Quote:
Originally Posted by privateer
The lights were never remove and were relocated several times over the years.
So I'd think they were kept for a reason.
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I dont know which kind of "lights" you mean.
The U-Boots never had lights, all they had was their Navigation Lamps (red = Port, green = Starboard and white at the stern) also they had a little Handheld Signal Lamp for optical communication (Morse code).
As for your question about doing the Kiel Canal without lights, the Kiel Canal has to be traveled with a maritime pilots, this is so until today.
If the ship has a certain size or bigger it has to be steered by an specially trained helmsman, they are also provided by the canal authority.
Speed in the canal is between 6.5 and 8 knots depending on the ships size.
Oncoming traffic has to use passing loops.
Way back in the War there was no civilian traffic allowed in the kiel canal, it was exclusivly for the Kriegsmarine and even then they had to use the maritime pilots which are required by law.
In 2006 43000 Ships have used the Kiel canal this means about 4.9 ships per hour or about 118 ships per day. Way back in time there was not so much traffic so the canal could be travelled without major problems.
U-171 travelling the iced Kiel Canal in 1941:
WW1 U-Boot U-54 also during their passage thru the Canal:
