GWX - through the english channel

[seahunter]

Firstly hi everyone, I've just registered.:D

I've had SH3 for only about 3 weeks and downloaded the GWX v1.03 expansion last week (loving it btw :cool:) and well I'm looking for some help!

It's probably because I'm just a newbie sub commander and thus not very good:oops: , but I can't seem to get through the english channel without seemingly attracting every military ship within a 50km range!!:damn:

FYI
Home port - Wilhelmshaven
It's my third patrol (still 1939) and I've coped respectably with the first two patrols - both NE British Isles. I have been assigned patrol grid BE99 north-west of spain so it makes sense to go through the channel to get there. However no matter what I try it seems that they know I am there :o. Tried sneaking through at night at periscope depth - got caught. Tried belting it through at flank speed at night - got caught. Tried silent running along the bottom ( channel not very deep though about 40m) - have to surface to get air and recharge batteries and subsequently - got caught.

Was thinking of just ignoring the patrol zone and go elsewhere, but I know it can be done and I want to overcome it. The Gibraltar straight must be impassible!

I'd appreciate any help on this guys as I'm getting quite frustrated:x

oh I'm in a type VIIB if that makes any difference.

[abel29a]

NEVER go through the channel in GWX. End of story :)

(To many mines and patrols, and to little water to hide in)

As for the patrol grid, I'd install SH3 Commander if I was you, and change it to something more sensible, or go there at 8 knots and maybe you have enough fuel.

[Jimbuna]

STAY OUT OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!! :yep:


Welcome aboard Kaleun :arrgh!:

[danlisa]

Go the long way around, north of Scotland. Set speed to 7-8 kts and you will be able to get there & back with fuel to spare.

Oh, BTW....

Stay out of the CHANNEL

The Gib straight is not impassable because it is deep.

Even without changing your patrol grid, you can still make it in a VIIB.:yep:

Use your Nav Officer! Plot your course, set your speed, then ask the NO for a report on 'maximum distance at this speed'. Remember, you need to get back home.;)

[seahunter]

Oooookkkkaaaayyy! I'll stay out of the channel already! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks guys, its the scenic route for me.:up:

[WolfOfCampscapel]

High speed on the surface, at night. Hope for bad weather (ideally heavy fog and high winds). Lie at all stop on the bottom from sunrise to sunset.

That's how I snuck through the last time, in my IXB, no less. Only light fog for much of the route, which was scary.

But it's still 1940 and happy times. I expect it to be impossible when the verdammtes allies discover radar.

[GibsonSG]

I have made it through the Channel in GWX, 1939....Once.

I will not be trying it again though...it took me 4 days of sneaking along to get through alive.

[Puster Bill]

Really, in 1939 you should be able to get through the Channel. Historically it was done. After that, well, viel gluck with that.

[stabiz]

I once had the idea I would not only go throught the channel, but Gibraltar first. I then decided to record it and make a video. It ended in tears, with the loss off boat and crew west of Gibraltar. I have tried before, and I have NEVER gone through that blasted place after 1940.

So ... yeah, the Channel is a no-no, unless you are into horror and short campaigns.

[siber]

Welcome Seahunter!

The English channel belongs to the Royal Navy. Don't go there. They PWN it and they'll PWN you!

It took me a long time to figure out that by pressing the button to the bottom-right of the speed indicator, you swap it from preset speeds to knot-by-knot speeds which you can set. Switch this to 8kts for the most efficient cruising in Type VIIb (or 5kts for Type IIa). As said above, use your navigator to calculate the best speed/range combinations for any particular situation.

[Brag]

One cannot repeat often enough: Stay out of the Channel!!
Stay out of shallow water!!!!
Meanwhile: Welcome aboard and happy hunting :up: ,

[Redshirt]

If got assigned a grid way down there by Spain as well, and i was cutting it really low of fuel for a safe return trip and was out of eel's by the time i had completed the patrol of my grid, so i stopped in at one of the German supply ships that are in a couple of the Spanish ports, they should be marked in on your map in blue, and work the same as docking at any other friendly navel base :up:

Got my tanks topped up with diesel and a full load of eel's and was ready for the return trip! :p

[blue3golf]

You can easily make BE99 going around the northern tip by Scapa Flow runniing surfaced at night and submerge for the day, plenty of fuel. I'm on my way to DH77 from Wilhelmsaven, hopefully I can make it there and back, otherwise I'll be riding the current home. :damn:

[Pablo]

The English channel belongs to the Royal Navy. Don't go there. They PWN it and they'll PWN you!

