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Originally Posted by John Pancoast
It wasn't uncommon for VII's to do long patrols such as this, Freetown, South Africa, etc.
Might not have been preferable, but it wasn't unheard of.
Also of course, at times, Hitler micromanaged even the u-boats, wanting them sent places Donitz et al didn't approve of.
So, just consider such orders one of those times  |
Believe it or not, these distant grids were where Type IX shined and why they have the highest average tonnage per boat. These areas (in game as in reality) are comparatively scarce on patrol activity, especially in early war; and are full of unescorted traffic. The most successful historical WWII U-boat patrol (of almost 90,000t) was off Capetown! And most of my best were out in the distant seas, too.
[edit] crap, you mentioned Type VII
That said, it WAS preferable. Topp and other VII captains were known to overload their boats with supplies just to get to the American coast and others.
Trust me, a real U-boat captain would always prefer a patrol in the middle of nowhere which he has a fair chance of surviving, than one in an area full of merchant ships where he'll die :P