OM - do you guys go through British channel?

Coldcall · 03-02-10, 04:01 AM

Hi all,

I was wondering if i am being silly by using the british channel entry into the Atlantic or whether its better to go through the North Sea around Scotland etc..?

I'm playing an early career starting Sep 1939 and i have noticed the channel is pretty shallow water so i am concerned if any war ships get a mark on me i will have problems using depth as an evasive environment?

I was looking for opinions on hoe fellow OM u-boat commaders handle the channel? Also i suppose it gets way worse in 42,43,45 as the Allies started wining the war?

looney · 03-02-10, 04:41 AM

Scotland, or even between Iceland and the Shetlands. Only a Type 2 might even attempt a canal crossing.. and perhaps early war Type 7 or 9 can make it.

I made it through in 1939 but I couldn't engage any ships due to the DD's showing up fast. Usually I take the nothern route and I find some easy pickings along the way.

Coldcall · 03-02-10, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by looney

Scotland, or even between Iceland and the Shetlands. Only a Type 2 might even attempt a canal crossing.. and perhaps early war Type 7 or 9 can make it.

I made it through in 1939 but I couldn't engage any ships due to the DD's showing up fast. Usually I take the nothern route and I find some easy pickings along the way.

Thanks for the info. Well Im in a type 9 from Wilmshaven, and have so far used the channel twice for my first two missions off iberian coast. I did not find it too difficult just quite tedious as lots of diving during the day, so on the whole i am travelling submerged during daylight.

However i am not engaging merchants in the channel as Im sort of role-playing that really one should make it through the channel undetected so as not to draw attention to myself before i actually complete the mission orders.

Im loathe to go around the north of British Isles because it looks like a big waste of fuel :-)

looney · 03-02-10, 06:31 AM

Yups I'm in 1943 now in my type 9... I'm happy to survive any encounter

Yesterday dodged 2 HK groups 1 near france the other below Greenland. Sank 1 small freighter... 2k GRT.

Coldcall · 03-02-10, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by looney

Yups I'm in 1943 now in my type 9... I'm happy to survive any encounter

Yesterday dodged 2 HK groups 1 near france the other below Greenland. Sank 1 small freighter... 2k GRT.

I dont think the allies have yet deployed proper HK groups in my game at October 1939. I am coming across armed trawlers in the channel which i am ignoring currently, but have yet to see any large battleships/groups though they have reported a few on the radio mainly in the Noth Sea.

Im hoping that the allies get stronger in 41, 42 + as was the case historically. It seems to me the u-boats had a field day prior to 41 then things got really tough.

kstanb · 03-02-10, 04:16 PM

Very early war, I always use the channel when patrol area is SW England,

But I know soon after they will mine it heavily, so, be careful, even if escorts are still weak, an unlucky mine will ruin your day

Jan Kyster · 03-02-10, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldcall

...Im hoping that the allies get stronger in 41, 42 + as was the case historically.

Not playing OM atm, but have followed its progress over the years and I have this hunch that your hope will be fullfilled...

And do by all means continue using the Channel - greatest way to save fuel...

Sailor Steve · 03-02-10, 05:31 PM

I'm not sure how well Lurker modelled it for OM, but if he did it right the Channel should be a deathrap for any u-boat after 1939, and even by November it should be getting too dangerous.

If you play SH3, one of the 'Radiolog' mod messages is a real one from mid-September 1939 ordering boats to stop using the Channel.

Coldcall · 03-03-10, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I'm not sure how well Lurker modelled it for OM, but if he did it right the Channel should be a deathrap for any u-boat after 1939, and even by November it should be getting too dangerous.

If you play SH3, one of the 'Radiolog' mod messages is a real one from mid-September 1939 ordering boats to stop using the Channel.

I bought SH3 recently from a play.com trader but have yet to play it. I guess im worried that since i am getting use to SH4, i might find SH3 a bit dissapointing, though i believe some of the mods for SH3 are excellent.

Well i dont find the channel a deathtrap in game year 1939, its more tedious than anything else, particulalry during the day with all the RAF overflights.

