Is my current tonnage total acceptable?

helibobber · 02-26-09, 12:58 PM

I have completed my 4th patrol with a total of 4 ships sunk: 1 warship, 1 patrol craft, 2 merchants. Total tonnage 8204.
Is this ok or can I expect to hear from the BDU? I'm still very new to this.
Also, my last merchant was an oil tanker that was motionless in the water. Time was about 0100. Next to it was a dark ship, maybe a tender with no markings that had spot lights atop its masts. I could not get any lock on this ship at all with my UZO or periscope. It did not show up on any radar either. It was like it was not even there, like a phantom ship or something. Anyway, I hit it with my last torpedo and it caught fire but would not sink. I just waited around for hours but it just sat there burning. Finally I gave up and left.
Returning to base with unspent torpedoes is a bad thing I suppose right?

nikbear · 02-26-09, 01:21 PM

Be More Aggressive

actually,the motionless ship is a light ship and wont show ingame ,thats why the tug is next to it so your crew see it and you don't ram it by mistake,I personally don't attack them,but some do

look at the ingame convoy map to bump into more ships and single ships to get a bigger tally,best of luck

mookiemookie · 02-26-09, 01:26 PM

On my current patrol, I'm on my way to my assigned patrol area off of North Carolina. In grid BE somethingorother I've sunk:

1 large tanker travelling alone. Tonnage about 11,500
1 large merchant and 1 C3 cargo travelling in a 2 ship convoy, total tonnage about 23,000
1 Granville type freighter travelling alone, total tonnage about 4,800

BE MORE AGRESSIVE!

Quote:

Next to it was a dark ship, maybe a tender with no markings that had spot lights atop its masts. I could not get any lock on this ship at all with my UZO or periscope. It did not show up on any radar either. It was like it was not even there, like a phantom ship or something. Anyway, I hit it with my last torpedo and it caught fire but would not sink. I just waited around for hours but it just sat there burning.

This was a lightship. It's an environmental object and thus would never sink no matter how many torpedoes you put into it. That's why the oil tanker was next to it, so your watch crew would spot it as the AI doesn't see it as a "ship" per se. Light ships are used for navigation...kind of like a floating lighthouse. In real life, U-boat captains would not sink them as they were just as big an aid to navigation to the U-boats as to regular traffic.

I guess the tips I would give you are to stay out as long as your fuel and torpedo stocks last. No sense in returning to base if you still have both. Hang around shipping lanes and the approaches to major ports. Your paper map has shipping lanes marked on it, and you can also determine where these are by marking the position and direction of ships you spot and hydrophone contacts. Even if you're not in a position to sink these ships, they'll at least give you an idea of the routes that merchant traffic take. As you can see from my tonnage total above, I'm following the merchant route across the Atlantic as my route to my patrol grid. Good luck!

Captain Birdseye · 02-26-09, 01:42 PM

I got a Danish merchant ship near to the coast of Brest.

I was assigned BF18, sailed over the top of the UK, got the Dane, got through the channel and was hit by a destroyer just outside Wilmshaven

Otto Heinzmeir · 02-26-09, 01:42 PM

I wouldn't worry about your tonnage. Your tonnage totals are consistent with real life totals. So the BDU has no problem.

I,m on shore leave. Sweet, I'm outta here!

Pisces · 02-26-09, 02:00 PM

If 8000 tonnes over 4 patrol is what you got I'd say be happy with what you got. Nah!!!, let's get gready

It should easily be possible to go home with 8000 tonnes PER patrol. Maybe not with a Type2, but certainly with a Type7. But alot depends on if or how your Silent Hunter is modded, and your playstyle. Can you provide more info on what mods you use, or just stock SH.

Regardless, the game should give you mapmarkings on the map every now and then of convoys or single ships. Do you chase those? If not I suggest you learn this:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88961

helibobber · 02-26-09, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pisces

If 8000 tonnes over 4 patrol is what you got I'd say be happy with what you got. Nah!!!, let's get gready

It should easily be possible to go home with 8000 tonnes PER patrol. Maybe not with a Type2, but certainly with a Type7. But alot depends on if or how your Silent Hunter is modded, and your playstyle. Can you provide more info on what mods you use, or just stock SH.

