English Channel question
 

Do you avoid going thru the english channel? Is it "british territory" and avoided at all costs or do you slip thru it easily on your way to the atlantic?

I've played gone on two patrols - both hugging the norweigian coastline before heading over to Iceland. Am I being too cautious?

Early on I tend to head thru the channel unless my patrol zone is far to the north. If you stay to the French side you'll be safer, preferably under the cover of darkness.

If I'm playing with any of the mods that include minefields I avoid it completely.

Minefields AREN'T included by default?!?!?!?!?!?

And Darth Brooks: are you the same Darth Brooks that's on FARK?

No. I'm on Something Awful.com, www.digitalfightclub.com and a few others but not Fark.

No, not by default, and I use to run the Channel all the time in the stock game - not anymore; not since I installed GW.

For a look at some of the Channel nasties available in the GW world, take a gander at http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=50934.

In my stock SH3 game I went through the Channel once, early in the war with a VIIB. I sank two merchant ships, but shallow waters and seemingly endless warships made it a bit tough. It was cat and mouse almost the whole way, and not something I wanted to repeat!

I've got GW now and I tried it. I submerged during the day and got about 8 warship sound contacts. So I got the hell of out there and went the long way round :D

Ah, that must be a different Darth Brooks. I'm surprised there are more than just one of you, as that seems like a rather distinctive name.

Well, they SHOULD BE!!!! I'm really surprised they aren't, as mines appear to be a rather important defensive measure during the war.

I thought the game was easy. Too easy!!! Well, I'm not even done w/my first patrol, so I guess I can start over if I download this Gray Wolves thingie.

The english channel was definatlay a no go area for Uboats, i think even the stock game reflects this ok.

Yes, the stock game does make it somewhat difficult. but NYGM and Grey Wolves both include the RUB Ops Mod, though modified again. Using them makes it pretty much impossible, especially after mid-1940. If you're using one of those mods, load up the Mission Editor and look at the SCR file-minefields and patrol ships everywhere.

Darth Brooks = Garth Brooks + Darth _____

Google it, there's a few people using it and even one band.

I've seen mines in the entrance to Liverpool harbour in the stock game, so there are at least some mines.

Maybe those mods add more mines to be more realistic?

Well, if one goes to one's patrol area via the northern route and doesn't make attempts to sneak into an enemy port, one would be unlikely to run into mines. Though I understand that the British planted mines on the return approaches to port for u-boats, and sunk some of them, that way. Of course, where's the fun in never sneaking into an enemy port?

Sigh. I wish my computer were back so I could play.

With using the GW mod, i've tried to enter the channel, but quicly i've struck a mine, which almost caused my death.
This area is also pretty full of British DD's, so i think now it's playing with your own death by entering the channel.

(back in the day without the mods, it was a piece of cake sailing trought the channel)
I'm glad that these mods have added more realism in to the game play :up:

I too got the GW mod installed and just gave up going through the channel too many mines.

I tried to pass thru the channel on my last patrol and easily avoided a MTB and a DD by hugging the French coast. I then got cocky :cool: , surfaced, upped the TC, plotted a course to the Bristol Channel( my patrol area) and hit a mine and sank :88)

I was mystified as to the cause of my destruction untill I realised that I had added the NYGM mod prior to the patrol and completely forgot about mines :doh:

No more channel for me

You're ok transiting the Channel up until late 1941. You'll come across guards on either side, but many are torpedo boats.

After 1941, you will want "bad weather" to even attempt a crossing. Definately waves, but fog will help out *a lot*. Remember to submerge and check your hydrophones at least every couple of hours, if not every single hour.

Starting mid-1943, you'll want to sprint at night and slow-submerged during the day. You can risk an emergency surface, and 15 minutes of air venting, but stay at flank while you're doing it so a crash dive crashes pretty good.

Man! 1944-1945! Good friggin' luck. Bastard tommies are all over the place, and Ubisoft has your snorkel lit up like a spotlight. Stay out of the Channel, because odds aren't with you.

Sail in the English channel. :o No way.

While this is true in the stock game, that has not been my experience playing the Grey Wolves mod. When I transited in 1940, there were a lot of mines. I would no more travel submerged through the Channel with my 'scope down than I would surface at high noon in Scapa Flow.