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HertogJan · 02-26-15, 05:04 PM

There's one way of knowing when to leave.

After you plotted your course and reached your patrol area hover the mouse over the fuel bar, it will tell you how much you've used up.
You'll need at least that amount of percentages to get home, some times you'll be able to refuel at a friendly port, recalculate form your patrol area to there.

Fictional example:
Start from Pearl, plot a course to Midway and refuel, plot a course to your patrol area and note the number of Nm to it (say 10.000Nm). On arrival, your fuel gauge has dropped to 85%, it took you 15% fuel to get from A to B (A being Midway cause you topped off there).
Bingo fuel is going to be at 15% you think... Think again

you'll need to recharge your batteries after each dive and that uses up fuel, add 10% to it and you'll have your Bingo fuel.
You'll probably get more than one patrol area to investigate so after you set course from B to C, D or E..... redo the math each time but keep in mind... don't forget to add 10% for recharging your batteries!

You can also look at it form another angle....
In our fictional example going to our patrol area was 10.000Nm adding 2500Nm for battery recharge made 25% fuel consumption, round trip would be less than 50% fuel consumption (only count battery recharge once!) plenty of room to maneuver as long as you keep calculating form last waypoint (being new patrol area) to home or friendly base no exceeding 12.500Nm.

Also, check distance to friendly ports by plotting a course to it and redo the math again, this is particularly helpful if you get send to a area and you'r wondering if you can make it back home or not.
Side note: most friendly ports will eventually be conquered so take note of the Radio reports, no point in sailing for 5 days to a 'used to be friendly port' if you already got the message 3 day's ago saying Manila is being run over or something like that.

02-26-15, 05:04 PM	#17
HertogJan Weps Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 357 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	There's one way of knowing when to leave. After you plotted your course and reached your patrol area hover the mouse over the fuel bar, it will tell you how much you've used up. You'll need at least that amount of percentages to get home, some times you'll be able to refuel at a friendly port, recalculate form your patrol area to there. Fictional example: Start from Pearl, plot a course to Midway and refuel, plot a course to your patrol area and note the number of Nm to it (say 10.000Nm). On arrival, your fuel gauge has dropped to 85%, it took you 15% fuel to get from A to B (A being Midway cause you topped off there). Bingo fuel is going to be at 15% you think... Think again you'll need to recharge your batteries after each dive and that uses up fuel, add 10% to it and you'll have your Bingo fuel. You'll probably get more than one patrol area to investigate so after you set course from B to C, D or E..... redo the math each time but keep in mind... don't forget to add 10% for recharging your batteries! You can also look at it form another angle.... In our fictional example going to our patrol area was 10.000Nm adding 2500Nm for battery recharge made 25% fuel consumption, round trip would be less than 50% fuel consumption (only count battery recharge once!) plenty of room to maneuver as long as you keep calculating form last waypoint (being new patrol area) to home or friendly base no exceeding 12.500Nm. Also, check distance to friendly ports by plotting a course to it and redo the math again, this is particularly helpful if you get send to a area and you'r wondering if you can make it back home or not. Side note: most friendly ports will eventually be conquered so take note of the Radio reports, no point in sailing for 5 days to a 'used to be friendly port' if you already got the message 3 day's ago saying Manila is being run over or something like that.