Sinking Allied ships in neutral harbours

[fxn]

It's October 1939 and after I completed patrolling my assigned grid I decided to head to Porto Delgada (sp?), a neutral Portugeuse island in the North Atlantic with my IXB. I sank a coastal merchant and medium tanker - both of which were of British Nationality - docked there.

Now, my questions are: Is this historically correct? Did U-boats sneak into neutral harbours and sink Allied shipping docked there? And if so, would it have been considered an act of war against the neutral nation where the attacks took place?

[andy_311]

I don't know if they sneaked in or not but I do it on a regular basis.But Purto Delgada I would keep well clear like the plague because come 43 onwards (playing GW) that place has one big massive air base don't know what air mod you got installed but **** happens in that sector if you attack a convoy surface or submerged by default planes are easy to shoot down the mod that comes with GW just a bit harder. but I belive in "Let fortune favour the foolish"

[Jmack]

CORRECT NAME OF THE CITY/PORT IS " PONTA DELGADA " ON THE AZORES ARCHIPELAGO

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azores

[gerd peter meyer]

Now, my questions are: Is this historically correct? Did U-boats sneak into neutral harbours and sink Allied shipping docked there?

@ fxn,
so far I know, it was international law: every ship should be secure in any neutral harbour. Look the German BC Graf Spee at the harbour Montevideo in 1940:hmm:

[STEED]

I am always going in and checking out a neutral port and if I see any enemy shipping I attack. But I suspect in WW2 neutral ports were off limits.

[fxn]

Thanks. So neutral harbours were off limits. Interesting :hmm:

Neutral ports have always been off limits. Further, international law decrees that if two opposing warships are in a neutral harbor, if one leaves the other must wait 24 hours before leaving. This is what happened when USS Kearsarge fought the Confederate raider CSS Alabama off Cherbourg in 1864.

In real life rules are very important. Of course a game doesn't really care, so kill 'em all you want.

[Saukko]

How about the Altmark incident?
The British boarded her while she was in Norwegian port, at the time when Norway was still neutral.

If the enemy doesn't respect the rules, neither will I.

Ah, but Altmark fled into neutral territory while carrying enemy prisoners. The British freed the prisoners, but didn't sink the ship. They certainly felt justified.

But still, as you say, the Germans saw it otherwise. Or were they just looking for an excuse?

[JSalinger]

In my opinion, Allied shipping is Allied shipping, doesn't matter where it is, so I sink it!

[JuanCudz]

Originally Posted by JSalinger

In my opinion, Allied shipping is Allied shipping, doesn't matter where it is, so I sink it!

Then expect a visit from the foreign ministry. How much harder would the Uboat war have been with allied air bases in the Azores, or South America earlier in the War? Uboat attacks on Brazilian shipping in national waters forced Brazil to declare war on Germany (1943?). Granted Brazilian freighters loaded to the gunnels with Corned Beef and hardwoods would have been prime targets anyway.