The english channel

DiscoStu · 12-30-06, 06:44 PM

Im in the the first months of 1940 and suddenly they keep assign me patrol zones in the coast of Portugal. To go there i have to cross the english channel, ending in ten destroyer dropping DC all over me. Theres is a way to cross this ASW alley or i have to take a route at north of england? Is a realy long way.....(sorry my english)

_Seth_ · 12-30-06, 06:54 PM

Welcome DiscoStu!

Around here we have a saying..:

STAY AWAY FROM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!
This saying is copyrighted by jimbuna Inc. ©. All rights reserved. Abuse of this saying will be punished by a spiked plank in the groin.

Its certain death trying to go through there, atleast in GW 1.1a and GWX!

I always take the long route...

Cap.Palla · 12-30-06, 07:37 PM

totally agree with Seth ...last patrol bdu sent me to patrol BF33. Now i can say it, i never reached that grid,officially because of "periscope damaged" , unofficially because i didnt want to die ...

Makr · 12-30-06, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Seth_

Around here we have a saying..:

STAY AWAY FROM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!

Haha, took me at least a dozen failed mission to figure that one out.

Iron Budokan · 12-30-06, 08:06 PM

Yes, the longest route is more time consuming but you'll live to reach your patrol grid. Trying to get through the English Channel is nothing more than a suicide run, even early in the war. Especially if you play DID.

peterloo · 12-30-06, 11:18 PM

Never Go to That Channel

The DD will pick you up and DC falls over your boats and eventually destroy u

Instead, enroute Western Approaches... Although it may take a longer time, it is much saver and your pickings are much better

JScones · 12-31-06, 12:10 AM

If it's any consolation, Doenitz gave up the English Channel as a viable route into the Atlantic in early December 1939. Consequently, boats were directed the "long way" around.

Schatten · 12-31-06, 12:36 AM

What they said!

Never, ever, go through the English Channel.

Ever.

We mean it.

_Seth_ · 12-31-06, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JScones

If it's any consolation, Doenitz gave up the English Channel as a viable route into the Atlantic in early December 1939. Consequently, boats were directed the "long way" around.

Thats true, mate! But there is something that nags my mind: Why did the germans launch "operation Cerberus" (channel dash) when the channel was so heavy mined, and full of bad ships...? Why did they risk their capital ships, just to get faster to the north sea bases? Was Dönitz "smarter" than the other kriegsmarine officers?

JScones · 12-31-06, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Seth_

Quote:

Originally Posted by JScones

If it's any consolation, Doenitz gave up the English Channel as a viable route into the Atlantic in early December 1939. Consequently, boats were directed the "long way" around.

Thats true, mate! But there is something that nags my mind: Why did the germans launch "operation Cerberus" (channel dash) when the channel was so heavy mined, and full of bad ships...? Why did they risk their capital ships, just to get faster to the north sea bases? Was Dönitz "smarter" than the other kriegsmarine officers?

IIRC it was Hitler's decision - the Admiralty preferred the long way. So instantly, any logic goes out the window, LOL!

Seriously though, when considered in toto, it's not as risky as first seemed. The ships were well supported by Destroyers and aircraft, with the likelyhood of enemy ships of the same size being in the Channel, or having the time to intercept, being virtually nil. Such protection could not be afforded if going the long way around. When you consider a) Hitler was convinced of an Allied invasion of Norway, which could potentially have put the ships right in the middle and b) the ships were not at full order, the Channel dash was perhaps the less risky of the two options as it limited the time the ships were exposed.

More crucial to the success was that the Brits expected/hoped/assumed that the Germans would pass through Dover - the most dangerous part - at night, but as we all know the opposite happened. Thus the Brits lost the element of surprise that they'd of had if the ships left Brest at daylight. The Germans obviously knew this.

I think it was a great strategic decision.

_Seth_ · 12-31-06, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JScones

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Seth_

Quote:

Originally Posted by JScones

If it's any consolation, Doenitz gave up the English Channel as a viable route into the Atlantic in early December 1939. Consequently, boats were directed the "long way" around.

Thats true, mate! But there is something that nags my mind: Why did the germans launch "operation Cerberus" (channel dash) when the channel was so heavy mined, and full of bad ships...? Why did they risk their capital ships, just to get faster to the north sea bases? Was Dönitz "smarter" than the other kriegsmarine officers?

IIRC it was Hitler's decision - the Admiralty preferred the long way. So instantly, any logic goes out the window, LOL!