Hi!

I guess that's why they call it the "English" Channel. ;)

Pablo

[Vacillator]

Here's a few more thoughts from an earlier thread I started:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=105980&highlight=Kanal

General gist is don't do it...

Welcome to the service by the way!

[irish1958]

I got through the English Channel one time. In 1939 just before the war started, I went through at flank speed. When I was through, I was out of fuel tho.

[Jimbuna]

The English channel belongs to the Royal Navy. Don't go there. They PWN it and they'll PWN you!

Hi!

I guess that's why they call it the "English" Channel. ;)

Pablo

Yep, in those days....Britannia definitely 'ruled the waves' :yep:

[DeadlyTigger]

I'm actually currently going through the English Channel right now... It's 1939 and the war has just started. First patrol with my VIIB.

I do have to say... it certainly keeps you on your toes, but I'm sort of liking the excitement and the sneaky creeping around. I'm not sure if I'll do it again though. Although the channel is definitely loaded with open targets this early in the war. Just pull out the deck gun, get as many critical shots as possible, and then high-tail it out of there fast. Preferably at dusk. So far I've sunk 3 merchants this way. And also 2 destroyers with torps. They were 'hunting' me. :arrgh!:

The biggest bugger for me is the darned airplanes. I'm not so hip on airplane types, but they seem to be Spitfires. Small, fast, and they're on us before we even really spot them.

So we'll see how this goes. I'm almost out of the channel but currently being depth charged... Airplane caught me getting ready to submerge at the brink of morning. :damn:

[Sailor Steve]

Seahunter, welcome aboard and welcome to the (virtual) real world of the u-boat.

Really, in 1939 you should be able to get through the Channel. Historically it was done. After that, well, viel gluck with that.
Sure, August 1939! Reasonably, if you leave Wilhelmshaven and run the the Channel as fast as you can, you should be through before September 3rd and Britain is still neutral. I did that once in a heavily modded stock game and was even escorted by a British DD for awhile.:roll:

[Iron Budokan]

Stop trying to sneak through the channel underwater. The way the game is configured you can fool the AI if you go flank speed on the surface with your gramaphone blaring. Also, firing your deck gun at irregular intervals towards Dover will "fool" the AI into thinking you're just another destroyer looking for a submarine.

[Puster Bill]

Seahunter, welcome aboard and welcome to the (virtual) real world of the u-boat.

Really, in 1939 you should be able to get through the Channel. Historically it was done. After that, well, viel gluck with that. Sure, August 1939! Reasonably, if you leave Wilhelmshaven and run the the Channel as fast as you can, you should be through before September 3rd and Britain is still neutral. I did that once in a heavily modded stock game and was even escorted by a British DD for awhile.:roll:

Well, I seem to recall that the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen made it through the Channel in early 1942:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Cerberus

True, they used some subterfuge, and the British were singularly and uncharacteristically unalert, but they did make it. It should be HARD to make it through the Channel, but not IMPOSSIBLE.

In my current game, it's early 1940, and I'm taking my VIIB up between Wales and Ireland, then I'm going to go through The Minch. You have to be on your toes, but it's worth it target wise.

[Mowinz]

The English Channel tour is awesome! Last career I had (October, 1939) I was driving an IXB....took the scenic route towards Dover before I went for some TC. Time Compression is not good when entering the Channel. The career ended because I was traveling at full flank with TC.

Couldn't recover from the DC's because I had no Officers with (Repair) qualifications. Anyhoo......tried my best to get the boat together and spent the next hour trying to get out of dodge.

My ship was in trouble resting on the channel floor. Tried everything...

Checked the surface action with that little cheat button and WOW! Six or seven ships both big and small with flares and spotlights everywhere looking for my boat.

There were no survivors....

