an opinion

Doolar · 07-03-09, 10:33 PM

need an opinion : Its March 1940 ... got orders to Patrol Area BF44 ... Leaving WILHELMSHAVEN ... Is the English Channel still kinda safe ?

GoldenRivet · 07-03-09, 10:54 PM

Enter the channel at your own risk my friend.

i would consider the english channel safe for the first 10 days of conflict - beyond that - its a no mans land

TheBrauerHour · 07-03-09, 11:34 PM

It is never to be considered safe. If you MUST try it...perhaps a submerged battery run and only come up at night to recharge. Oh and hope for foul weather to aid you.

Torplexed · 07-03-09, 11:40 PM

The Channel never seems safe to me. Many a time I've been on the verge of exiting it after many narrow close-calls and evasions and boom! I hit a mine.

TarJak · 07-03-09, 11:43 PM

In RL the Channel was very rarely used by u-Boats after 1939. There are good reasons for that:

Shallow water
Close to English ports full of small anti-submarine boats
Heavily mined by both sides
Was just as fast to go to the North of the British Isles to get to the Western Approaches and more lucrative from a shipping target perspective.
After August 1940 the Atlantic ports were available negating the need to come all the way from German ports to get to patrol areas.

Jimbuna · 07-04-09, 08:52 AM

STAY OUT OF THE CHANNEL!!

Torplexed · 07-04-09, 09:20 AM

While we're on the subject, the Kriegsmarine advises all it's commanders to avoid that other English Channel as well.

Doolar · 07-04-09, 09:19 AM

Thanx for the advice ... I'll go around the top

Laufen zum Ziel · 07-05-09, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doolar Semler

Thanx for the advice ... I'll go around the top

Advice well taken. Live to fight another day.

DaveU186 · 07-05-09, 11:34 AM

Once France falls it seems to be a bit easier to scoot through there. Wouldn't make a habit of it though. Never mind smoking, that's a habit with real health risks.

TigerShark808 · 07-06-09, 01:22 PM

You should be able to get thru the channel easily in 1940. Only problem really is those damn torpedo boats. They are a pest. Its annoying to have to drop to periscope depth and wait for them to go away. Run and Duck Run and Duck Run and Duck.. Now if you dont mind doing that then you should have no problem. IMO

07-03-09, 10:33 PM	#1
Doolar Expert Shipsinker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baltimore,Md./ CA45 Posts: 914 Downloads: 360 Uploads: 0	an opinion need an opinion : Its March 1940 ... got orders to Patrol Area BF44 ... Leaving WILHELMSHAVEN ... Is the English Channel still kinda safe ?

07-03-09, 10:54 PM	#2
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	Enter the channel at your own risk my friend. i would consider the english channel safe for the first 10 days of conflict - beyond that - its a no mans land __________________

07-03-09, 11:43 PM	#5
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	In RL the Channel was very rarely used by u-Boats after 1939. There are good reasons for that: Shallow water Close to English ports full of small anti-submarine boats Heavily mined by both sides Was just as fast to go to the North of the British Isles to get to the Western Approaches and more lucrative from a shipping target perspective. After August 1940 the Atlantic ports were available negating the need to come all the way from German ports to get to patrol areas.

07-04-09, 08:52 AM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	STAY OUT OF THE CHANNEL!! __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

07-06-09, 01:22 PM	#11
TigerShark808 Engineer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 2074 nautical miles south west of San Francisco! Posts: 212 Downloads: 71 Uploads: 0	You should be able to get thru the channel easily in 1940. Only problem really is those damn torpedo boats. They are a pest. Its annoying to have to drop to periscope depth and wait for them to go away. Run and Duck Run and Duck Run and Duck.. Now if you dont mind doing that then you should have no problem. IMO __________________ GWX3GOLD OLC "Gold" MkIId SH3 Commander D.I.D 100% Realism ! SWCs-AtlanticReaper Skin <---because it is badass!

07-03-09, 11:34 PM	#3
TheBrauerHour Mr. Eastwood Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 364 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	It is never to be considered safe. If you MUST try it...perhaps a submerged battery run and only come up at night to recharge. Oh and hope for foul weather to aid you.

07-03-09, 11:40 PM	#4
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	The Channel never seems safe to me. Many a time I've been on the verge of exiting it after many narrow close-calls and evasions and boom! I hit a mine.

07-04-09, 09:20 AM	#7
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	While we're on the subject, the Kriegsmarine advises all it's commanders to avoid that other English Channel as well.

07-04-09, 09:19 AM	#8
Doolar Expert Shipsinker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baltimore,Md./ CA45 Posts: 914 Downloads: 360 Uploads: 0	Thanx for the advice ... I'll go around the top

07-05-09, 11:34 AM	#10
DaveU186 Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 112 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Once France falls it seems to be a bit easier to scoot through there. Wouldn't make a habit of it though. Never mind smoking, that's a habit with real health risks.