The battle of Sept-Iles

Discussions on WW2 in Western Europe & the Atlantic.
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Kingfish
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The battle of Sept-Iles

#1

Post by Kingfish » 04 Jul 2018, 20:45

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sept-%C3%8Eles

What was the rational for sending a blockade runner straight up the English Channel as opposed to sending the cargo by rail?
Even hopping from port to port would seem riskier than the overland route.
The gods do not deduct from a man's allotted span the hours spent in fishing.
~Babylonian Proverb

Knouterer
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Re: The battle of Sept-Iles

#2

Post by Knouterer » 05 Jul 2018, 11:41

It is rather surprising, but the Germans evidently considered it was worth the risk. Even in 1944 German coastal traffic continued, among other things carrying Spanish ore. As long as they stayed close to the coastline German gun batteries (17 cm mostly, with many other calibres) could provide some protection.
On 26 February 1944 the tanker Hecht left Cherbourg for Le Havre, escorted by five Vorpostenboote and two auxiliary minesweepers. A first attack during the night by six, later ten, British MTBs was beaten off by the escorts and the convoy safely reached Le Havre. During the next leg to Boulogne the tanker survived several air attacks, but when going through the Straits several days later British radar-guided guns (9.2 inch most likely) opened fire, her hull was holed by shell fragments and she sank off Calais. But even after that traffic continued.
"The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man's observation, not overturning it." Edward George Bulwer-Lytton


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