This isn't the first time the game has crashed for no apparent reason so I guess you are right about a coding issue, but this particular crash is a unique situation in that I can replicate the conditions and get the exact same result.
I am running the steam version, copied with GWX 3.0 so the whole thing is running from it's own directory. I have the 4gb patch.
I'm currently on my 44th patrol, so probably the simplest option is to restart from Bergen and see what happens. I'm no expert in the technicalities of software but am pretty experienced in problem solving for other people but not myself, it seems
I think in this instance it's not a battle worth fighting- I reckon I only have another couple or three patrols before the war is over.
My computing journey began with a ZX81! Those were the days when in order to play a game you had to write one...or spend 5 hours typing in the listings from a magazine and then get the dreaded rampack wobble.