Matrix Games Forums

I'm not completely sure if this is a bug or if it is WAD:

I've been playing some of Mark Gellis's newer scenarios set in 1957, and I've run into a frustrating issue using Diesel-Electric submarines.

When I want them to sprint to a new position to intercept an intended target, I send the submarine up to the surface, intending to move at flank speed to charge/preserve battery power and operate mainly off of diesels.

However, when on the surface or snorkeling, the submarine always uses battery power first, which always results in the battery rapidly draining, then the submarine slowing down to creep while it recharges. It's impossible to run at full speed on the surface for any useful time.

If this isn't a bug, there should be a doctrine setting under ASW of whether to prioritize battery or diesel engines when able to run diesel engines, as this really hampers the usefulness of older Diesel boats in older scenarios.

I am currently running build 1500, but I've encountered this on build 1487 as well.

Diesel subs going faster than cruise will use up battery along with diesel. This is WAD as far as I know

For interested people there is a lengthy thread concerning loading/draining batteries when surfaced or snorkeling.

EDIT: Just forgot to embed the link here

Long story short.

The sub is electric and only uses the diesel to recharge the batteries.
If it is sailing faster than the diesel can recharge, the battery will drain.

Try these threads for more info:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... e#p4715460

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... e#p4715460

Hope this explains what you are seeing.

Søren

It does explain it, though I'm not completely sure if I agree with it for the older submarines (i.e. the boats that are leftovers/conversions from WW2).

I understand this for submarine designs built from the late 50s-onward, but the WW2 pattern boats should be able to run faster on the surface, right? Am I wrong?

I haven't read back through the threads, but its not all WW2 subs. There were some significant changes in propulsion in late WW2 that carried over into post-war for quite a while. As to early WW2 subs, I don't think a lot of effort has been expended on them in the db.

Speed surfaced and submerged in 1941 subs and in several types of U-boats. The XXI type could be faster submerged, but not in previous designs.

Schr75 wrote: Thu Nov 21, 2024 4:21 pm Long story short.

The sub is electric and only uses the diesel to recharge the batteries.
If it is sailing faster than the diesel can recharge, the battery will drain.

Try these threads for more info:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... e#p4715460

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... e#p4715460

Hope this explains what you are seeing.

Søren

That's not right for WWII subs. They could choose whether or not to use the diesels to run generators for recharging the batteries or straight to the drive shafts for propulsion. When the no recharging was happening subs could maintain good speed on the surface using the diesels.