9th_cow · 03-07-10, 05:14 PM

Till about mid 1940 I use the channel.
Then mines become to much of a problem.
Later on the shear volume of Navy traffic + mines make it pretty suicidal.

I don't think I have been there since I first ran into a mine field however. Those things hurt and are not marked on the map

ShadowWolf Kell · 03-12-10, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I'm not sure how well Lurker modelled it for OM, but if he did it right the Channel should be a deathrap for any u-boat after 1939, and even by November it should be getting too dangerous.

If you play SH3, one of the 'Radiolog' mod messages is a real one from mid-September 1939 ordering boats to stop using the Channel.

He modeled it fairly well. Even in 39 it's a pain with all the air patrols. The trawlers you can ignore, but the air patrols give you so precious little time to recharge your batteries.

Sure you can sit there and wait the day out and conserve battery power, but at that point you'd have been better off going around. And like an above poster said, lots of easy pickings along the way. Plenty of large convoys too up till Norway.

HerrKaleun · 03-15-10, 05:26 PM

I went through the channel a few minutes ago. Did it das boot style with aircraft coming in over head and explosions all around, at top speed in a Type IIC at night. July 5th 1941.

Mikemike47 · 03-15-10, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldcall

I bought SH3 recently from a play.com trader but have yet to play it. I guess im worried that since i am getting use to SH4, i might find SH3 a bit dissapointing, though i believe some of the mods for SH3 are excellent.

Well i dont find the channel a deathtrap in game year 1939, its more tedious than anything else, particulalry during the day with all the RAF overflights.

Try using the grey wolves mod. You won't be dissappointed.
http://www.thegreywolves.com/

03-02-10, 04:01 AM	#1
Coldcall Chief Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 325 Downloads: 42 Uploads: 0	OM - do you guys go through British channel? Hi all, I was wondering if i am being silly by using the british channel entry into the Atlantic or whether its better to go through the North Sea around Scotland etc..? I'm playing an early career starting Sep 1939 and i have noticed the channel is pretty shallow water so i am concerned if any war ships get a mark on me i will have problems using depth as an evasive environment? I was looking for opinions on hoe fellow OM u-boat commaders handle the channel? Also i suppose it gets way worse in 42,43,45 as the Allies started wining the war?

03-02-10, 04:41 AM	#2
looney Commodore Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sneek, The Netherlands Posts: 635 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Scotland, or even between Iceland and the Shetlands. Only a Type 2 might even attempt a canal crossing.. and perhaps early war Type 7 or 9 can make it. I made it through in 1939 but I couldn't engage any ships due to the DD's showing up fast. Usually I take the nothern route and I find some easy pickings along the way. Last edited by looney; 03-02-10 at 04:52 AM.

03-02-10, 05:31 PM	#8
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I'm not sure how well Lurker modelled it for OM, but if he did it right the Channel should be a deathrap for any u-boat after 1939, and even by November it should be getting too dangerous. If you play SH3, one of the 'Radiolog' mod messages is a real one from mid-September 1939 ordering boats to stop using the Channel. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-02-10, 06:31 AM	#4
looney Commodore Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sneek, The Netherlands Posts: 635 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Yups I'm in 1943 now in my type 9... I'm happy to survive any encounter Yesterday dodged 2 HK groups 1 near france the other below Greenland. Sank 1 small freighter... 2k GRT.

03-02-10, 04:16 PM	#6
kstanb Sparky Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 153 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Very early war, I always use the channel when patrol area is SW England, But I know soon after they will mine it heavily, so, be careful, even if escorts are still weak, an unlucky mine will ruin your day

03-07-10, 05:14 PM	#10
9th_cow Planesman Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 182 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 0	Till about mid 1940 I use the channel. Then mines become to much of a problem. Later on the shear volume of Navy traffic + mines make it pretty suicidal. I don't think I have been there since I first ran into a mine field however. Those things hurt and are not marked on the map

03-15-10, 05:26 PM	#12
HerrKaleun Swabbie Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: U.K Posts: 7 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	I went through the channel a few minutes ago. Did it das boot style with aircraft coming in over head and explosions all around, at top speed in a Type IIC at night. July 5th 1941.