Blockade? What Blockade?

[Freiwillige]

How in the heck are we supposed to be blockading England when American ships can sail in and out with decks loaded with cargo?

Its may 1940 and I am in the main inlet area BF53 north of Ireland and I get two visual contacts. I race to engage these fat cows on the horizon. As I get closer I rub my hands together greedily. No escorts and two Fat boys bigger than that bloat Churchill himself! How can this be I thought. Are the Tommies getting comfortable? I identified one heavy merchant and one C3 Cargo. I order the deck gun manned and just before I give the order to commence firing I notice the stars and stripes waiving in the breeze. My lookout breaks out in a heavy German accented version of the Star spangled banner, I hit him with my hat.

Under the rules of a Blockade would they be legal targets heading fully loaded into English Waters?

[Hitman]

Yes as long as they do transport materials that are useful for the war effort (There were lists of them like steel, zinc, chemical components for explosives, etc). No if they are transporting goods not included in those lists (F.e. grain, meat, etc). Theoretically the commander should stop the merchant and ask for the papers to inspect the load. If not legitimate, the ship could be sunk and the US would not be able to legally protest for that (Prisen Ordnung).

[Catfish]

Hello,
i guess you might feel some frustration, as it probably was in WW2, and 1.

The problem was that after England (ab)using neutral flags and sending Q-ships with american flags to attack U-boats this internationally accepted "Prisen-Ordnung" or "prize regulation" was doomed. Sometimes even a real civilian ship stopped would still send an emergency "S.S.S." for submarine attack, and every second of waiting or controlling made it harder for the sub to escape. With enough time, a U-boat would have waited for the crew leaving the ship, and use the lifeboats, but while this still worked against all odds in WWI, it did not in WW2. There was a clear intention of England to draw the US into war in both wars, which is certainly understandable. But international public law is the first victim in all wars, on all sides.
Greetings,
Catfish

[irish1958]

That is right. The reason Hitler declared war on USA was the blockade (of England and Russia), and the fact that he didn't think USA would do much in Europe because of the Pacific war. After our ineptitude in WWI, the German high command didn't feel our military might amounted to much.

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by irish1958

That is right. The reason Hitler declared war on USA was the blockade (of England and Russia), and the fact that he didn't think USA would do much in Europe because of the Pacific war. After our ineptitude in WWI, the German high command didn't feel our military might amounted to much.

I guess as long as Marines were busy in the Pacific they felt safe.

[Freiwillige]

Originally Posted by irish1958

That is right. The reason Hitler declared war on USA was the blockade (of England and Russia), and the fact that he didn't think USA would do much in Europe because of the Pacific war. After our ineptitude in WWI, the German high command didn't feel our military might amounted to much.

Well in all honesty in 1940 our Military didnt amount to much. It was our rapid expansion and industry that rapidly geared for war that tilted the scales but that was still a few years off.

And I wonder how much of that Teufelhunden is propoganda? Dont get me wrong I come from a family of Marines but I think the Germans in the hurtgen forest gave as good as they got against the Marines in WW1.

So should I have sunk them that is the question!

[bigboywooly]

You will recieve a renown hit for sinking them
Depends how you play
I altered my basic cfg to

NEUTRAL=0 <-------- Means I dont get any or lose any if sinking a neutral
ALLIED=1
AXIS=-10

Of course I will waste a torp or 2 or deckgun shells
But particulary usefull for convoy attacks when no time to check flags

So
If you want to play acting like those ships are questionable ( obviously you cant stop and check cargo ) then sink away
Or let go as many were in frustration

[Hitman]

And I wonder how much of that Teufelhunden is propoganda? Dont get me wrong I come from a family of Marines but I think the Germans in the hurtgen forest gave as good as they got against the Marines in WW1.

In 1942 the german soldiers had already 3 years of war experience (Even more for those who served in the spanish civil war) when the Marines were engaged in their first real combat. Obviously at that time the german units would have probably beaten -man by man- a unit of Marines, because combat experience is definitive, but once the Marines gained similar combat experience, things were completely balanced.