Thanks for the quick reply P@nther.

We have been playing A&A 1941 for several months now and need clarification on SZ6 & SZ8.  We have been playing where Germany’s battleship & sub can move freely between SZ6 & SZ8 which usually guarantees the UK’s navy is completely wiped out with Germany’s first turn.  Since canals have to be controlled by friendly forces before ships can move through them, have we been playing wrong?  It seems logical that Germany would not be able to move between England and North Ireland unless they controlled the UK.  Please help.