Cheers

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
seems no one dares to go trough...

ok here are some tips (crused trough in 1939-1940-1942 AND 1944:arrgh!: )

if you start from Willemshaven you can stay surfaced till you get between calais (or however its called) and dover :yep:

then go to PD and set speed to 1-2 knots with silent running on...
stay in the middle... its the deepest part and has NO mines...

no the bigges tip: DONT FIRE A TORPEDO THERE!!! :stare: , or you get like 3-4 DD's,8 Elco's and 5 Armed Trawlers on ur butt.
IF you are spotted then u dont have any option left. GO TO PD AND IGNORE THE ELCO'S!!! just destroy the DD's... the Armed trawlers will just swirl arround you.
(and this is fun) when germany has runn over France go to calais with the swirling Trawlers... :up:
when passed the Dover/Calais line your quite safe... not much about 3 DD's 2 Elco's and 1-3 trawlers trough the rest of the channal.

i hope this will help some ppl.
(this can also be used when ur going towards Willemshaven)

edit: forgot somthing important... : YOU GOTTA BE HALF NUTZ TO DO IT THIS WAY !! but it works

edit 2: gonna do it on a other way... gonna say it with picts

[Brag]

Mohr, thank you for the good info. You're nutz but you do good work. :rock:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

Mohr, thank you for the good info. You're nutz but you do good work. :rock:

thanks Brag :up:
already making picts for the persons who got confused of the above post.
or just for a bit more help :hmm:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

ok everyone... made a picture tutorial of how to pass the channal :up:

do DL the file click here
http://files.filefront.com/how+to+get+trough+the+chalrar/;7884985;;/fileinfo.html

[Schöneboom]

That's my kind of crazy, Kaleu! When I get transferred to France, I'm taking a trip to sunny Italia -- a 2-way trip via Gibraltar! I'll send you a postcard! :cool:

Certifiably loony, and proud of it!

[Kpt. Lehmann]

LOL, that tutorial will be obsolete the moment GWX v1.04 is released.:rotfl:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

That's my kind of crazy, Kaleu! When I get transferred to France, I'm taking a trip to sunny Italia -- a 2-way trip via Gibraltar! I'll send you a postcard! :cool:

Certifiably loony, and proud of it!

wanna go trough the virgin ? dive and stay at 150m and set speed to max5 knots.
silent running and also STAY IN THE MIDDLE !
dive max 500m and minimum 1500m before you enter the virgin ;)
that way you wont get bothered by the 12 DD's 8 Elco's and DOZZENS of airplanes :up:

edit: if i remember correctly i have a postcard of napoli somwhere on SSF

[Nuoz]

Stop trying to sneak through the channel underwater. The way the game is configured you can fool the AI if you go flank speed on the surface with your gramaphone blaring. Also, firing your deck gun at irregular intervals towards Dover will "fool" the AI into thinking you're just another destroyer looking for a submarine.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: wait... :hmm: are you serious?

[its a viic]

You can make it thru the channel if you hug the coastline. I've been playing gwx for a month or so now, granted still in early 40 but it can be done. Hug the coastline mate!:up:

[Vacillator]

You can make it thru the channel if you hug the coastline. I've been playing gwx for a month or so now, granted still in early 40 but it can be done. Hug the coastline mate!:up:

I'm sure you can but last time I tried it I got to Calais and there I stayed :dead:. Maybe the English coast is better?

[Thniper]

You can make it thru the channel if you hug the coastline. I've been playing gwx for a month or so now, granted still in early 40 but it can be done. Hug the coastline mate!:up:

Errrr ... and what about mines and sub nets???:hmm:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

thats why i sayd "stay in the middle".

beleve me. the AI isnt nutz. if your not skilled enuf (or nutz) then DIVE!
even if I go surfaced trough i wont come out... or not entirely (destroyed parts and some dead crew)

all thanks to the elco's :shifty:... the rest i just blast out of the sea :arrgh!:

[Brag]

LOL, that tutorial will be obsolete the moment GWX v1.04 is released.:rotfl:

Kpt Lehman and his nefarious GWXers are planning our doom. I wonder how much Churchill is paying them. The rumbling of threats is causing anxiety among my crew. :huh: :dead: :dead: :nope:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

LOL, that tutorial will be obsolete the moment GWX v1.04 is released.:rotfl:

Kpt Lehman and his nefarious GWXers are planning our doom. I wonder how much Churchill is paying them. The rumbling of threats is causing anxiety among my crew. :huh: :dead: :dead: :nope:

when it is ready to DL i WILL prove you can get trough! :arrgh!:

[Jimbuna]

Reminds me of the 'Tanker Alley' thread :lol:

[Brag]

Reminds me of the 'Tanker Alley' thread :lol:

Yeah, Jim!
And if you look at the Spinnennetz map, A lot of traffic is concentrated on or near Tanker Alley.

