Verdammt English Channel

[tomoose]

Geez,
I'm heading to patrol area BE67 and am stealthily slinking through the channel. I'd crippled a merch at the NE end and spent a day sneaking away and avoiding any and all attention.
I was about midway through the channel (roughly due S of Dover) when I spotted a convoy.....a big convoy heading W through the channel off my port side. After weighing the consequences of attacking (the channel was about 40m deep at that point) I decided discretion was the better part of valour and continued on my assigned mission.
Despite leaving the convoy alone an MTB crossed my path later on and subsequently a coastal trawler and a Tribal class show up and proceeded to hound me for literally hours(so much for being 'stealthy', d'oh!!)! The Tribal must have been low on DCs as I managed to evade the first few runs then they just continued to run in....and run in.....and run in.....and run in.....etc ad naus but with no drops. I'm scraping the bottom of the channel trying to slink away but they kept pinging and running.
With batteries approaching 50% and the CO2 creeping up, I was finally forced to take 'em on and use my valuable torpedoes. A nice bit o' timing caught the trawler with my stern tube and a while later I managed to get the destroyer with one of two I fired from the forward tubes. I was not so much happy as relieved that they were finally off my back!!! LOL. Only then was I able to slink away, surface and get back on mission course. All that and I'm nowhere near my patrol area yet, LOL.
Sorry no screenies, I was concentrating too much on taking the buggers out!!!

[TFatseas]

I avoid the channel like the plague.

The risk outweighs the time saved by a lot.

[A Very Super Market]

I tried to cross before...in 1940

Hugged the coast and saw no planes, soon I will try to do it in 1941, and so on...

[meduza]

tomoose, glad to see you made it. You made a smart decision not to attack the convoy there. I did it once, during the Dunkirk evacuation, and barely stayed alive.

Although it's not advisable, I often go through the Channel in the early years, by night on surface. Never had any major problems .

[crazypantoufle]

Congratulations for going into the channel!
Personnaly,i went there once,and never came back to that subtrap.
For the same amount of risk, i prefer going right in the middle of the Gibraltar straight, 100% on surface in daylight, trying to write the name of my Uboot in the sky with starshells.

[Cezbor]

Well, I loved that area up to VIII 1944. Than I lost my beloved sub there (U-106) trying to disrupt Monty's supply lines
Good advice - allways watch for ASW air patrols.

[={FH}=Paddy]

A night time costal run with all hammers banging is the only way, preferably in perfect sea conditions to maximize speed.............but even this is a last resort in my book!

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by crazypantoufle

i prefer going right in the middle of the Gibraltar straight, 100% on surface in daylight, trying to write the name of my Uboot in the sky with starshells.

LMAO

[tomoose]

Cheers, gents. Good advice all (and hint taken re: Gibraltar LOL). Assuming I make it back I think I'll be taking the long northern route next time!!

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by tomoose

Cheers, gents. Good advice all (and hint taken re: Gibraltar LOL). Assuming I make it back I think I'll be taking the long northern route next time!!

That's a good idea if for no other reason than to avoid the blasted minefields.

[Red Heat]

Originally Posted by tomoose

Geez,
I'm heading to patrol area BE67 and am stealthily slinking through the channel. I'd crippled a merch at the NE end and spent a day sneaking away and avoiding any and all attention.
I was about midway through the channel (roughly due S of Dover) when I spotted a convoy.....a big convoy heading W through the channel off my port side. After weighing the consequences of attacking (the channel was about 40m deep at that point) I decided discretion was the better part of valour and continued on my assigned mission.
Despite leaving the convoy alone an MTB crossed my path later on and subsequently a coastal trawler and a Tribal class show up and proceeded to hound me for literally hours(so much for being 'stealthy', d'oh!!)! The Tribal must have been low on DCs as I managed to evade the first few runs then they just continued to run in....and run in.....and run in.....and run in.....etc ad naus but with no drops. I'm scraping the bottom of the channel trying to slink away but they kept pinging and running.
With batteries approaching 50% and the CO2 creeping up, I was finally forced to take 'em on and use my valuable torpedoes. A nice bit o' timing caught the trawler with my stern tube and a while later I managed to get the destroyer with one of two I fired from the forward tubes. I was not so much happy as relieved that they were finally off my back!!! LOL. Only then was I able to slink away, surface and get back on mission course. All that and I'm nowhere near my patrol area yet, LOL.
Sorry no screenies, I was concentrating too much on taking the buggers out!!!

I sail in the channel before the war its starts...and it was nice...like a "Children Crusade"...

[peterloo]

In real life BdU forbids U-boat to pass through that channal. If you can make it, good job!

In late 1940, NYGM mod, in Western Approach, and many planes, made enough damage so that I cannot dive properly (when I dive, the boat sinks to the bottom unless I blow ballast) I guess there will be even more in that channal.

[Nikita]

I'm in 1939 and not dare to run into channel. BDU warns that is plenty of mines! I'll wait GWX 3.0 to pay a visit...