Thanks for the info. I'm using GWX 3 Gold and assigned to a Type II-A boat. I have a couple mods including color contacts, life boats, enhanced damage and a couple others I can't remember.
I will try to patrol the shipping lanes more. I forgot about using my map!

Sailor Steve · 02-26-09, 03:11 PM

Sometimes you will see players claim monster tonnage totals, which is fun but not very realistic. For a Type II kaleun you're doing about average. I wouldn't complain myself about a record like that. If you're using SH3 Commander it compares your totals with real-life captains at the same time, which gives a fair idea of how you're doing.

RoaldLarsen · 02-26-09, 03:40 PM

What constitutes an appropriate tonnage total depends on a number of factors:

The realism level you are playing at
The type of boat you have and what equipment it has
Where your patrol area is
What year you are in

The more torpedos you have, the more damage you can do, so I tend to think in terms of tonnage per torpedo. If you get assigned to patrol an area with a lot of traffic (or you're directed through one) , you should do better than if you get sent to a backwater.

I play with 100% realism settings, so manual targetting, no map updates, no external camera. I don't run on the surface at a TC setting of more than 32 in areas patrolled by enemy aircraft. When submerged outside of my patrol area, I will often run at TC 1024. The reduction in hydrophone contacts compensates for the fact that there are too many ships in the game. I am beginning to wonder if there are also too many aircraft.

In 1939 to 1941, I figure I am doing well if I get 3,500 tons per torpedo. In 1942 that's down to 2,500 tons per torpedo. From 1943 onwards, I figure I am doing well if I return alive.

That's doing well. Most of my early careers averaged about 2,000 tons per torpedo. (My top career score per torpedo was in a Type IIA with 2,511 tons per torpedo.) It drops a couple hundred per year as allied ASW outpaces u-boat advances. My 1939 and 1940 scores might be higher now if I went back and started some careers at the beginning of the war, but I am playing through, from start to end.

Most of my early careers survived to retirement. In 1943 the opposite is true. In 1939-40 I started 10 careers, lost three subs, and retired 4 commanders, The other 3 also survived to retire later. In 1943 I started 8 careers, lost 5 subs (all to aircraft, I think) and retired only 2.

In 1943, IF I can get to a patrol area, I can usually still manage to sink > 2,500 tons per torpedo. But all the trips where I have to turn back because of damage or malfunction, or those trips which I don't survive, really cut into the average. I've only had three patrols in 1943 (out of about 20) where I returned with my hull undamaged. Once was because I turned around less than one day out because of engine trouble, once I lost a diesel to aircraft, without damaging the hull, and once I was just lucky I guess.

Almost all the damage is from aircraft. Other than losing subs going through the Strait of Gibralter, I don't think I have lost a sub to surface ships since August of 1940, and that was a maniac who did a harbour raid each patrol.

Kapt Z · 02-26-09, 08:03 PM

You sunk 4 enemy vessels, including a warship with a type IIA? In one patrol?

I'd say you have nothing to apologize for.

A Very Super Market · 02-26-09, 08:09 PM

Acceptable? Many boots came back with nothing. I come back with nothing (On occasion). This is superb!

helibobber · 02-26-09, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapt Z

You sunk 4 enemy vessels, including a warship with a type IIA? In one patrol?

I'd say you have nothing to apologize for.

No no. Sorry for the confusion. This is my total after my 4th patrol. I think on my 1st I came back empty handed.
The warship went down on my 2nd patrol. Actually it was pure luck I got him. He spotted me and as he cames towards me I fired 3 torps straight at him head on. I was as surprised as he was when I hit him.

Patrol 3 is where I got the patrol craft and the two merchants were sunk on my 4th. As noted one tanker wasn't even moving at the time so it was an easy kill.
Not as spectacular a job as you thought huh?

Kapt Z · 02-26-09, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helibobber

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapt Z

You sunk 4 enemy vessels, including a warship with a type IIA? In one patrol?

I'd say you have nothing to apologize for.

No no. Sorry for the confusion. This is my total after my 4th patrol. I think on my 1st I came back empty handed.
The warship went down on my 2nd patrol. Actually it was pure luck I got him. He spotted me and as he cames towards me I fired 3 torps straight at him head on. I was as surprised as he was when I hit him.

Patrol 3 is where I got the patrol craft and the two merchants were sunk on my 4th. As noted one tanker wasn't even moving at the time so it was an easy kill.
Not as spectacular a job as you thought huh?

Oh, heck man chill out!

You're doing fine!

mookiemookie · 02-26-09, 10:13 PM

Another issue I think that may be inflating our tonnage is the ease in which we can conduct night periscope attacks. I don;t know how many of you have been out on the open seas at night without moonlight, but let me say that it is a DARK, DARK place. This is how Otto Kretschmer was able to cruise surfaced in the midst of convoy columns without being spotted. This is also why an attack periscope, which by all accounts lets very little light in, is overpowered in SH3. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I doubt that you'd be able to see much of anything through an attack scope in the middle of a moonless Atlantic night.

A Very Super Market · 02-26-09, 10:15 PM

You could just darken your screens, and 3.0 makes it pretty dark too.

02-26-09, 12:58 PM	#1
helibobber Watch Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 30 Downloads: 50 Uploads: 0	Is my current tonnage total acceptable? I have completed my 4th patrol with a total of 4 ships sunk: 1 warship, 1 patrol craft, 2 merchants. Total tonnage 8204. Is this ok or can I expect to hear from the BDU? I'm still very new to this. Also, my last merchant was an oil tanker that was motionless in the water. Time was about 0100. Next to it was a dark ship, maybe a tender with no markings that had spot lights atop its masts. I could not get any lock on this ship at all with my UZO or periscope. It did not show up on any radar either. It was like it was not even there, like a phantom ship or something. Anyway, I hit it with my last torpedo and it caught fire but would not sink. I just waited around for hours but it just sat there burning. Finally I gave up and left. Returning to base with unspent torpedoes is a bad thing I suppose right? Last edited by helibobber; 02-27-09 at 08:28 AM.

02-26-09, 01:21 PM	#2
nikbear Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northampton,UK Posts: 1,859 Downloads: 86 Uploads: 0	Be More Aggressiveactually,the motionless ship is a light ship and wont show ingame ,thats why the tug is next to it so your crew see it and you don't ram it by mistake,I personally don't attack them,but some dolook at the ingame convoy map to bump into more ships and single ships to get a bigger tally,best of luck __________________ 'It is not surely known when the grey wolf shall come upon the seat of the gods' Ericksmal.

02-26-09, 03:11 PM	#8
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Sometimes you will see players claim monster tonnage totals, which is fun but not very realistic. For a Type II kaleun you're doing about average. I wouldn't complain myself about a record like that. If you're using SH3 Commander it compares your totals with real-life captains at the same time, which gives a fair idea of how you're doing. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

