"Pig Boats"... New Career Started, Need advice Capt. to Capt.

[chopped50ford]

I have decided since loading TM 1.6, to again start another career. (Great mods have to stop coming Im commanding a pig boat out of the Java Sea an S-18 class.

Any info or advice to running these?

Im running ahead 2/3'rds for average speed using limited fuel @ 5 knts. WOW

I havent seen any merchant shipping yet...but when the time comes, I hope to know what to do.

Thanks!

[Ducimus]

>>Im running ahead 2/3'rds for average speed using limited fuel @ 5 knts.

All bets are off with Pig boats. They are in a league of their own.

[chopped50ford]

okay, where's AVGwarhawk when you need him?

Probably out to sea again?

Im on the S-38, SS-143.

I notice the batteries take FOREVER to charge and fast diving (which is awesome)

[Ducimus]

>>I notice the batteries take FOREVER to charge

I tried to fix that, without success. I tried with the engines/motors to adjust recharge/battery expenditure, but I think the problem is with its the batteries themselves. I suspect S boats use a unique battery type, and unlike SH3, i dont think we have access to the batteries.

[THE_MASK]

Watch the fuel and keep in mind that you need to keep around 35/100 fuel capacity for return to base . PITA i know . When submerged for any length of time stay at 1 knot . Rough seas use way more fuel and recharging batteries uses more fuel . Since i bought SH4 i have only ever had a pig boat .

[AVGWarhawk]

okay, where's AVGwarhawk when you need him?

I have just surfaced after my 5th patrol and heading to Fremantle in the pig boat....foul little destructive thing she is!!!

Fuel, yep 2/3 just about all the time for fuel economy. Batteries do take long to charge so I stay submerged all day at 1-2 knots. I surface at night and stay surfaced until the first aircraft is spotted in the morning. She is a fast diver as you noted so I stay up as long as possible. This gives me a few extra hours of battery charge as a result. This battery issue seems fitting for the technology at the time the S boat was constructed. So plan on putting around when under attack. Thus far my areas of patrols have been close to my ports which was fitting for these Little S boats. The fuel capacity just will not take you to Japan and back to Fremantle. Just as well as the Japanese did their own type Blitzgrieg into the Phillipines and then to Borneo and Java. I was able to use Manilla as my port once, then on to Java as Manilla fell and eventually Fremantle. These are the areas I have been assigned. I believe the developers took this into consideration for a career in the dreaded S class. The S class was an ancient boat at the start of the war and she runs like she is ancient. I was hoping for new construction after my 4th patrol but no dice. They sent me out on patrol 5. Perhaps I will receive something more sporty on my return to Fremantle.

I am enjoying the heck out the S class. Everything is bare bones. No fancy radar, limited fuel and torps. I spend my days drooling over the bridge hoping for new construction. I just can not pick up the chicks with this horse and cart In fact, she stinks so bad Admiral Lockwood does not greet me at the docks upon my return..... It is fun though working the S class hard in hopes of a better boat eventually.

One other point to ponder. I spend more time going after merchants if I'm in a favorable position. Rarely do I make a U turn to chase a merchant. It just burns up more fuel as I head to my objective. It would seem making your objectives is a bit more important than going after everything in sight.

As a side note: I'm only running textured mods as I want to see how the larger mods like Ducimus' develop and evolve.

[switch.dota]

Actually the S-Boat's fuel capacity during 5knot cruises is enough to run around 30.000 km, which is about 20% more than fleet boats in the game.

[Sailor Steve]

Do all your calculations by hand and turn off the TDC (they didn't have one). And good luck.:rotfl:

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Do all your calculations by hand and turn off the TDC (they didn't have one). And good luck.:rotfl:

I just wet my thumb to get the windage!!! Believe it or not Steve, the S class in this game is best at point and shoot. Get close! My mistake on my last post on this subject. It was my 4th patrol in the S. I motored on down to Brisbane as this was my new port and do to my galant efforts I was awarded new construction. The USS Seal. It is 1942. The Seal was commissioned in 41! Lockwood said she was new but she did not have that new submarine smell . Oh well, I kicked the tires and lit the fires...off to the Solomons. . A lot more horses than the old S-39 I was beating around in