Now I'm working in uncovering and mapping the routes of those frequent, fat Freetown convoys.

[its a viic]

Stay on the French coast, Two knots speed underwater. Occasionally send out recon to look for mines, subnets. Or use the camera like I do. I tell myself when nets, or mines are found that our frogmen did some good work. :rotfl::lol:Trust me it works. ;)

[bruschi sauro]

English Channel? No thank you... are you a kamikaze?
Ciao:ping:

[Jimbuna]

Reminds me of the 'Tanker Alley' thread :lol:

Yeah, Jim!
And if you look at the Spinnennetz map, A lot of traffic is concentrated on or near Tanker Alley.

Now I'm working in uncovering and mapping the routes of those frequent, fat Freetown convoys.

Those have just been changed too ;) Freetown is axis controlled in 1.04 :p

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

English Channel? No thank you... are you a kamikaze?
Ciao:ping:

aye sir :arrgh!:

[panzermeyer]

I wish I read this thread earlier. I started my career with the 2nd Flottila. I have a patrol grid off the west coast of Ireland. I thought I would be able to make it through the channel before Sept. 3rd. I got half way through when the war broke out.

Now I am submerged fighting off a destroyer (I think, a V&W Warship?). I managed to fire to torpedos at it, straight at the front of it. One detonated right below its keel, cripiling the ship. Now it is trying to get away, altough very slowly, at 5knts. Though I dare not to surface as they have fired at my periscope once.

So now I am in the middle of the channel, about to take out this warship, but now I am afraid of what lies ahead.

[Jimbuna]

So now I am in the middle of the channel, about to take out this warship, but now I am afraid of what lies ahead.

The parents and siblings :lol:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

I wish I read this thread earlier. I started my career with the 2nd Flottila. I have a patrol grid off the west coast of Ireland. I thought I would be able to make it through the channel before Sept. 3rd. I got half way through when the war broke out.

Now I am submerged fighting off a destroyer (I think, a V&W Warship?). I managed to fire to torpedos at it, straight at the front of it. One detonated right below its keel, cripiling the ship. Now it is trying to get away, altough very slowly, at 5knts. Though I dare not to surface as they have fired at my periscope once.

So now I am in the middle of the channel, about to take out this warship, but now I am afraid of what lies ahead.

if yer nutz then take him out and sail on...
if yer not nutz then DO NOT sink it... else you could get some more buggers on yer butt :nope:

[KeptinCranky]

I wish I read this thread earlier. I started my career with the 2nd Flottila. I have a patrol grid off the west coast of Ireland. I thought I would be able to make it through the channel before Sept. 3rd. I got half way through when the war broke out.

Now I am submerged fighting off a destroyer (I think, a V&W Warship?). I managed to fire to torpedos at it, straight at the front of it. One detonated right below its keel, cripiling the ship. Now it is trying to get away, altough very slowly, at 5knts. Though I dare not to surface as they have fired at my periscope once.

So now I am in the middle of the channel, about to take out this warship, but now I am afraid of what lies ahead.

If you've passed through the narrowest bit, best to continue on, underwater slow speed by day, surface at night, by the time you reach land's end and the Atlantic you'll be out of eels, there's so many targets. Then you can turn around and go right back through the strait again :D:up:

don't let all these gloomsters and nay-sayers (sorry guys :D)discourage you, Der Kanal IS doable early on, I'm not saying you should subscribe to Mohr's peculiar sort of insanity but don't give up too soon, if you stay cautious and don't take unnecessary risks, you'll get out alive and can then boast to the Frauleins that you went there and back in one piece:D

and concerning stay out of shallow water I think it's more a guideline :p

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

@ keptincranky: your more than right im insane :yep:


since the channal isnt challaging anymore im gonna do somthing different...

gonna sail trough SURFACED!

only gonna dive for the Elco's... damn i hate them :damn:
will use NO TORPEDO'S


wish me luck mate's :arrgh!:

[Puster Bill]

I've decided that I am going to head home through the Channel:

"Oh now we've passed the Lizard light
and the Start me boys will heave in sight
Soon be abreast of the Isle of Wight
Come and get your oats me son...."

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

i did it... i actualy made it surfaced trough the channal :huh: :rock:

NEXT IS GIBRALTAR :arrgh!:

[TarJak]

Done Gibraltar on the surface and survived. Pick bad visibility and Keep as close to the African Coast as possible. Watch out when you go through the narrows though. If the patrols have radar you are a goner unless you dive.