Seriously though, when considered in toto, it's not as risky as first seemed. The ships were well supported by Destroyers and aircraft, with the likelyhood of enemy ships of the same size being in the Channel, or having the time to intercept, being virtually nil. Such protection could not be afforded if going the long way around. When you consider a) Hitler was convinced of an Allied invasion of Norway, which could potentially have put the ships right in the middle and b) the ships were not at full order, the Channel dash was perhaps the less risky of the two options as it limited the time the ships were exposed.

More crucial to the success was that the Brits expected/hoped/assumed that the Germans would pass through Dover - the most dangerous part - at night, but as we all know the opposite happened. Thus the Brits lost the element of surprise that they'd of had if the ships left Brest at daylight. The Germans obviously knew this.

I think it was a great strategic decision.

Reading your explanation, i totally agree with you. This was the best thing Germany could have done under those circumstances.
Thanx for answer, matey!!

Jimbuna · 12-31-06, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Seth_

Welcome DiscoStu!

Around here we have a saying..:

STAY AWAY FROM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!

Its certain death trying to go through there, atleast in GW 1.1a and GWX!

I always take the long route...

Knew a shoulda copyrighted that original post. Ah well, least it was Seth this time and not VIICDriver

Oh!....welcome aboard DiscoStu

andy_311 · 12-31-06, 08:48 AM

I would say if there brave enough to try it go ahead,if they survive great if not try again,and again sooner or later if they fail to get through they might consider going the senic route.(Yes I have been through the channel and survived twice)

Austig · 12-31-06, 08:53 AM

going the long way round has its advantages... like to the east of scapa flow.... alot of traffic goes through there.....

Corsair · 12-31-06, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austig

going the long way round has its advantages... like to the east of scapa flow.... alot of traffic goes through there.....

Not forgetting the main advantage : more chances to stay alive...

12-30-06, 06:44 PM	#1
DiscoStu Nub Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Argentina Posts: 2 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The english channel Im in the the first months of 1940 and suddenly they keep assign me patrol zones in the coast of Portugal. To go there i have to cross the english channel, ending in ten destroyer dropping DC all over me. Theres is a way to cross this ASW alley or i have to take a route at north of england? Is a realy long way.....(sorry my english)

12-30-06, 06:54 PM	#2
_Seth_ Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In Tromsoe, @Tirpitz' final resting place.. Posts: 3,277 Downloads: 94 Uploads: 0	Welcome DiscoStu! Around here we have a saying..: STAY AWAY FROM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL! This saying is copyrighted by jimbuna Inc. ©. All rights reserved. Abuse of this saying will be punished by a spiked plank in the groin. Its certain death trying to go through there, atleast in GW 1.1a and GWX! I always take the long route... __________________ Last edited by _Seth_; 12-31-06 at 03:35 PM.

12-30-06, 07:37 PM	#3
Cap.Palla Officer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: italy Posts: 247 Downloads: 72 Uploads: 0	totally agree with Seth ...last patrol bdu sent me to patrol BF33. Now i can say it, i never reached that grid,officially because of "periscope damaged" , unofficially because i didnt want to die ... __________________

12-30-06, 08:06 PM	#5
Iron Budokan Sea Lord Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,778 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Don't Worry, We've All Tried It Yes, the longest route is more time consuming but you'll live to reach your patrol grid. Trying to get through the English Channel is nothing more than a suicide run, even early in the war. Especially if you play DID. __________________ "You will take on England wherever you find her ships, and you will break her power at sea." --Iron Coffins, Herbert A. Werner http://kennethmarkhoover.com

12-30-06, 11:18 PM	#6
peterloo Commander Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 462 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Never Go to That Channel The DD will pick you up and DC falls over your boats and eventually destroy u Instead, enroute Western Approaches... Although it may take a longer time, it is much saver and your pickings are much better __________________ Romeo is here, but where is Juliet? The 中国水兵 (Chinese Sailor) in subsim

12-31-06, 12:10 AM	#7
JScones Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5,501 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	If it's any consolation, Doenitz gave up the English Channel as a viable route into the Atlantic in early December 1939. Consequently, boats were directed the "long way" around.

12-31-06, 12:36 AM	#8
Schatten Engineer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 212 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What they said! Never, ever, go through the English Channel. Ever. We mean it. __________________

12-31-06, 08:48 AM	#13
andy_311 The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oldham, Lancs,England Posts: 1,312 Downloads: 82 Uploads: 0	I would say if there brave enough to try it go ahead,if they survive great if not try again,and again sooner or later if they fail to get through they might consider going the senic route.(Yes I have been through the channel and survived twice)

12-31-06, 08:53 AM	#14
Austig Swabbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bristol Uk or Victoria B.C. Posts: 13 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	going the long way round has its advantages... like to the east of scapa flow.... alot of traffic goes through there.....