[RustySubmarine]

Originally Posted by flag4

...never made it past '42. But I think this was due to impatience and risk taking.

Taking risks can play a big part on survival. I am a bit of a stickler for taking risks. If my patrol has not brought much luck in sinking a few ships, I tend to venture into an area where I am likely to find something worth risking. The Humber estuary is one of these, but there is always warships on the lookout for any unsuspected activity. Night time encounters are best used to enter harbours, either on surface or submerged if there are chances of being spotted. I usually stay on the surface as long as possible and only submerge if I need to do so. You need to watch out for nets, especially if the channel you are entering is narrow, or you may even encounter mines. Oh yes I have been caught in nets up the Clyde, and getting out of them can be a bit tricky, but you will get damaged. But it's all part of risk taking I suppose, otherwise play it cool and don't take chances, if you want to survive longer, but you wont get any medals, if you don't get your tonnage score up.