just curious...

[She-Wolf]

hello y'all, I have a question to ask... in a book I have been reading - not strictly about subs, but touching here and there, it says that in 1942 the Brits came up with L-Band radar which pinpointed the whereabouts of any U-boats that were up on the surface charging their batteries, so that they could then scramble the planes to take them unawares and sink them. The Germans countered by developing an L-band receiver so that they could be forewarned and dive before the planes got there. Then the Brits switched to the S-band radar, which German intelligence did not pick up on, and consequently the U-boat fleet suffered a significant loss from plane attacks. Life got harder for Das Boot. My question is - will that be reflected in SH3? I am in 1939 now, and previous to the new GWX upgrade I was coming up to a significant event to do with Norway ( my ex-father-in-law was on the Cossack when the Altmark was boarded and the prisoners released btw) and I think that was a bit before 1942, so I haven't yet experienced any really tough times. just wondered really....

[KeptinCranky]

Yes it definitely modeled, you'll not enjoy the first half of 1942 much, plane-wise believe me, after that it gets a little easier again, but then about a year later things are definitely not easy anymore...

[She-Wolf]

ahh, well... that's good. look forward to it.

Slightly off thread, but I was hanging around outside Dover on last patrol. Initially I had hoped to sneak up and see what I could use as target practice as there wasn't much going on at sea, but then I found they had nets up at the harbour entrances, and I wanted to see what happened if a vessel came out - do the nets get lowered, do they sail over the top, or what? So, as I had a bit of a wait until daylight, I grabbed the legs of a passing seagull, as you do, and took a tour around the harbour. Then, just as I am approaching the chimney of a factory block, there is an explosion and great wads of smoke come billowing up! Eh? I thought, wass ist das? Nothing else happened, so I winged my way back to the boot in time for one of Bernards culinary pleasures - underwear soup I think he called it; very tasty!
I never did find out about the nets - a lone merchant ambled my way, which I felt obliged to use my last two eels on, and then, having drownded that and successfully evaded the not very enthusiastic trawler that came a-looking for me, I tootled off back home.:rotfl::rotfl:

[KeptinCranky]

The trouble with loitering near enemy ports I've found, and I've done this a lot for test purposes Liverpool included , is that unexpected things do happen, collsions, ships that drift into walls and explode, convoys spawning nearby, unexpected visits by herr Goerings flyboys, that sort of thing. It IS a good way to see some of the interesting features of GWX that would otherwise go unnoticed though

I tend to stay away from them now, unless the weather out at sea is crummy and I'm in the vicinity anyway...

A slight caution, if you're ever tempted to visit st. Helena, they do have nets and mines too as I found out to my distress

[GoldenRivet]

She-wolf

is that your dog in your avatar? looks like some sort of German Shepherd mix. or is that just some random picture?

lokes like the exact dog im looking to get for my wife and I!

[She-Wolf]

Keptin Cranks, I shall heed your advice - oh yes!!

GoldenRivet - yes that is Maisie - she is a lot prettier than me you see. She is a pure-bred GSD and I would like to say she is typical of the breed, but, having been a breeder myself years ago, I know that she is not. In the past there has been a tendency - with British breeders -to line-breed more for beauty rather than temperament and working abililities - because showdogs win prizes for the way their looks and movement conform to the breed standard. In Germany they were and probably still are much more concerned with quality and temperament, and it used to be there that you couldn't breed from a dog without it having gained qualifications as a working dog. Anyway... she comes from a long line of show-dogs - a kennel that was prominent in the 60's and 70's, and which also catered for white German Shepherds ( these were not recognised in the breed standard and so could not be shown because, as a sheep dog, circling the flock all day to keep away predators, the shepherd needed to be able to pick his dogs out from the sheep, and white-coated dogs would be all but invisible from a distance). Many of her forebears on the dam's side were white - probably bred specifically to meet the public demand, as white is a recessive gene and can be guarded against by careful choice of stud, so she is a product of beauty-breeding rather than a balance of brains and beauty, so her temperament is not as 'solid' as I would like. GSD should be reserved, watchful and dignified with strangers. They should greet other dogs courteously, and then go on their way. Ha!! not our Maisie. She frightens the stuffing out of delivery men with her efforts to get at them through the window - even my sons, who she is fine with indoors, dare not put their arm through the window there is such a show of teeth. I feel it lets the breed down, the more so because she is not actually a biter at all - much of it is 'show'. I have had GSD that 'mean business' and such dogs are quiet and thoughtful and sincere in whatever action they decide is appropriate. They don't shout about it, they just DO it. She is just too excitable by half. Getting on for six now, won't change - but we love her, and she IS very beautiful as well as bright and clever with it. Big softy for us

If you decide to get a pup it is good to be able to see mum and dad if possible, and check both parents have been x-rayed for hip dysplasia and have no epilepsy problems. Happy chunky pups which come to meet you, are bright eyed and lively and do not scratch.

[Jimbuna]

Merchants have too deep a draught to sail over the nets, besides....vessels spawn (in the main) outside of the harbour confines.

[Knipper]

I haven't tried this yet She-Wolf, but it strikes me that if you go say 10 metres below periscope depth and then raise a scope just enough to get it out of the tube, you should be able to see the nets. That make sense?

[ICZEOZN]

As you enter the harbor, be sure to mark your route on the map so you know a safe way to get back out. I failed to do this once and rammed the net while I was (attempting) to make a quick escape. That was not fun.

[SurfnSea]

I suppose this means my plan of saying, "Red Rover, Red Rover let U-46 come over," won't work.

[Dronston]

So far I only encountered a net once in GWX 2, when I was making my way up to New York. I was at periscope depth with about 7 meters under keel, doing 3 knots when I suddenly heard a screeching sound and reports of damage. It was over in seconds and when I went to external view I saw I had gone over a net. Only 1% damage !
I must have sort of slided over the net or something. After the raid I took no chances and surfaced to race over it at 17 knots.

[She-Wolf]

you are all braver than me! If I spot a net ( through the tube), I shall back off and go find something else to occupy the time..!:rotfl::rotfl: