Noob Question-First Patrol

[Dave Hansen]

SH4 v1.5w/RFB 2.0 and RSRDC

First Patrol...just sunk my 6th ship...6 torps remaining.

Have received previous confirmation that I have completed my first 5 objectives.

As I finished transmitting my latest status report, I was told to remain in the current objective area.

At 10 kts I have a remaining fuel range of 2750 nm...my closest refit port is at a distance of 2250 nm...margin of error 500 nm (22%).

I understand that if a captain runs out of fuel...game over!

Since I play DID, I'm heading to port to top off the tanks. A lot can happen in 2200 nm.

My question as a new PTO captain... when I receive orders is fuel range taken into account by the HQ guys? Or is that for me to figure out?

After the refit, will I still have to steam back 2250 nm to finish objective #6?

TXS

[magic452]

Remaining fuel and torpedoes are supposed to be factored in but truth be told I don't believe they are.

Good decision to head back. Hope you don't hit bad weather as I was in a similar situation, about 500 miles to spear, and barely made it because of weather, that is in the game.

When I get much below 40% fuel I quit calling in.

Magic

[jazman]

Head back. I believe torps and fuel are factored in, but you may find the occasional glitch. Some Gomer Pyle at base, for sure.

[kylesplanet]

I don't remember the fuel percentage but under 5 torps and they will tell you to return if you have finished your objective. If you already have 5 completed, its time to head home.

Command will run you out of fuel so take it upon yourself to manage it.

[TH0R]

Definitely head home. Sinking six ships in RFB will most likely get you a medal, and not just any one. Very few captains sunk more than 6 ships in real life, with the exception USS Tang who did it twice (7 and 10 on last patrol), and USS Wahoo who did it once (9 ships).

Link: http://www.valoratsea.com/patrols1.htm

Based on this, the magic number when to go to base is 5+ ships. From my experience, sinking five ships in RFB will either get you a newer boat or a newer boat and a medal.


As for the fuel and commands from base, keep an eye on the fuel yourself. Do not rely on their orders when your tanks are close to being dry. I always plot the route to home, and an emergency route if I can't make it or if I get damaged. As soon as the fuel is some 500NM over the required to get to home base, I terminate the patrol.

[Dave Hansen]

TXS guys...er...captains!

I play at 100% realism and my previous experience with SH3/GW has had some good carry over to my PTO experience. Although I employ the constant bearing approach with manual firing, the US PK seems to be a nice little tool/aide that the U-Boats didn't have.

To complete my mission successfully, as objective #6 still is incomplete...after my refit will I have to drive back 2500 nm to the incomplete objective site to have a successfully completed patrol?

If so, will HQ then give me another objective...when does a captain quit getting new objectives while on patrol?...should I just fire off a couple of torps to get my inventory under 5 as klyesplanet mentioned?

TXS

PS- 3 of my six sinkings were single merchant ships in the East China Sea, I picked off another two merchants in a 6 ship convoy escourted only by two corvettes...like shooting fish in a barrel! HOWEVER...I did sink a Maya Heavy Cruiser at night off the eastern coast of the Philippines...believe it was a 6-7 warship convoy that was heading S-SE...the convoy was headed almost directly at me...just went to periscope depth, squared my boat up on a constant bearing...fired 4 torps from 750 yards, all hit and the cruiser went down in 10 minutes. Ah, Lady Luck and good fortune.

[magic452]

Dave sounds like you're having a good patrol as is, with a fresh load of fuel and fish you can go either way. With 5 missions complete and some good tonnage a RTB is ok. Or have some more fun and sink a bunch more.

HQ will give new orders as long as you call in, so when time to quit don't call in.

Magic

[RodBorza]

Dave,

If you are that far from the objective area and got a good tonnage, head home. Real skipers would stay around 70 days at the sea. If I see a base nearby I go there and refit.
But, as 99% of the times I got off Pearl, when my torps are over or when my fuel is below 40%, and the time at sea is something aroun 50 days (+ 7 days to get to Pearl) it is time to head home. It's a LONG way from Japan to Pearl. Sometimes I go to Midway to top off fuel on the outgoing and incoming legs of the trip.

Once you got your objectives done, go home. You won't get a reprimand for that. And by the way, is a good way of advancing through your carrer fast to new subs and improved crew.

[Pisces]

It depends on what type of sub you are using. But if you keep asking your navigator for distance to travel at speeds between 5 and 12 knots you can find the best speed. In my Salmon class I get the best range at 9 knots, and that's about 15% more than at 10 knots. In my experience this distance count is quite accurate. Atleast, I never got home empty.

If you should go back also depends on the lilelyhood of encountering extensive bad weather, since it slows you down and that means more fuelconsumption. And since there 's little point in predicting SH4 weather I'd say go home.

[McHibbins]

Originally Posted by Dave Hansen

SH4 v1.5w/RFB 2.0 and RSRDC

First Patrol...just sunk my 6th ship...6 torps remaining.

Lucky Bastard ! I only managed to sank four.....but i´m still on my first patrol with 4 Torps left