Uboats in the Suez Canal - late 1942

Akula4745 · 10-21-09, 11:17 PM

After being told the Suez Canal was controlled by the British in late 1942... I just had to try and sneak through. I refueled at Messina and then entered the canal at port Said around 16:40 and arrived at the Red Sea 3 days later. Picked up multiple radar warnings by Port Said - but the canal itself was thankfully empty all the way down to As Suways and the Gulf of Suez.

I ran wide open - 17 knots - all the way down to the Gulf of Suez. Making the transit at night proved a smart choice as I did not have to worry about finding any undiscovered shore emplacements. The Great Bitter lake passed without any sightseeing at all.

When I came out into the Gulf of Suez by As Suways I picked up several merchants docked at the port... but decided not to make a ruckus... and it was a good thing too because the north end of the Gulf of Suez turned out to be thoroughly patrolled by Elco torpedo boats and armed trawlers. Transit time for the canal itself was just under 8 hours at 17 knots.

The canal itself and the Gulf of Suez were mostly empty... with the exception of several troublesome fishing boats and armed trawlers as I got closer to the Red Sea. But then once in the Red Sea there was nothing but open water to the Gulf of Aden.

I left St. Nazaire in the wee hours of October 7 1942... and arrived in Penang on November 15, 1942 - with only 4% fuel remaining. Running wide open as often as possible to transit the canal ate up a lot of fuel. I am not sure I would want to make it a regular route... methinks luck and good karma played a large hand in my completing the transit safely. But anyway... there ya go - it can be done.

Your turn, Ivank!

etheberge · 10-22-09, 12:10 AM

Nice report, it seems like an exciting trip.

But I'm a bit disappointed that "someone" isn't using my German map labels mod

.

Hunter · 10-22-09, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etheberge

But I'm a bit disappointed that "someone" isn't using my German map labels mod

.

Then you should have said - 'Ich bin ein bisschen enttäuscht', I suppose

I play German language version by myself for better immercion. Btw, where can I find this mod?

Torplexed · 10-22-09, 12:43 AM

Congrats Akula! Now if you can transverse the Panama Canal on your way back to the Vaterland, you get the coveted Iron Cross with crossed sluice gates.

renthewog · 10-22-09, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etheberge

But I'm a bit disappointed that "someone" isn't using my German map labels mod

.

Im interested in your german map labels mod

where can i download it from mate? cheers

Admiral Von Gerlach · 10-22-09, 02:50 AM

Ich würde es auch mögen. Bitte. Danke.

Akula4745 · 10-22-09, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etheberge

Nice report, it seems like an exciting trip. But I'm a bit disappointed that "someone" isn't using my German map labels mod

.

My dear friend, Big E... I made the Suez Canal trip using my OM "testbed" installation and not my "regular" OM install. Your German map labels mod is a core ingredient of my primary OM install and to be honest... I have no idea how I survived so long without it. It is only through my own laziness and neglect I have failed to add the delightful German map labels mod to my testbed iteration. I can only beg your humble forgiveness for being so inept and unthoughtful...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter

Then you should have said - 'Ich bin ein bisschen enttäuscht', I suppose

I play German language version by myself for better immercion. Btw, where can I find this mod?

Big E's fantastic German Map label mod can be found here... and might I say it is truly the cat's meow when it comes to adding a deeper sense of immersion to the game:

Download:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1372

etheberge's release post:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=156896

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Congrats Akula! Now if you can transverse the Panama Canal on your way back to the Vaterland, you get the coveted Iron Cross with crossed sluice gates.

WoO-HOo! Once I have the coveted Iron Cross with crossed sluice gates in my possession... all the frauleins will swoon with sensual delight whenever I walk into the room... oh boy, Panama Canal here I come!!

Torplexed · 10-22-09, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akula4745

WoO-HOo! Once I have the coveted Iron Cross with crossed sluice gates in my possession... all the frauleins will swoon with sensual delight whenever I walk into the room... oh boy, Panama Canal here I come!!

Wow!

looks like soon you'll be exploring...um..uhh...your way into five new...uh..umm...varieties of beer! Yeah, that's it. Beer. Don't forget to post the maps for these.

trynnallen · 11-11-09, 03:52 PM

Impressive. Once you are through the Pananma Canal you can work your way down to Martinque and sink the French squadron there, and then down to Brazil and bag a pair of Brazilian BBs.

Bubblehead1980 · 11-11-09, 05:47 PM

very nice, sounds like luck was on your side for this trip.Is there a mod for the Panama Canal or is it already in OM? I havent played OM in a while.

psykopatsak · 11-15-09, 03:46 PM

you have to wait for a ship to pass through the panama canal, and then stay under it all the time. so it cannot be a big ship.

Akula4745 · 11-16-09, 01:29 AM

The Panama Canal turned out to nothing like the Suez... easy in, easy out. I had to shed my trusty VIIC for a type IX... the fuel mileage you know.

Entered Colon at 0015 on 19 July 1942 at the north entrance to the canal. 5-6 merchants docked with no active patrols and a few fishing boats working the harbor. Out of sheer boredom I put 4 torpedoes into a Liberty Cargo (3 hits + 1 dud)... but never got credit so she might still be floating at the dock.

The interior was devoid of any signs of life or the enemy... of course it was pretty early in the morning and they were probably all drunk...

Balboa was a ghost port... with zero ships docked or anchored and not even a single fishing boat to be found anywhere. Exited Balboa harbor at 0505 with a total transit time for the Panama Canal of just under 5 hours.

