Der Kanal
 

So it's my fourth patrol from Wilhelmshaven, Feb 1940 and BdU has assigned me to a grid just off Casablanca. Do I take a chance at a Channel dash and save a lot of fuel or do I settle down for a long trip round Ireland?

Although I guess it's no Straits of Gibraltar ;), the Channel is still a scary prospect, shallow and well patroled. Anyone care to offer some tips for a safer journey?

I'm thinking stick to the deepest bits such as they are, submerge during the day...
Or am I being over-cautious?

noooooo stay away from der kanal...period
only way to go is the long way im afraid

Stay out of the Channel

However, if you feel that you must at least have a go at it, then I suggest the following.

Hug the French Coast as much as possible.
Submerge during the day.
Surface at night & do not use TC. (The Elco's are buggers to spot & they call friends)
Always Silent Running
No faster than 2kts submerged.
Surface, travel as fast as possible.
Pray for Fog/Bad Weather.

If you get through you are lucky.

(oh, p.s. Look out for mines:arrgh!:)

Edit - Gib is easy compared to the Channel.:yep:

The channel is far more dangerous than Gibraltar, because in Gibraltar you have depht under the keel in the channel you dont :-?.

Well you can cross it at night....be sure to hag closely the French coast..just off Calais. The waters there are a bit shallower, but most escorts patrolling (in June 1940 GWX that I am, mostly armed trawlers) will not come too close.

Try to pass on the surface at max speed and set your depth at 6.5-7m to conceal your hull and leave only the tower showing. That WILL slow you down, but provide also a very rapid dive to PD (18-22 sec.) and improved stealth...If the seas are rough, you will also get by this method hydrophone detection of any ship that is in your range...:up:

And of course.....pray that you wont be seen by an elco...

And...since you will be in the neighbourhood , try to Inflitrate dover...you may find 50.000+ tons in Feb 1940...:rock:

Thanks all. In real life I think I'd go the long way so that's what I should do. On the other hand I might just satisfy my curiousity as I'm not playing with realism to the extent that I can't re-load if need be (I can hear the booing from here!).

Interesting comments on Gibraltar, I'd assumed that the narrower passage would be more tricky.

As for infiltrating Dover as Dante80 suggests - sounds like a scary proposition!

dont be fooled gibralter is still a tough propersition, i have attempted it a few times and i was deep as i could go silent running and doing 2knts......i still got picked up by a DD. i just normally hang near the entrance and attack convoys coming/leaving from there.

If you go through the Kanal, can I have your stereo and your girlfriend's address? :rotfl: :rotfl:

:rotfl: :rotfl:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Unfortunately my gramophone is going with me, but my girlfriend can usually be found hanging around the docks at Wilhelmshaven. Must have a word about that sometime...

:rotfl: :rotfl:

Well,my first patrol was in the BE61 grid and I made it through La Manche.Started on Sep.2nd 1939 so maybe british patrols were not so tough as in later years,but.....I made it.I guess 40% submerged,60% surfaced.But surfaced only at night.I was cought two times,but outmanoeuvred.

:roll: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I think I have seen her. As soon as you pull out off she goes with a bunch of returning sailors. Quite the welcome wagon she is:o