02-26-09, 03:40 PM	#9
RoaldLarsen Weps Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Control Room Posts: 355 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	What constitutes an appropriate tonnage total depends on a number of factors: The realism level you are playing at The type of boat you have and what equipment it has Where your patrol area is What year you are in The more torpedos you have, the more damage you can do, so I tend to think in terms of tonnage per torpedo. If you get assigned to patrol an area with a lot of traffic (or you're directed through one) , you should do better than if you get sent to a backwater. I play with 100% realism settings, so manual targetting, no map updates, no external camera. I don't run on the surface at a TC setting of more than 32 in areas patrolled by enemy aircraft. When submerged outside of my patrol area, I will often run at TC 1024. The reduction in hydrophone contacts compensates for the fact that there are too many ships in the game. I am beginning to wonder if there are also too many aircraft. In 1939 to 1941, I figure I am doing well if I get 3,500 tons per torpedo. In 1942 that's down to 2,500 tons per torpedo. From 1943 onwards, I figure I am doing well if I return alive. That's doing well. Most of my early careers averaged about 2,000 tons per torpedo. (My top career score per torpedo was in a Type IIA with 2,511 tons per torpedo.) It drops a couple hundred per year as allied ASW outpaces u-boat advances. My 1939 and 1940 scores might be higher now if I went back and started some careers at the beginning of the war, but I am playing through, from start to end. Most of my early careers survived to retirement. In 1943 the opposite is true. In 1939-40 I started 10 careers, lost three subs, and retired 4 commanders, The other 3 also survived to retire later. In 1943 I started 8 careers, lost 5 subs (all to aircraft, I think) and retired only 2. In 1943, IF I can get to a patrol area, I can usually still manage to sink > 2,500 tons per torpedo. But all the trips where I have to turn back because of damage or malfunction, or those trips which I don't survive, really cut into the average. I've only had three patrols in 1943 (out of about 20) where I returned with my hull undamaged. Once was because I turned around less than one day out because of engine trouble, once I lost a diesel to aircraft, without damaging the hull, and once I was just lucky I guess. Almost all the damage is from aircraft. Other than losing subs going through the Strait of Gibralter, I don't think I have lost a sub to surface ships since August of 1940, and that was a maniac who did a harbour raid each patrol. __________________ 100% realism, DiD Harbor Traffic 1.47(incl. RUB) Using SH3 Commander to implement many custom realism tweaks Covered 1939-1945; now restarting in 1939 again. Completed 39 careers, 210 war patrols, 4.7Mt sunk, 19 subs lost Last edited by RoaldLarsen; 02-26-09 at 03:58 PM.

02-26-09, 08:09 PM	#11
A Very Super Market The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Deep in the Wild Canadian suburbs. Posts: 1,468 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Acceptable? Many boots came back with nothing. I come back with nothing (On occasion). This is superb! __________________ The entire German garrison of Vanviken, right here in your thread!

02-26-09, 01:42 PM	#4
Captain Birdseye Watch Officer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sat behind my desk at BdU tapping away on my Enigma machine. Posts: 339 Downloads: 44 Uploads: 0	I got a Danish merchant ship near to the coast of Brest. I was assigned BF18, sailed over the top of the UK, got the Dane, got through the channel and was hit by a destroyer just outside Wilmshaven

02-26-09, 01:42 PM	#5
Otto Heinzmeir Weps Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wilhelmshaven Local Pub Posts: 361 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I wouldn't worry about your tonnage. Your tonnage totals are consistent with real life totals. So the BDU has no problem. I,m on shore leave. Sweet, I'm outta here!

02-26-09, 02:00 PM	#6
Pisces Silent Hunter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: AN9771 Posts: 4,904 Downloads: 304 Uploads: 0	If 8000 tonnes over 4 patrol is what you got I'd say be happy with what you got. Nah!!!, let's get gready It should easily be possible to go home with 8000 tonnes PER patrol. Maybe not with a Type2, but certainly with a Type7. But alot depends on if or how your Silent Hunter is modded, and your playstyle. Can you provide more info on what mods you use, or just stock SH. Regardless, the game should give you mapmarkings on the map every now and then of convoys or single ships. Do you chase those? If not I suggest you learn this: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88961

02-26-09, 08:03 PM	#10
Kapt Z Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ...somewhere in the swamps of Jersey. Posts: 909 Downloads: 157 Uploads: 0	You sunk 4 enemy vessels, including a warship with a type IIA? In one patrol? I'd say you have nothing to apologize for.

02-26-09, 10:13 PM	#14
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	Another issue I think that may be inflating our tonnage is the ease in which we can conduct night periscope attacks. I don;t know how many of you have been out on the open seas at night without moonlight, but let me say that it is a DARK, DARK place. This is how Otto Kretschmer was able to cruise surfaced in the midst of convoy columns without being spotted. This is also why an attack periscope, which by all accounts lets very little light in, is overpowered in SH3. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I doubt that you'd be able to see much of anything through an attack scope in the middle of a moonless Atlantic night. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

02-26-09, 10:15 PM	#15
A Very Super Market The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Deep in the Wild Canadian suburbs. Posts: 1,468 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You could just darken your screens, and 3.0 makes it pretty dark too. __________________ The entire German garrison of Vanviken, right here in your thread!