Cruise Speed

[Rosencrantz]

Rob wrote:

So I should be running at ahead slow on the surface?

On the oparea and if you are looking for realism, yes. They tried to save fuel as much as possible. They even didn't use "heaters" in the boat for the same reason. Not even in the arctic. That was Dönitz order.

-RC-

[Threadfin]

To maximize range and endurance, yes

For me, range is rarely an issue except in long distance IX patrols. Endurance is what I'm after. Either way, running slower is better. And this means you'll have plenty of fuel for high-speed end arounds and interceptions when needed.

[robj250]

Originally Posted by Threadfin

To maximize range and endurance, yes

For me, range is rarely an issue except in long distance IX patrols. Endurance is what I'm after. Either way, running slower is better. And this means you'll have plenty of fuel for high-speed end arounds and interceptions when needed.

Cool. Well I most certainly would not want to disobey an order from Dönitz. I'll have to tell this to my CE then :rotfl:

[Egan]

Originally Posted by Rosencrantz

Just thinking that simulating driving with just one diesel by dropping your speed to 4 knots....

....So I think it's very much possible Dev's didn't gave a single thought on that one diesel / two diesel thing at all when adjusting engine orders and speed releated.

Greetings,
-RC-

No, your right. I'm in a type 2 over at W@W just now so that has probably coloured my thinking somewhat..Lol. I think it still applies, though. Go to 1/3, ahead slow etc and trim a knot or two off your speed by adjusting it manually. I guess in a 7 I would be patrolling my grid at 5-7 knots.

[Rosencrantz]

Yep. 5 to 7 sound fine for VII.

-RC-

[Redwine]

I use 8 knots in the type VII, wich if i am not wrong is near the real long range speed. I use 10 or 12 knots max only in special situations, in example to pass shallow water zones quickly.

[P_Funk]

I find it interesting how you guys all talk about fuel efficiency and "orders" but anyone ever consider how a U-boat captain would behave if he didn't think the war was worth his crew's lives and so would perhaps behave differently so as to maybe get his men home sooner? For instance recall that scene in Das Boot where the captain fired a torpedo at a stationary tanker that he had already hit to finish it off. If he wanted to milk his patrol for every merchant he could, then he likely would have used the deck gun instead. So then couldn't some Kaleuns have been a little less rigorous in their fuel economy so as to expedite their return to base? I mean if you guys are real hardcore and even try to represent single diesel operation when it isn't modelled shouldn't someone pretend to be looking out for his crew as another layer of the "make-believe"?

[Eichenlaub]

My rig is a type VIIC in mid-'43. I always sail at Ahead Slow to conserve fuel. I also believe my watch crew have a better chance of spotting the enemy while I'm at AS. Furthermore, my sub doesn't produce such a large wake for aircraft to spot (the advent of radar reduces this advantage from 1942 onwards).

At the beginning of my career I usually journeyed at Ahead Standard, but that left me with too little fuel to chase more than a handful of targets. Ran out of fuel once, and didn't want to repeat the embarassment. Recently, more and more convoys do around 13 knots, meaning I have to crank out a lot of knots over 10+ hour periods to do an end-around. Conserving my fuel pays off.

On homeward journeys, i.e. when all my ordnance is gone, I often travel at higher speeds since I no longer need to conserve my fuel.

Beginning somewhere in 1942 I order PD at dawn and surface at night. It helps preserve fuel as well, but that is merely a secondary benefit.

Kind regards,

Eichenlaub

[Khayman]

Originally Posted by P_Funk

For instance recall that scene in Das Boot where the captain fired a torpedo at a stationary tanker that he had already hit to finish it off. If he wanted to milk his patrol for every merchant he could, then he likely would have used the deck gun instead.

Sinking a ship with the deck gun, even a damaged one, could take an hour or more. Using the deck gun was only permitted in safe waters, where there was no risk of the U-boat being surprised by aircraft or enemy vessels. Therefore using an extra torp to finish off a ship was common and wasn't a way for the Commander to bring his boat home earlier.

Originally Posted by P_Funk

So then couldn't some Kaleuns have been a little less rigorous in their fuel economy so as to expedite their return to base?

Since every Commander had to report to Donitz after his patrol, and their patrol was examined in minute detail, then I doubt anyone could have gotten away with it. This also applies to using too many torpedoes on a single target. I think they would rather risk death at sea than face the wrath of the B.D.U.

As for me, I use U-123's Drumbeat patrol as a guide. Hardegen wrote in his KTB: "Total distance: 8,277 nautical miles. Total submerged: 256". Besides it was only advisable to submerge if the weather was bad, or if there was a danger of aircraft. The U-boats place was on the surface at all other times. For speed I use 9 knots, but only because I read it here! I did try going to the US at 4 knots on the surface, but it was a disaster fuel wise.

If I've had a good patrol and am out of torpedoes with sufficient fuel remaining, then yes I'll head home at a faster speed, if I'm sure I can make it safely.

[Keelbuster]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

If I've had a good patrol and am out of torpedoes with sufficient fuel remaining, then yes I'll head home at a faster speed, if I'm sure I can make it safely.

Me too. Especially crossing Biscay. I'll do it at ahead full, and storm into port at flank.

Kb

[robj250]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

If I've had a good patrol and am out of torpedoes with sufficient fuel remaining, then yes I'll head home at a faster speed, if I'm sure I can make it safely.

Hey Steve, just curious. How many patrols have you completed and what year are you in now?

Originally Posted by robj250

Hey Steve, just curious. How many patrols have you completed and what year are you in now?

I got the game about a month after it came out (actually had the game from day one but had to wait for a computer that would run it).

I'm not sure how many patrols I've completed, but it's a lot. I've never completed a career, though. Back in the SHI days I got into the habit of running several careers simultaneously-one from each available base. If a captain died or retired, I'd start a new career that same month from the same base. With the wonderful facility from Beery's Flotilla Mod and SH3 Commander I can do the same thing with SHIII. Unfortunately things keep happening: I'll experiment with a mod and not like something, switch back in mid-patrol without thinking, thus ruining that career.

So I go back and start over. Currently I'm helping with some mods and experimenting with my own, so I'm waiting to start over again. The farthest I've ever gotten was June 1940. Those patrols were recorded here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...7s+patrol+logs

[robj250]

Thanks for posting the link to your patrols. My patrols are probably too boring with too much detail. Have a look and left me know what you think. The link to my patrols is the blue link below my signature.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by P_Funk

So then couldn't some Kaleuns have been a little less rigorous in their fuel economy so as to expedite their return to base?

No.

Fuel is life, and should be conserved whenever possible.

Reasons to conserve fuel:
- Incase you have to do a high speed dash to run away from something.
- Incase you have to do a high speed dash to intercept something.
- Incase your fuel bunkers are damaged for whatever reason. (this has happned to me before)
-Lastly, and most importantly, to make sure you can get home.


More then once, ive sputtered into lorient harbor, with the CE saying the fuel reserves are empty, and the NA estimating we can go 400 KM on what diesal fumes remain.