Traveling to patrol grounds and other noob questions.

[A British Bank isrun w Precision]

So I'm really new to this game and have just left port for grid section B16, just west of Ireland. I'm with the 7th flotilla in 1939 (I assume there is less action in 1939). I have just a few questions

1. Is it normal to spend a lot of time traveling to your mission? I assume so. I've heard that I should travel no faster than 1/3 speed for fuel economy and then submerge every now and then to run on battery power. Does running in recharge drive travel slower than standard drive? How does all that sound?

Mainly I'm worried about running out of fuel before I can complete my patrol. I've heard I can't refuel.

2. Are the patrol missions usually based in common or good hunting grounds? I don't really know where the best hunting grounds are yet at all.

3. In 1939, is it normal to only be submerged for a short time? My battery seems to run out kind of quickly.

4. How do you easily rotate crewmen to quarters to rest? Is it just manually dragging people back and forth?

Otherwise I understand how torpedo warfare works, I did all right in the training missions. Not well enough to quickly enter in manual solutions.

[A British Bank isrun w Precision]

Also I'm using GWX mod.

[Woody]

1. Yes it is normal that is why you can increase the speed time passes. I do suggest not to increase time compressions too much in areas whith air cover.

2. Depending on your sub and you do not go flank speed you likely can reach the coast of the US and back

3. in the early war you can do surface attacks at night. IMHO it is the best tactic. Only submerge when attacking during the day. This changes as time passes and radar becomes more common.

4. There is no easy way. If I recall GWX includes or has a mod that makes this easier and less time consuming. I am not really sure why the devs thought the system they selected was the best way to go.

[FourGreenFields]

Originally posted by Massoud GL:

So I'm really new to this game and have just left port for grid section B16, just west of Ireland. I'm with the 7th flotilla in 1939 (I assume there is less action in 1939). I have just a few questions

1. Is it normal to spend a lot of time traveling to your mission? I assume so. I've heard that I should travel no faster than 1/3 speed for fuel economy and then submerge every now and then to run on battery power. Does running in recharge drive travel slower than standard drive? How does all that sound?

Mainly I'm worried about running out of fuel before I can complete my patrol. I've heard I can't refuel.

You can plot a rough course to and from your target area, and then check how far you have to travel. The navigator can give you the maximum range at the current speed (only works on diesel engines). Keep some reserve for patroling and combat.
If you don't have enough, change the speed control for to set the speed directly, then check the range at different speeds. There's a sweet spot, where going slower will be as bad as going faster.

I don't really think submerging will do much to increase range. But that's just gut feel. It definitly is slower.

Recharge mode is basicly having one engine work on recharging the batteries, while the other is used to move. You basicly get half the engine power, so yes, it is slower.


Never tried, but I think you can dock at friendly ports too. Won't give you a new mission (and takes time too afaIk), but at least you'll get more fuel.

Originally posted by Massoud GL:

2. Are the patrol missions usually based in common or good hunting grounds? I don't really know where the best hunting grounds are yet at all.

So far I found that they are mostly in good-ish hunting ground. Generally not too dangerous, but probably not the highest cargo density.



If you're out for loners, try to guess where a ship would go when traveling from one port to another.

Early on, you may risk going to the channel entrance. Water is shallow, so you're in trouble if a destroyer finds you, and, if you've been too succesfull, you may end up running into the cargo ships you sunk. Loads of cargo ships though, some big ones too. I found it's a good idea to go there at night, and travel a bit east for the day to avoid detection.
The english coast on the very south east is also relatively busy.

North/northwest of Scapa Flow there's generally a good bunch of cargos traveling east/west. Air coverage is good though.

If you want to sink convoys (or at least sink some ships in the convoy): They're generally coming to the UK passing Ireland on the north or south. Been more busy in the north, and there the convoys are coming from westnorthwest usually.
If you find them early enough they're still out of range of the air cover, and are often escorted by but a corvette. If you feel like risking it, you will probably be able to sink the corvette with fire from the deck gun.

Try and keep the radio manned btw. A very good way to detect ships (especially convoys) at range.

Originally posted by Massoud GL:

3. In 1939, is it normal to only be submerged for a short time? My battery seems to run out kind of quickly.

As with the diesels (and any other kind of engine and propulsion really). Running at full power will drain your batteries really fast. You should generally try and position yourself in such a way, that your target is headed to you, before submerging for an attack.

If being hunted by a destroyer, go to the hydrophone ("H"), and listen to it manually. As long as its engines are running on low power, do the same. If it is running at max speed (it has to to drop depth charges), and you're afraid it is heading towards you: ahead flank, and tight turn.
That should preserve your battery power for long enough.
Keep in mind that a high speed also makes climbing and diving faster.

Originally posted by Massoud GL:

4. How do you easily rotate crewmen to quarters to rest? Is it just manually dragging people back and forth?

You can left click a compartment, and then right click a sailor to have him assigned to that station. Or right click another station to transfer many sailors - I think qualified (torpedomen to torpedo rooms, etc.) will go first, after that it'll fill until the station is running at max efficiency.

[A British Bank isrun w Precision]

Thank you for the replies. I'm out on my first patrol now and have been chasing a merchant, only to realize that Germany is not yet at war with anyone (August 1939)...So I guess I'll return home without sinking a ship and let my crew gain experience from the patrol? Then go back out just before September 3rd I guess.

Is there a clear way to see the rules of engagement? Do they just arrive through radio messages? I've read in other places that renown will only go up if you sink enemy ships (does it increase from just completing orders?) and decrease if you sink neutral ships.

[Starkwolf]

I know this is an old discussion, but I have a closely related question regarding docking. Is there any significant advantage to docking "in port." I got the impression reading through other discussions that you have to be a certain distance away or less to be considered "in port" when you exit a patrol, but I don't know if that has any associated bonuses or if it is just there for fluff.