active light houses in wartime?

GoDeep · 10-05-07, 04:23 AM

Actually, I was wondering about that as well. On the one hand, it would be strange to have the lighthouses lit up, making it easy for U-boats to spot your harbors and navigate by. But on the other hand, you'd probably want your welcome guests (merchants, warships) to be able to find their way easily.

I don't know if the the British kept their lighthouses operational during the war, but with the risk of overflying enemy bombers, enemy U-boats and stuff, I would find it odd.

The US had an incredibly relaxed attitude until operation Paukenschlag (Drumbeat). They had the entire coastline lit up, no blackout whatsoever. That changed when the U-boats started wreaking havoc, of course. Maybe the British didn't resort to lighthouse blackouts until later in the war?

Does anyone know for sure?

10-05-07, 04:23 AM	#1
GoDeep Planesman Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Actually, I was wondering about that as well. On the one hand, it would be strange to have the lighthouses lit up, making it easy for U-boats to spot your harbors and navigate by. But on the other hand, you'd probably want your welcome guests (merchants, warships) to be able to find their way easily. I don't know if the the British kept their lighthouses operational during the war, but with the risk of overflying enemy bombers, enemy U-boats and stuff, I would find it odd. The US had an incredibly relaxed attitude until operation Paukenschlag (Drumbeat). They had the entire coastline lit up, no blackout whatsoever. That changed when the U-boats started wreaking havoc, of course. Maybe the British didn't resort to lighthouse blackouts until later in the war? Does anyone know for sure?