U-boat control needed for SHV

Rip · 04-28-10, 05:18 PM

OK, so here I am two-thirds of the way through Clay Blair's Hitler's Uboat War second volume. Having acquired it in hardback because I so liked the first volume. Anyway I thought I was well versed having read Iron Coffins and a handful of other WW2 u-boat books, but I have never felt so informed until Blair.

Anyway the two biggest things I know I will walk away with is an appreciation for just how perilous it became just to sail out of port in a u-boat by the end of 1943 and an understanding of just how much u-boat control was a functioning piece of that peril. From orders that forced captains to use unwise tactics and disclose their position FAR to often. Being dashed here and there on goose chases that WERE goose chases just because it told the allies where the u-boats were and their destinations. They would have been better off just roaming around. Which brings me to my point.

What is really needed is a way to simulate that experience using of course the radio. I can just imagine being ordered to run at best speed to a location I know would be dry under heavy ASW patrols, but being orders just having to do it. Having to fight it out on the surface against air attacks at the appropriate time period. How about being ordered to GIVE another u-boat fuel and parts let alone receive the same assistance when required. If we want to simulate being a u-boat captain then we need the same leash they had to deal with.

So this leads to the inevitable question is this even feasible given the "modability" of SHV?

04-28-10, 05:18 PM	#1
Rip Commodore Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Right behind you! Posts: 643 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	U-boat control needed for SHV OK, so here I am two-thirds of the way through Clay Blair's Hitler's Uboat War second volume. Having acquired it in hardback because I so liked the first volume. Anyway I thought I was well versed having read Iron Coffins and a handful of other WW2 u-boat books, but I have never felt so informed until Blair. Anyway the two biggest things I know I will walk away with is an appreciation for just how perilous it became just to sail out of port in a u-boat by the end of 1943 and an understanding of just how much u-boat control was a functioning piece of that peril. From orders that forced captains to use unwise tactics and disclose their position FAR to often. Being dashed here and there on goose chases that WERE goose chases just because it told the allies where the u-boats were and their destinations. They would have been better off just roaming around. Which brings me to my point. What is really needed is a way to simulate that experience using of course the radio. I can just imagine being ordered to run at best speed to a location I know would be dry under heavy ASW patrols, but being orders just having to do it. Having to fight it out on the surface against air attacks at the appropriate time period. How about being ordered to GIVE another u-boat fuel and parts let alone receive the same assistance when required. If we want to simulate being a u-boat captain then we need the same leash they had to deal with. So this leads to the inevitable question is this even feasible given the "modability" of SHV? __________________ Richard "Rip" Ripberger Bonafide "Bubblehead"