IID kind of evening......
 

Just spent an enjoyable evening taking the IID U-6 "Mad Duck" through the Channel from Wilhemshaven to tanker hunting grounds, BE-17. Didn't fire a shot all evening, but spent about three hours running in shallow water(3m beneath keel at times), running silent or stopped waiting for DD's to pass within shot gun range, and dodging a recurring flock of Hurricanes determined to put a bomb through our hull. The agile turning characteristics of the Duck are definately an advantage when diving isn't an option. When necessary however, the shallow crash diving ability of the Duck is also good because it will go to exactly periscope depth and no further, unlike some of the bigger boats, thus avoiding those embarrassing encounters with the bottom.

Going through the Channel allowed us to arrive on station with more than 75% fuel remaining, giving plenty of options for patrolling and the return trip to Wilhemshaven. Now we will patrol tanker country and try and make good use of our five eels!

This is U-6's fifth patrol, early 1940.

Good Hunting!

:|\ I have never made it thru the channel.
It seems to take a lot of patience :|\

Duck Pond
 

It's helps to time you're battery charge's and CO2 discharge's with darkness. With the IID, that usually means shutting down the electrics in mid-afternoon, and letting the CO2 build almost to the critical level before surfacing after dark. Like you say, patience is the most important thing, timing is probably second. The small size of the IID makes it very stealthy though, and shallow water can used to it's advantage.

I've lost two VII-C's trying to get through the Channel in other careers, and I think one major factor was the inability to get into the shallow water on the southern shoreline, which was most of our route in the IID.

Give it try and good luck! It was very rewarding to make it through.

Good hunting!

:up: Right on will assign bf 13 as next patrol grid :|\
report to follow

:|\ well I made it thru the 1st destroyer and group of trawlers,
but somewhere near sw of england I got sloppy and or impatient.I tried to run underneath a vw destroyer and got nailed by depth charges all unacounted for.
my lil canoe a gonner :cry: 08OCT39 OBERLEUTNANT Z. S.

Medals
03NOV39 IRON CROSS, SECOND CLASS
16NOV39 IRON CROSS, FIRST CLASS
12JAN40 KNIGHT'S CROSS
20FEB40 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH OAK LEAVES
06APR40 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH OAK LEAVES AND SWORDS
22MAY40 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH OAK LEAVES, SWORDS, AND DIAMONDS
01JUL40 KNIGHT'S CROSS WITH GOLDEN OAK LEAVES, SWORDS, AND DIAMONDS

Badges
12JAN40 U-BOAT FRONT CLASP
22MAY40 U-BOAT BADGE


U-Bootwaffe Postings
03DEC38 U-Boat Flotilla Weddigen (Commander training)
01SEP39 1st Flotilla (10 patrols)


U-Boat Commands
01SEP39 U-4 Type IIA (10 patrols)


Patrol Dates Ships Sunk
(Merchant/Warship) Tonnage
(Merchant/Warship) Comments
1 01SEP39 - 06SEP39 (6 days) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0)
2 02OCT39 - 08OCT39 (7 days) 2 (1/1) 4543 (2693/1850)
3 29OCT39 - 03NOV39 (6 days) 1 (1/0) 4765 (4765/0)
4 09NOV39 - 16NOV39 (8 days) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0)
5 01DEC39 - 07DEC39 (7 days) 3 (3/0) 10173 (10173/0)
6 04JAN40 - 12JAN40 (9 days) 1 (1/0) 2130 (2130/0)
7 16FEB40 - 20FEB40 (5 days) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0)
8 31MAR40 - 06APR40 (7 days) 3 (2/1) 9761 (8761/1000)
9 08MAY40 - 22MAY40 (15 days) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0)
10 26JUN40 - 01JUL40 (6 days) 0 (0/0) 0 (0/0) U-Boat lost
TOTALS: 10 patrols (76 days) 10 (8/2) 31372 (28522/2850) 0 enemy planes downed
27 crew lost

Lieutenant (j.g.) Frankengrubber and U-4 were lost sometime on 01JUL40.http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/1danny/25.jpg

Funny - I just drove a VIIB through the Channel (the first time I've ever tried that route) on my first patrol of this career (1939), and found it quite easy. The DDs, DEs, etc weren't difficult to avoid, and I was never once detected, even at the Dover bottleneck.

I'm not boasting or anything - I'm not exactly an elite player, far from it - but it's worth knowing when you're based in Kiel and get a patrol grid west of Spain or something. There was enough fuel left to sink 80,000 tons (!) and return via the Orkneys, all torpedoes and shells exhausted.

I like 1939. :D

MAking it throught the channel in the early yrs is easy. Try doing it around 1942 and up.

I finally got a new boat a VIIB. Ive been in a IIA for 8 PATROLS!

:cry: I was just too tricky for my own good.
I miss my lil canoe I started a career in 42 with a XIC
I am going to cancel and go back to the IIA. :|\

No thanks! I'd rather take the long way round, or better, get my kitbag into a nice chateau in St Nazaire. :|\