Thanks for you input mate.
Oh and welcome to Subsim.:up:

Come on guys the more imput the better lets hear all your thoughts on this subject. I will run this poll for a few more days and the winning Theater i will start in.:up:

I voted for Norway, late war!:D
I started my own career in June '42 (on 3rd patrol now, Sept. '42...we have proven to be a succesfull crew, for the U-586).

I can say that even in the 1st half of the war, it's quite a pain to get to the N-Atlantic at all.
On this patrol so far, we had to cope with 2 TFs (both with a carier), had to dive over 10 times to avoid being attacked by aircrafts, and survived no less than 5 close encounters with Destroyers...but no one's hurt yet, and the boat hasn't got a single scratch. And still a full load of torps.
And we're not even halfway to the patrol-grid. :damn::lol:

But I love it! Each patrol is becoming a real adventure, from 1st minute on.
Bergen is under constant threat of air-attacks, despite the Luftwaffe who's always over our heads.
The Norwegian coast suffers from regular TaskForce-visits...their range is huge, because of the carier-based aircrafts.

The U-586 (a typeVIIC) is now equipped with several upgrades:

- Radar Warning Receiver...saved our ass countless times.
- anti-sonar coating
- turbo-charged diesels (made by MAN - the exhaust-driven type)
- the best batteries around
- sonar
- FuMO-29 radar (I find it only usefull to lure an enemy into a trap)
- decoys
- acoustically-guided torpedoes (3 in the stern)

This should be enough for us, to outsmart the enemy, and we're anxiously awaiting the new torpedo-types that are promised to get to us soon.
Winter is approaching, which should finally bring us long dark nights, instead of the few hours we get in summer, so close to the pole-circle.
MrChris, I want you to transfer to Bergen, and see what it's like in '44-'45!! :|\\
And NO Sir....you won't get a XXI on 1st patrol.

I did

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=103815

Not for the faint hearted

2nd patrol wasnt much better but at least I lived
Just

Great post Paajtor:up:
You have done a good job of selling the latter war years in Norway to me mate:up:
Sounds like a right adventure:arrgh!:

Yep, I read your post, BBW...great story.

Ok MrChris, you're on the job.:rock:
:()1:When you get back from 1st patrol, please visit us here at the bar, and share some tips and stories.
I'm particulary interested in shallow-water tactics (<100m depth), as I don't take the long "safe" routes anymore. They're hardly safer than just sailing due West straight between the Shetlands and Schotland, DOH!
I installed Vikinger's Clean Map Mod, so that I have a better map-view on depths...I need to find every meter more that I can get.

Here's an example, from an attack just East of Schotland.
It shows a convoy-route, the interception course I took, the attack-area, and the escape-area...all made up at least half a day before the events took place.
If I remember well, general depth was around 75m, and the escape-area was around 120m.

http://www.61shap.org/pilots/Paajtor...pth_escape.jpg

Using GWX, btw.

Great stuff im really intrested in learning how to use manual tdc as well so i plan on starting this new career on auto and graduating to maunal at some point in my career life. I just love the way that GWX makes to think of things like wait how much water do i have under me to escape in? It has taken the game to another level in my opinon.

You should start in Norway, because then you've got an excuse for dying "early". The Brits aren't playing fair: They use something called Radar and stuff like that and fight back!:nope::rotfl:

:oops: I realize I'm pushing my opinion to much.
Please go ahead and consider the other choices as well.

I think I personally would start a Bergen career '44-'45 as an experiment...as there is much less chance to survive, when you get thrown in like that.
For a serious Bergen-career, I'd start earlier in the war, but that's not in your poll.:p

Maybe you can start in '41 French Coast, and transfer to Bergen late in the war?
You might get the XXI on 1st Bergen-patrol, this time...

Far east!! I've had fun laying waste to Fremantle. There is some revenge as you sink U.S. Subs!:up:

I think I personally would start a Bergen career '44-'45 as an experiment

I did that, Jan -45, green crew in TGW1.1. In the 3 patrols I made before the war ended I almost lost the boat in all of them.

If you want action almost constantly the Med is your choice:up: U-371 just sank a pass-cargo ship guarded by two Dd´s and twenty minutes later they were joined by two more Dd´s from a TF that happened to pas by:arrgh!: :rock: I think we have lost them, surfacing to reload externals and recharge the batteries. And it´s only three days since we left Salamis...

The med is pretty cool but the pretty waters kept distracting me hehe. I went back to my IX, plowing through the stormy Atlantic. Just got back to Wilhelmshaven. Patrol 3 coming up, jan 1940.

I've already seen GWX 1943 :huh: and am curious about GWX 1944, in a XXI. That's why I voted for Bergen, late war.

I mean, even with Bernard around ;), this sure sounds like fun! http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=103815
In any case, I wish you fette beute from U-123 :arrgh!:

Go to the pub, mate... Thats where i would go if i was dead and had a choice... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
BTW: I voted Norway!

He is always in the pub thats why he need a new boat every month
:rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Not in your choices to vote on:

How about Oct 1940 out of Wilhelmshaven with a patrol in the Altantic, say Grid BE39. Get there thru the Channel and RTB the same way. Or go the long way around via North Sea and return via the Channel. Fun ain't the word for it. LOL