyed" and consequently the battery meter was down to like 30 percent. We had nearly a full charge before that.

I don't know how hard it was to maintain depth without moving, but we had a full tank of compressed air so we could have gone to periscope depth and hovered, motionless, while waiting for rescue.

Steve

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by maillemaker

I'm pretty sure I could have puttered along on battery for a bit, though the aft battery was listed as "destroyed" and consequently the battery meter was down to like 30 percent. We had nearly a full charge before that.

I don't know how hard it was to maintain depth without moving, but we had a full tank of compressed air so we could have gone to periscope depth and hovered, motionless, while waiting for rescue.

Steve

Ahhhh.. but it would never have arrived. Your rescuers would have been another U-boat most likely (Unless you were in the North Sea, but they wouldn't have a carrier there would they?). Hovering motionless, they would have to literally run into you to find you. I don't know historical detection ranges for a motionless periscope breaking the surface, but I know I can get within 1km of merchants at times without them ever seeing my scope, and that's moving. I'm pretty sure you'd have to be almost point blank to see another boats scope through a scope. The other U-boat would be hard pressed to search for you on the surface given the known amount of SAR and ASUW resources the RN would have deployed to that area.

Even if they sent Aircraft out after you, you'll be hard pressed to ID them through the scope, and I'm pretty damn sure you won't pop up to check.

A surface vessel would be your only hope of rescue if you were hovering. You could ID them, pop up and get a tow. But unless you were within spitting distance of any of the Reich's bases, I doubt you'll find any help there. Because, again, the RN assets enroute would negate any surface vessels the KM sent.

As we've said before, play the game as you want, it's your game. But you've asked for opinions, and this is a good thought exercise. It's a good place to play devil's advocate.

Let's assume it would take up to 3 days to be rescued. Take a die, roll it, divide by 2, round up. Limp away as far as you can, surface, send out a status report. Now stay surfaced under decent TC until that many days as you rolled have passed and you haven't been sunk. With your compressed air intact, you should be able to hover/dive/surface for that period to avoid RN assets. After that time period is passed, assume you have been rescued or repaired, and then warp back home.

I wish the game modeled long term repairs like Tessa mentioned. That would add a realism element to the game in this regard that would make it all that more enjoyable.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by maillemaker

I don't know how hard it was to maintain depth without moving,

Pretty much impossible. Modern subs can do it, but they have computers controlling all the functions. WW2 subs leaked, so even with perfect trim the boat would start to sink withing a few hours, if not minutes. The balance for this was to maintain a slight positive bouyancy and use the dive planes to maintain depth, but then as soon as you stopped moving the boat would start to rise. This was preferable to sinking, but it's still not "hovering".

[maillemaker]

Ahhhh.. but it would never have arrived. Your rescuers would have been another U-boat most likely (Unless you were in the North Sea, but they wouldn't have a carrier there would they?). Hovering motionless, they would have to literally run into you to find you.

Well of course we would not stay submerged. I was thinking more like we radio in and find out when the rescue ship would be in the area, and then submerge and wait until that time, and surface.

But it doesn't sound like we could have submerged and stayed down without using up our batteries to move.

[CherryHarbey]

I suffered similar damage (no surface power) and I initially went for the teleport option but after sleeping on it changed my mind. The odds of rescue were just too slim for me, so I loaded up an earlier save, sent her to the bottom and changed my status to Surrendered at Sea with Commander.

[gazpode_l]

MY REPLY IS SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC - SoRrY!

I wish the game modeled long term repairs like Tessa mentioned. That would add a realism element to the game in this regard that would make it all that more enjoyable.

It seems like commander does this sort of thing to a fashion...my last two moorings have resulted in a month's shore-leave at a time AND i've got "days in base" checked and set to ten, to simulate small repairs, re-supplying and shore-leave for my crew..

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by gazpode_l

MY REPLY IS SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC - SoRrY!



It seems like commander does this sort of thing to a fashion...my last two moorings have resulted in a month's shore-leave at a time AND i've got "days in base" checked and set to ten, to simulate small repairs, re-supplying and shore-leave for my crew..

No, I meant while at sea. There would be battel damage repair, then under way overhauling. Like tearing down a diesel for 2 days and then rebuilding it. So you could fix catastrophic damage during a patrol, enabling you to return to base.