Got some renown racked up - get me a IXB now or save it for later?

[msalama]

Salute guys.

It's spring 1941 and I have some renown to burn. The thing is I can't decide whether to buy me a IXB or save the lot for future upgrades like a brand-new VIIC. What would you do in my place?

:hmm:

[von hally]

lo mate

youl love the extra torps and longer range...but...as ive said before.....she dives as if the sea was fighting against her...even in calm seas.
not great when aircraft are spotted.....but i am very fond of her

[sharkbit]

Originally Posted by von hally

lo mate

youl love the extra torps and longer range...but...as ive said before.....she dives as if the sea was fighting against her...even in calm seas.
not great when aircraft are spotted.....but i am very fond of her

My previous career commander was sent to train up and coming u-boat commanders after 8 patrols and 140K+ tons in a VIIB in 4/41. I started a new career in 5/41 in a IXC. Love the extra range and extra torpedoes.
You're right though about the dive times-she don't like to go down very fast. This becomes a huge factor when starting to see an increase in aircraft, as I found out on my first patrol in a IXC.....

I had just finished a second attack on a convoy south of Iceland and was heading south into, hopefully, calmer waters so I could load up all of my external torpedoes and continue the hunt. (I only load externals in the daylight during weather that I could use a deck gun and stopped.)

I start to get bothered by some Swordfish aircraft and dive in time. Pop back up in about an hour and here come 2 more, but it seems they don't see me and I stay up. A third appears heading straight for me and the other 2 turn in towards me.
Due to a little inexperience with dive times of my new boat, as well as a little inexperience with aircraft, I wait a little too long before starting to dive and down come the bombs and I'm barely under water when the bombs hit the water. I did an external view to show my son and I can see the bombs falling from the airplane and still see my conning tower sticking up. I said "Oh my, this is gonna be ugly."

I survived, but received a fair amount of damage and a lot of flooding that took a while to control and I stayed under as long as I could to repair damage(using the Longer Repair Times mod makes this seem like forever) and headed home to Lorient.

I have found a respect for GWX aircraft and will never wait to dive after an aircraft is spotted at long range and I will keep in mind the slooooow diving times of a IXC. Kinda makes me miss my old VIIB, which can dive in a flash and turn on a dime.

[STEED]

Originally Posted by msalama

Salute guys.

It's spring 1941 and I have some renown to burn. The thing is I can't decide whether to buy me a IXB or save the lot for future upgrades like a brand-new VIIC. What would you do in my place?

:hmm:

If you can get though to later in the year your be able to buy yourself a nice IXC ready to blow the hell out of those stupid American ships who took no advice from the Brits.

[msalama]

...a nice IXC ready to blow the hell out of those stupid American ships who took no advice from the Brits.

Hey, that's a good idea as well :hmm:

[predavolk]

A IX is best used away from convoys later in the war. Earlier in the war, it's fine against them. Also, it's only a few seconds slower in the dive than a VII. "dives as if the sea was fighting against her" is a gross exaggeration. If you really want, your extra fuel lets you run decks awash for the same range as a VII, and in that case, you can dive MUCH faster than a non-awash VII.

Besides that, the extra torps make a significant difference in your total tonnage, as does being able to get away from the North Atlantic to juicier areas (like Africa, Caribbean, or 1941 US). I'd go for the IX, unless you really like the North Atlantic convoy action.

[msalama]

...unless you really like the North Atlantic convoy action.

Love it, but the US East Coast ops do sound like something worth trying out still :hmm:

Hmm, let's just say that the jury in my muddled head is still out Oh, and I have this patrol to finish off 1st anyway, or die trying - on my merry way to AE88 at the moment...

S!

[superfecta]

And one neat little trick to loading those externals..... once on surface bring up your inventory screen ( "I" key) drag /drop externals to empty slots ( they won't actually go there yet but will "grey" out) you may now submerge ...SO LONG AS YOU DO NOT CHECK YOUR INVENTORY SCREEN to keep tabs on progress. If you hit the "I" key before the time is up, you will have to start from scratch. Also make sure the auto load is on.

[KeptinCranky]

I would have said go for the IXb asap, until recently, I've done a couple of patrols in the IXc and would now advice you to wait for the IXc, it's nice to have all that extra fuel, and better upgrade options if you survive for long enough

[von hally]

Originally Posted by predavolk

. "dives as if the sea was fighting against her" is a gross exaggeration. If you really want, your extra fuel lets you run decks awash for the same range as a VII, and in that case, you can dive MUCH faster than a non-awash VII.

.

dont think its really that gross an exaggeration pred..not in my experience.

when dd's are shelling with everything they've got....give me a type VII any time.

and whats the point of a IX running with decks awash and losing the range that you upgraded for in the first place???

[Chisum]

I'm actually early in the war and just buy a IX/b.
Many torpedos, long range cruise, that's all I need.
But of course, VII/b and VII/C are interresting too.

Try one option and the other later in an other career.
Don't forget that in 1943/1944 you will need money to buy new torpedos and equipments(schnorkel, radar, etc).

My first career was full on VII/b and C except in 1944 type IX/D2 and finally XXI.

[Dietrich]

Originally Posted by msalama

The thing is I can't decide whether to buy me a IXB or save the lot for future upgrades like a brand-new VIIC. What would you do in my place?

And, once a gain, the SUBSIM.COM community instantly polarises into the VII vs IX camps.

Well, I prefer the Type VII boats. My plan would be to systematically replace the crew with the highest grade ratings, NCOs and officers you can afford. I believe crew efficiency is more important than boat equipment.

I'd then hang on to that VIIB until you can "out-flak" it by purchasing a "VIIC + required turm" in one go. This comes soon enough, so I'd wait on upgrading anything else until you can get the VIIC. Once I have the VIIC, I pour all my renown into upgrading it to the best equipment renown can buy. (I don't bother with the VIIC/41.) This then lasts me until 1945 (if I can last that long), when I might consider a XXIII.

[KeptinCranky]

Polarized? Us? No way

One thing to keep in mind the IXc/40 has a very very nice deep diving depth, which you will need by the time it's available so you could also go the VIIb, IXb, IXc/40 route

[nikbear]

Good point,one of my favourites the TypeIXC/40,all the range you need,the eels you need,better depth and none of the penalties of a ridiculous diving time,YES,Im looking at you TypeIXD2

[msalama]

Well, after all has been said and done I still decided to stay with the VIIs for now. I'll definitely keep an eye on the IXC, but I just couldn't get rid of my trusty Atlantic warhorse just yet! I'm finally starting to understand its quirks pretty well, and to change boats at this point would've meant throwing it all away I think...

So I went and got me a brand spanking new VIIC instead. Convoys beware

Oh, and thanks of course for your insights and opinions guys! Most informative as always