Do neutral vessels radio in enemy ships?

[difool2]

I am running the Schnellboot mod, and had just passed an Irish freighter (3,000 yards, daylight with moderate fog). All of a sudden a British DD materializes out of the gloom, making an immediate flank beeline for my position. Suffice it to say that I was unable to outrun him before he blew me out of the water.

Question is whether that Irish merchie sent out a general distress call or something when he saw me, and the DD responded. I don't know why he would do that, but perhaps the coders didn't make a distinction between neutral and enemy.

[Tombow]

Don't know about Great Britain and Ireland, but "neutral" ships radioing in sub hunters has been a common situation near the swedish coast in WWII. A lot of iron ore going to Germany on neutral ships was enough to turn the area into a hunting ground for russian subs.There are several documented attacks on russian subs in neutral waters as well as subs hunting in swedish territorial waters. So neutral ships radioing in is a pretty realistic scenario.

[rifleman13]

I think no.

Why?

I've been sighted by two US Empire-type frieghters NNW of Scotland and no Brtish destroyers are coming after me. It's Jan 1940 and in really bad weather. (15 kt winds clear visibility)

[Ivan Putski]

Don`t know if this is modded in the sim, or not, but in RL your fanny would`ve been reported if you were sighted. Puts

I never let it see me. I sneak in and if I see it's neutral I sneak off. I don't want anyone to know I was there.

[Jimbuna]

Neutrals shouldn't be calling for assistance....unless some unknown changes were made to the Schnellboot mod :hmm:

[Tombow]

Well, I think every neutral skipper in his sane mind would broadcast a sub contact if he spots a periscope darting around. Carrying a cargo for one of the belligerents is reason enough.

[Stuka]

I'm sure if you were one of them skippers, woudent you radio the subs position. It would save a seamens lives:hmm:

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Stuka

I'm sure if you were one of them skippers, woudent you radio the subs position. It would save a seamens lives:hmm:

It could also cost you your own life and the lives of your crew.

Once the U-boat dtected your radio transmission they would have more than reason enough (they're own safety for a start) to sink you

Neutral means Neutral.
To report a subs position removes you from the Neutral Statis I'd think.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by privateer

Neutral means Neutral.
To report a subs position removes you from the Neutral Statis I'd think.

Most definitely.....aiding and abbetting the Allies (as far as the Germans would be concerned).

[Tombow]

Submarines don't obey prize rules (under which it would have been perfectly legal to stop a neutral for inspection and leave it afterwards). If I'm going to be sunk anyway, I'd better give a warning before. Increases the chance of being rescued afterwards. Being neutral means nothing if unrestricted submarine warfare is carried out.

[Frank0001]

Well, if neutral ships would radio in sighted U-boats, they should also report British destroyers!

[HunterICX]

As far I'm aware of Neutrals dont do anything then floating around

HunterICX

[Tombow]

Originally Posted by Frank0001

Well, if neutral ships would radio in sighted U-boats, they should also report British destroyers!

OK, I'll give it a go :rotfl:


Good morning,

This is Captain Tom aboard the <ship name omitted> under swedish flag with a cargo of rotting bananas (cargo hold refrigerator not working quite well) from Caracas to Karlskrona. As you see, I am under neutral flag and enroute between neutral ports. So, welcome to the neutral broadcast, your most actual and neutral source of information about marine warfare in the Atlantic.

First for you U-Boot guys out there, the really bad news is an american task force in Grid <unintelligible> consisting of one Essex-Class Carrier, one Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts and three Fletcher-Class Destroyers heading <blip> at 18 Knots. Steady air patrol over the Taskforce. So if you have an itchy neck that can be cured only by a Knight's Cross try your teeth on it. For those of yours not so keen, there is a convoy of approximately 12 Liberty ships, 7 T2-Tankers and 20 smaller merchants last spotted 12 Hours ago at Grid <grrrrind> heading <unintelligible> at approx. 4,5 knots. Escort is 4 Black Swans and 2 Hunt III Destroyers with hedgehogs. The special news is a Balao Class sub operating some <blip> miles northwest of the Lesser Antiles. Thank you for listening and don't bother with my rusty can, the bananas are already rotting and I know you guys don't have refrigerators on board.

Now for you Royal Navy and US Navy guys, before you go after me and punish me for giving away your whereabouts, I can offer you a special discount on still edible bananas if you don't halt me for more than 4 hours with your inspections. Don't bother to look for spies in my crew, most of them doesn't know arse from ellbow and don't speak neither english not german. But maybe you want to check that brand spanking Type IX I spotted yesterday at ...N, ...W heading southwest and recharging batteries at day. Also, for those of you keen on firing your hedghehogs, today, there were several periscope sighings in the area between <transmission garbled for several seconds>. And for those who can't hit a barn door from 10 meters there is a badly damaged Type VIIC vusially unable to submerge around <blip>. Should be an easy spot since it is trailing an oil leak. Every silver lining has a cloud within and for you today it is a recent attack spotted on a convoy at <piiiiing> yesterday around 21.30. At least 2 Libertys spotted sinking, an unidentified ship spotted going up in a large explosion. Floating debris has been carried eastward by currents. Convoy possibly scattered. I didn't have the chance to pick any survivors, but if this is not your fighing day, yo may try.

This is today's neutral broadcast from Captain Tom. Thank you for listening. Unfortunately now I have to go and see if the cargo hold refrigerators can be fixed. Hear ya tomorrow and don't forget bananas still at discount price here. Be carful out there and happy hunting.