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

im aiming for the middle in nice weather. that way i went trough the channal

[TarJak]

Some say he's gutsy.

Some say he's off his trolley.

We just call him Mohr!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

and if others try somthing similar then its Mohr's way
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Jimbuna]

You just got lucky :yep: ....check your calendar....it was Mothers Day and all the sailors were away visiting their moms:rotfl:

[Maraz]

The Gibraltar straight must be impassible!


There is a big difference, the strait of Gibraltar is DEEP and is also much shorter.

I started a 23rd Flotilla career in Sept 1941 at La Rochelle (GWX, modded Flotilla.cfg file) and I was assigned a patrol square in the Mediterranean, so first I had to pass the straits.

I used the night darkness to approach as much as I could, then at first light I dove at 80m, doing 2-3 kts, and surfaced in the evening on the other side, with little battery and oxygen left, but safe.

Until the escorts have no radar, it is doable. Of course you must forget about attacking all military and merchant targets you will meet.

Maraz

[maillemaker]

Yes, getting through the strait of Gibraltar is easy. Just go 2 knots and silent running at 150 meters and it's smooth sailing. Just hope you can surface in the clear on the other side for a breath of air and a recharge!

I've now raided Gibraltar twice. It's pretty easy, and it's fun using magnetics to pick off incoming destroyers rushing in from the sea to the rescue. :) And destroyers that get themselves hung up on the ground or on the docks.

[CapZap1970]

You just got lucky :yep: ....check your calendar....it was Mothers Day and all the sailors were away visiting their moms:rotfl:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Anyway, I am glad you did it Mohr.... :up:
CapZap

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

...Just go 2 knots and silent running at 150 meters and it's smooth sailing...

seems like my lessions are well known around here :rock:

[Brag]

Some say he's gutsy.

Some say he's off his trolley.

We just call him Mohr!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Daring do
daring thing
daring brass balls
and dingaling

We rely on Mohr for entertainment value. "Mohr" than on Baron von Munchausen. :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

Some say he's gutsy.

Some say he's off his trolley.

We just call him Mohr!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Daring do
daring thing
daring brass balls
and dingaling

We rely on Mohr for entertainment value. "Mohr" than on Baron von Munchausen. :rotfl: :rotfl:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
thanks guy's :up:
its an honour to work for you :rock:

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

GODFORCRAPSAKEN :o :o :o

i made it surfaced trough the street of gibraltar :o
in the giddle and evading the elco's.

took some damage and 1 loss

now there's nothing exiting anymore :cry:

(ssry for cursing)

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb231/evangelionunit03/SH3Img2-7-2007_18.jpg

[Schöneboom]

Gut gemacht, Mohr! Now try getting OUT again the same way next year! Muahahahaaa!!!

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

:o its 44

[KeptinCranky]

Ummm, If you keep doing that Kpt. Lehmann is going to make you a special project I think.
He'll be pondering and tinkering and twiddling until he's made something that is definitively UN-Mohrable :D
this could get out of hand and leave the rest surrendering the moment we leave port :D

oh well we'll see

[Kaleu. Jochen Mohr]

Ummm, If you keep doing that Kpt. Lehmann is going to make you a special project I think.
He'll be pondering and tinkering and twiddling until he's made something that is definitively UN-Mohrable :D
this could get out of hand and leave the rest surrendering the moment we leave port :D

oh well we'll see

now you made me drool :o
i hope he does :rock:

[TigerShark808]

After bragging about running the channel with out much problem I was just killed. It figuers. I dropped to the bottom like a turd in an porta pottie.

I had already lost 3 members of my party a few night before from ONE SHOT AT 4000+ meters from a Trawler hitting my deck gun = ALL DEAD :(

So i figuer Ill just duck and run thru the channel and all will be fine ( only 2 torps left and nothing in the aft tubes). At the mouth of the east exit( as I call it) that spot between Dover and Calais ..All hell breaks lose. While running on silent I am depth charged. First and second charge kills
my radio and sonar guy and after the second charge turns Diesel, Stern, Command and Sonar/Radio room RED> I lose any means of propoltion . I start repairs ASAP which means running OUT OF SILENT . I get enough of the ship fixed to atleast run at a few knots. After alot of hard work and ducking the bad guys..my boat submerges for no reason I can think of and Im blown up on the surface. I guess Ill avoid the channel for awhile.