I voted for Norway, late war!
I started my own career in June '42 (on 3rd patrol now, Sept. '42...we have proven to be a succesfull crew, for the U-586).
I can say that even in the 1st half of the war, it's quite a pain to get to the N-Atlantic at all.
On this patrol so far, we had to cope with 2 TFs (both with a carier), had to dive over 10 times to avoid being attacked by aircrafts, and survived no less than 5 close encounters with Destroyers...but no one's hurt yet, and the boat hasn't got a single scratch. And still a full load of torps.
And we're not even halfway to the patrol-grid.
But I love it! Each patrol is becoming a real adventure, from 1st minute on.
Bergen is under constant threat of air-attacks, despite the Luftwaffe who's always over our heads.
The Norwegian coast suffers from regular TaskForce-visits...their range is huge, because of the carier-based aircrafts.
The U-586 (a typeVIIC) is now equipped with several upgrades:
- Radar Warning Receiver...saved our ass countless times.
- anti-sonar coating
- turbo-charged diesels (made by MAN - the exhaust-driven type)
- the best batteries around
- sonar
- FuMO-29 radar (I find it only usefull to lure an enemy into a trap)
- decoys
- acoustically-guided torpedoes (3 in the stern)
This should be enough for us, to outsmart the enemy, and we're anxiously awaiting the new torpedo-types that are promised to get to us soon.
Winter is approaching, which should finally bring us long dark nights, instead of the few hours we get in summer, so close to the pole-circle.
MrChris, I want you to transfer to Bergen, and see what it's like in '44-'45!!
And NO Sir....you won't get a XXI on 1st patrol.