Ah the freedom of the open sea... now where is that coveted Iron Cross with crossed sluice gates... and all the frauleins?

Torplexed · 11-16-09, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akula4745

Ah the freedom of the open sea... now where is that coveted Iron Cross with crossed sluice gates... and all the frauleins?

Congratulations on yer magnificent feat of navigation Akula.

The Iron Cross is yours. However, as to the frauleins, as a proud U-Boat captain you do realize that part of your job is having ever more difficult obstacles to overcome...

trynnallen · 11-25-09, 01:57 PM

So have you managed to meander your way up to see if Niagara Falls in the correct spot?

Akula4745 · 11-27-09, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trynnallen

So have you managed to meander your way up to see if Niagara Falls in the correct spot?

LOL - no sir... the Erie Canal does not exist in SHIV.

10-21-09, 11:17 PM	#1
Akula4745 Convicted Ship Killer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Just out of sight... plotting your course and speed Posts: 846 Downloads: 371 Uploads: 1	Uboats in the Suez Canal - late 1942 After being told the Suez Canal was controlled by the British in late 1942... I just had to try and sneak through. I refueled at Messina and then entered the canal at port Said around 16:40 and arrived at the Red Sea 3 days later. Picked up multiple radar warnings by Port Said - but the canal itself was thankfully empty all the way down to As Suways and the Gulf of Suez. I ran wide open - 17 knots - all the way down to the Gulf of Suez. Making the transit at night proved a smart choice as I did not have to worry about finding any undiscovered shore emplacements. The Great Bitter lake passed without any sightseeing at all. When I came out into the Gulf of Suez by As Suways I picked up several merchants docked at the port... but decided not to make a ruckus... and it was a good thing too because the north end of the Gulf of Suez turned out to be thoroughly patrolled by Elco torpedo boats and armed trawlers. Transit time for the canal itself was just under 8 hours at 17 knots. The canal itself and the Gulf of Suez were mostly empty... with the exception of several troublesome fishing boats and armed trawlers as I got closer to the Red Sea. But then once in the Red Sea there was nothing but open water to the Gulf of Aden. I left St. Nazaire in the wee hours of October 7 1942... and arrived in Penang on November 15, 1942 - with only 4% fuel remaining. Running wide open as often as possible to transit the canal ate up a lot of fuel. I am not sure I would want to make it a regular route... methinks luck and good karma played a large hand in my completing the transit safely. But anyway... there ya go - it can be done. Your turn, Ivank! __________________ Akula4745 "If you sit by the river long enough... the body of your enemy will float by -- SunTzu" Last edited by Akula4745; 10-22-09 at 06:33 AM.

10-22-09, 12:10 AM	#2
etheberge Watch Officer Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 345 Downloads: 614 Uploads: 10	Nice report, it seems like an exciting trip. But I'm a bit disappointed that "someone" isn't using my German map labels mod . __________________ 11 War Patrols / 56 ships sunk or damaged for 212,022 tons Zero casualties throughout the war Scuttled on 8 May, 1945 in Sonderburg Bay, after German surrender

10-22-09, 02:50 AM	#6
Admiral Von Gerlach Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Colorado and California Posts: 726 Downloads: 358 Uploads: 0	Ich würde es auch mögen. Bitte. Danke. __________________ Erlaubnis an Bord zu kommen.

11-11-09, 05:47 PM	#10
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	re very nice, sounds like luck was on your side for this trip.Is there a mod for the Panama Canal or is it already in OM? I havent played OM in a while.

11-16-09, 01:29 AM	#12
Akula4745 Convicted Ship Killer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Just out of sight... plotting your course and speed Posts: 846 Downloads: 371 Uploads: 1	The Panama Canal - 19 July 1942 The Panama Canal turned out to nothing like the Suez... easy in, easy out. I had to shed my trusty VIIC for a type IX... the fuel mileage you know. Entered Colon at 0015 on 19 July 1942 at the north entrance to the canal. 5-6 merchants docked with no active patrols and a few fishing boats working the harbor. Out of sheer boredom I put 4 torpedoes into a Liberty Cargo (3 hits + 1 dud)... but never got credit so she might still be floating at the dock. The interior was devoid of any signs of life or the enemy... of course it was pretty early in the morning and they were probably all drunk... Balboa was a ghost port... with zero ships docked or anchored and not even a single fishing boat to be found anywhere. Exited Balboa harbor at 0505 with a total transit time for the Panama Canal of just under 5 hours. Ah the freedom of the open sea... now where is that coveted Iron Cross with crossed sluice gates... and all the frauleins? __________________ Akula4745 "If you sit by the river long enough... the body of your enemy will float by -- SunTzu"

10-22-09, 12:43 AM	#4
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Congrats Akula! Now if you can transverse the Panama Canal on your way back to the Vaterland, you get the coveted Iron Cross with crossed sluice gates.

11-11-09, 03:52 PM	#9
trynnallen Watch Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Madison WI Posts: 18 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Impressive. Once you are through the Pananma Canal you can work your way down to Martinque and sink the French squadron there, and then down to Brazil and bag a pair of Brazilian BBs.

11-15-09, 03:46 PM	#11
psykopatsak Medic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Grid AO27 Posts: 161 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	you have to wait for a ship to pass through the panama canal, and then stay under it all the time. so it cannot be a big ship.

11-25-09, 01:57 PM	#14
trynnallen Watch Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Madison WI Posts: 18 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	The St. Lawerance So have you managed to meander your way up to see if Niagara Falls in the correct spot?