Der Kanal

[Vacillator]

So it's my fourth patrol from Wilhelmshaven, Feb 1940 and BdU has assigned me to a grid just off Casablanca. Do I take a chance at a Channel dash and save a lot of fuel or do I settle down for a long trip round Ireland?

Although I guess it's no Straits of Gibraltar , the Channel is still a scary prospect, shallow and well patroled. Anyone care to offer some tips for a safer journey?

I'm thinking stick to the deepest bits such as they are, submerge during the day...
Or am I being over-cautious?

[Mooncatt]

noooooo stay away from der kanal...period
only way to go is the long way im afraid

[danlisa]

Stay out of the Channel

However, if you feel that you must at least have a go at it, then I suggest the following.

Hug the French Coast as much as possible.
Submerge during the day.
Surface at night & do not use TC. (The Elco's are buggers to spot & they call friends)
Always Silent Running
No faster than 2kts submerged.
Surface, travel as fast as possible.
Pray for Fog/Bad Weather.

If you get through you are lucky.

(oh, p.s. Look out for mines)

Edit - Gib is easy compared to the Channel.

[Keelbuster]

[quote=danlisa]
(oh, p.s. Look out for mines)
quote]

Yes - mines are a major problem. My solution is to _only_ run on the surface and at night. During the day, just sit there at PD. This saves you battery charging time at night, so you can pull 19kts. You don't make much headway at 2kts anyway, and you're almost _sure_ to hit a mine in the narrows.

Kb

[AVGWarhawk]

To be honest, I hugged the French coast going through the damn channel. I hugged myself right into a minefield. Just stay out of the channel. You will find out that no one really likes you there so no sense in going

[High Voltage]

Going through the Channel, regardless of strategy, is just a BAD IDEA.

[Dante80]

Well you can cross it at night....be sure to hag closely the French coast..just off Calais. The waters there are a bit shallower, but most escorts patrolling (in June 1940 GWX that I am, mostly armed trawlers) will not come too close.

Try to pass on the surface at max speed and set your depth at 6.5-7m to conceal your hull and leave only the tower showing. That WILL slow you down, but provide also a very rapid dive to PD (18-22 sec.) and improved stealth...If the seas are rough, you will also get by this method hydrophone detection of any ship that is in your range...

And of course.....pray that you wont be seen by an elco...

And...since you will be in the neighbourhood , try to Inflitrate dover...you may find 50.000+ tons in Feb 1940...

[Vacillator]

Thanks all. In real life I think I'd go the long way so that's what I should do. On the other hand I might just satisfy my curiousity as I'm not playing with realism to the extent that I can't re-load if need be (I can hear the booing from here!).

Interesting comments on Gibraltar, I'd assumed that the narrower passage would be more tricky.

As for infiltrating Dover as Dante80 suggests - sounds like a scary proposition!

[Mooncatt]

dont be fooled gibralter is still a tough propersition, i have attempted it a few times and i was deep as i could go silent running and doing 2knts......i still got picked up by a DD. i just normally hang near the entrance and attack convoys coming/leaving from there.

[Brag]

If you go through the Kanal, can I have your stereo and your girlfriend's address? :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Kumando]

Originally Posted by Vacillator

Although I guess it's no Straits of Gibraltar

The channel is far more dangerous than Gibraltar, because in Gibraltar you have depht under the keel in the channel you dont .