Patrol Length

[WWII44]

Out of curiosity, how long do you stay at sea after you completed your assigned patrol area? I usually go till I'm out of torpedoes or after sustaining heavy damage in a fight with a destroyer and I get the feeling I might be pressing my luck if I continue.

[timmy41]

lately ive been getting sorties when i get low on fuel before torps. had to get into port on batteries on one! jeeze

[nemo7]

Depends on many things. Min 15-16 days, max 31 days...

[papa_smurf]

I normally head back to base once I'm done in my assigned patrol area, unless I encounter a convoy on the way to/from base.

[Draka]

I usually hang about the patrol area until I am either outta eels OR hit bingo fuel. BdU wanted me there for a reason, methinks .....

[WWII44]

Originally Posted by Draka

I usually hang about the patrol area until I am either outta eels OR hit bingo fuel. BdU wanted me there for a reason, methinks .....

BdU usually sends me to dead zones(i.e. grids with little or no enemy activity) so when is all said and done I head for grids that are know to be high traffic areas like BF15(that's my favored hunting grounds in 1941) or just north east of Gibraltar(also a favored spot) till I run out of torps or I feel I'm pressing my luck(i.e. having a close call with a DD or aircraft) the I head home.

P.S. it's usually when I exust my bow torpeado supply(I raerlly use my stern torps)

[StarFox]

Until I run out of torpedo's and or fuel.

I've been out as long as 44 days, although I think this next patrol may be longer

[HW3]

I stay out till I exhaust my torpedoes or get low on fuel. I use my stern torpedoes for coop de gras shots. I will patrol my area, then if it is non productive, head for my favorite areas AM52 or BE65, depending on which is closer.

Type IIs: Until all torpedoes are expended, or fuel reaches 50%.

Type VIIs: Most efficiant route to my grid. Most productive route back.
(No more automatic detours to my favorite grid, AM53. Unless I can tail a convoy there.)

Type IXs (My favorites): Most efficiant route to my grid. Long weaves across expected convoy lanes toward England for the return. On the Freetown route I generaly plan on 120 days of inactivety, but am sometimes rewarded with targets.

Late war (anything): Attempt my 24, and attempt to get home.
(BDU generaly treats IXs like long range IIs. Coastal grids!)

[Jimbuna]

Patrol assigned grid for 24 hours then head to the nearest known/suspected convoy route....until fuel is low or torpedoes are used up.

[Fader_Berg]

Type II: I patrol the assigned grid and adjacent ones until I'm out of torpedos, fuel level is getting critical or time at sea closing to one month. (As no real patrol in a Type II lasted longer.)

Type VII: I haven't been playing VII before, but I suppose it's about the same thing. I have heard that the regular time of real patrols in Type VII's was one month too.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Fader_Berg

I have heard that the regular time of real patrols in Type VII's was one month too.

You can go here http://www.uboat.net/boats.htm and look at the details of just about any U-boat patrol.

U-402 (VIIC) averaged 44 days, U-404 averaged 47 days... those are just two I checked, so they may be outliers.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

You can go here http://www.uboat.net/boats.htm and look at the details of just about any U-boat patrol.

U-402 (VIIC) averaged 44 days, U-404 averaged 47 days... those are just two I checked, so they may be outliers.

A direct link to all the boats

http://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/boats.html

Originally Posted by jimbuna

A direct link to all the boats

http://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/boats.html

Thanks for the new bookmark.
I didn't know about that page, and it's a great time saver.
I got the "dates" one from you, too. Realy makes research easy.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Snestorm

Thanks for the new bookmark.
I didn't know about that page, and it's a great time saver.
I got the "dates" one from you, too. Realy makes research easy.

Glad to be of help matey