Flying the French flag in 1941

Von Tonner · 08-24-14, 05:10 AM

Can anyone shed some light on my problem or am I just been stupid.

It is 21 Dec 1941 and I am lying on the surface west of Gibraltar. The watch calls out that they have sighted a ship a long way off. It is absolutely pitch black and there is no way I can ID it. As it is only 2 hours to daybreak I submerge and follow. My sonar guy then starts giving me reports on 4 contacts!!

I'm thinking great, I've hit the jackpot. At day break I put the scope up and a small tanker is leading a tramp steamer which is in turn leading a medium cargo. Following behind these three ducks in a row is an armed trawler looking like a lost orphan.

They are all flying the French flag. France was a enemy of Germany from 1939-1940. and then again from 1944-1945. So I have to take it that these ships are neutral given its now 1941.

If this was common practice for Germany to operate French ships under the French flag it must have been very confusing for all. What would a British sub commander do?

To follow my confusion through to the end I saved my game, reloaded and took the lead ship down. Yip...green sunk icon.

Is my stupidity getting in the way of logic here?

08-24-14, 05:10 AM	#1
Von Tonner Seasoned Skipper Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 711 Downloads: 44 Uploads: 0	Flying the French flag in 1941 Can anyone shed some light on my problem or am I just been stupid. It is 21 Dec 1941 and I am lying on the surface west of Gibraltar. The watch calls out that they have sighted a ship a long way off. It is absolutely pitch black and there is no way I can ID it. As it is only 2 hours to daybreak I submerge and follow. My sonar guy then starts giving me reports on 4 contacts!! I'm thinking great, I've hit the jackpot. At day break I put the scope up and a small tanker is leading a tramp steamer which is in turn leading a medium cargo. Following behind these three ducks in a row is an armed trawler looking like a lost orphan. They are all flying the French flag. France was a enemy of Germany from 1939-1940. and then again from 1944-1945. So I have to take it that these ships are neutral given its now 1941. If this was common practice for Germany to operate French ships under the French flag it must have been very confusing for all. What would a British sub commander do? To follow my confusion through to the end I saved my game, reloaded and took the lead ship down. Yip...green sunk icon. Is my stupidity getting in the way of logic here?