When to return home?

jdkbph · 01-02-08, 11:40 AM

I don't think I've used the Rearm/Refuel option once in the game, other than to top off fuel at an intermediary base when outbound or inbound from a patrol.

Feels too much like a "power up" type cheat.

JD

CaptJodan · 01-02-08, 12:01 PM

It's actually kind of bad around Guadalcanal in 43. I'm not sure how historically accurate it is, but it seems as if you can just pull up, resupply, and go out about 10 miles to find targets. The shipping passes right by that point to such a degree that you can rack up tonnage by leaps and bounds.

Sadly, I take advantage of it. Hey, I'm there to sink Japanese shipping. Not my fault they waltz right into American controlled territory and ask to be torpedoed.

DavyJonesFootlocker · 01-02-08, 12:23 PM

I installed Run Silent, Run Deep Campaign mod and found a marked decrease in traffic. Prior to that Larger Tankers were everywhere and I'm sinking 33000 tons plus per patrol. Now I'm lucky if I spot a ship at all. I like the decrease in traffic as I felt guilty getting all that tonnage. Felt like cheating.

CaptJodan · 01-02-08, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavyJonesFootlocker

I installed Run Silent, Run Deep Campaign mod and found a marked decrease in traffic. Prior to that Larger Tankers were everywhere and I'm sinking 33000 tons plus per patrol. Now I'm lucky if I spot a ship at all. I like the decrease in traffic as I felt guilty getting all that tonnage. Felt like cheating.

Hmm...maybe I'll try RSRD soon. I feel guilty sometimes as well. Been thinking about it, but wasn't sure if I'd screw my SH4 up to high heaven with other mods installed.

rjbudz · 01-02-08, 10:57 PM

How long were patrols in Real Life? For how long did captians take out thier boats? I'm sure it varies according to base locations, proximity to targets, etc.

I would think to get the best simulated experience, one would come home (or refit) when the supplies (food) run dry. So how long is that? As the game stands, you could theoretically stay out on one patrol for years.

seafarer · 01-03-08, 08:16 AM

Most fleet boats were designed for 70-75 days endurance. I remember seeing the figure of 58 days, as one of the longest US patrols of the war. The USS Lionfish's first patrol in 1945 was 51 days (includes 23 submerged), and she never fired a shot.

It seems from reading patrol reports that, barring mechanical problems forcing an early return to port, patrols lasted anywhere from ~40 to ~60 days.

edit: USS Parche's 3rd war patrol was 86 days (10-Sept. to 2-Dec, 1944), but she did make a stop in at Saipan part way through that. She escorted the USS Sailfish in as Sailfish's transmitter was not working. Her 3rd patrol officially ended on 2-Dec when whe returned to Midway for refit.

Sailor Steve · 01-03-08, 12:17 PM

"We head for home when I SAY we head for home...Navigator!"

Sorry, couldn't resist.

01-02-08, 10:57 PM	#5
rjbudz Watch Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 29 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	How long were patrols in Real Life? For how long did captians take out thier boats? I'm sure it varies according to base locations, proximity to targets, etc. I would think to get the best simulated experience, one would come home (or refit) when the supplies (food) run dry. So how long is that? As the game stands, you could theoretically stay out on one patrol for years. __________________

01-03-08, 08:16 AM	#6
seafarer Commodore Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 622 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Most fleet boats were designed for 70-75 days endurance. I remember seeing the figure of 58 days, as one of the longest US patrols of the war. The USS Lionfish's first patrol in 1945 was 51 days (includes 23 submerged), and she never fired a shot. It seems from reading patrol reports that, barring mechanical problems forcing an early return to port, patrols lasted anywhere from ~40 to ~60 days. edit: USS Parche's 3rd war patrol was 86 days (10-Sept. to 2-Dec, 1944), but she did make a stop in at Saipan part way through that. She escorted the USS Sailfish in as Sailfish's transmitter was not working. Her 3rd patrol officially ended on 2-Dec when whe returned to Midway for refit. __________________ My Father's ship, HMCS Waskesiu (K330), sank U257 on 02/24/1944 running SHIII-1.4 with GWX2.1 and SHIV-1.5 with TMO/RSRDC/PE3.3 under MS Vista Home Premium 32-bit SP1 ACER AMD Athlon 64x2 4800+, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 400GB SATA HD Antec TruePower Trio 650watt PSU BFG GeForce 8800GT/OC 512MB VRAM, Samsung 216BW widescreen (1680x1050) LCD Last edited by seafarer; 01-03-08 at 08:30 AM.

01-03-08, 12:17 PM	#7
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	"We head for home when I SAY we head for home...Navigator!" Sorry, couldn't resist. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-02-08, 11:40 AM	#1
jdkbph Captain Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 508 Downloads: 104 Uploads: 0	I don't think I've used the Rearm/Refuel option once in the game, other than to top off fuel at an intermediary base when outbound or inbound from a patrol. Feels too much like a "power up" type cheat. JD

01-02-08, 12:01 PM	#2
CaptJodan A-ganger Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 75 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	It's actually kind of bad around Guadalcanal in 43. I'm not sure how historically accurate it is, but it seems as if you can just pull up, resupply, and go out about 10 miles to find targets. The shipping passes right by that point to such a degree that you can rack up tonnage by leaps and bounds. Sadly, I take advantage of it. Hey, I'm there to sink Japanese shipping. Not my fault they waltz right into American controlled territory and ask to be torpedoed.

01-02-08, 12:23 PM	#3
DavyJonesFootlocker The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Stink Drunk in Trinidad Posts: 1,572 Downloads: 138 Uploads: 0	I installed Run Silent, Run Deep Campaign mod and found a marked decrease in traffic. Prior to that Larger Tankers were everywhere and I'm sinking 33000 tons plus per patrol. Now I'm lucky if I spot a ship at all. I like the decrease in traffic as I felt guilty getting all that tonnage. Felt like cheating.