How to use the "Cutie"

[Bubblehead1980]

Okay, in later war I usually take a couple cuties along in aft torpedo room, as many subs did in rl.I can think of maybe 3 or 4 times in all year splayed SH 4 I hit something with a cutie.Anyone have a good tactic for using them? Usually, I fire them, they just run and never get anything.

[in_vino_vomitus]

The only tactic I have, is to not fire them at anything moving at medium speed, or moving away, I find it best to treat it as an unguided torpedo, so although I won't always use the TDC solution, I give a generous lead to crossing targets. If I'm firing at a charging destroyer I try to make it as straight a shot as possible, and not to give the target any reason to alter course before impact. Basically my cutie tactics are not to fire unless some very stringent conditions are met. I think it's not much use for stopping them chasing you early in the engagement, but when they're moving slowly and in listening mode, and you're a reasonable distance away, that's when they become useful....

[merc4ulfate]

They are great for foggy conditions. When at close range like below 3000 yards I simply lead the target by 10-15 degrees and fire. The cutie does the rest.

[TorpX]

I remember Rockin' Robbins posted some Cutie tactics some time ago. He dubbed the technique "Cutie on a Leash":

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=134336&highlight=Cutie+leash

[fithah4]

I load the aft stock with half cuties and other favorable fish. As said above short range shots are the best for DD's . Best is for middle of the convoy attack hitting freighters with one bow tube and as it drifts and slow down passing to align with aft shot. But keep a weary eye out for your DD approaching. Circling around and bunching the DD's with the freighters makes for easier targets but also for puckering nerves of steel. I've been playing with 75% realism.

Fitah4

[grislyatoms]

Never seemed to work "as advertised", for me. Next patrol, I'll try a couple.

[Hardigen]

Whats a "cutie ". I presume its some kind of torp!

[in_vino_vomitus]

A slow and underpowered homing torpedo - developed as an air launched asw weapon and adapted for submarine use....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_27_torpedo

[Bubblehead1980]

Actually got two hits with the Cutie last patrol. USS Tirante-Tench Class

TMO RSRD...Area 5. As per history, I have convoys running the coast, talking 3,000 yards off beach, close enough where if torpedoes miss, they hit the beach and explode.Got this idea for traffic in this area from O Kane's book as Tang patroled there in August-September 1944 but also from later war accounts of patrols in the area.Tough patrol given the constant presence of patrol boats running the coast and aircraft, shallow waters, shore batteries, as well as 1 or 2 merchants escorted by multiple escorts, even though they were mostly old pc types, still dangerous in such shallow waters.Using Mark 18's, usually had to fire from 3,000 yards to stay in waters with some depth, tactics of hit and run were very much the patrol

Anyways, was down to four Mark 18's forward and two Mark 27 cuties in aft tubes.Sun was setting, just few thousand yards off coast, fired 3 at mid sized freighter, one at smaller.The three hit and exploded the mid sized freighter, the other missed the small one, then a full sized DD came rushing on scene from other side of convoy as I turned for deeper waters at flank speed, deploying decoys and launched two cuties his way.I went to 150 feet(the bottom!) and kept on speed.The DD came in dropped some close charges then slowed and began to ping and circle, soon report of torpedo impact, then another, both cuties slammed into him, he didnt sink but stopped pestering me, i slipped into deeper waters and avoided the other escorts, other than a few depth charges.

I couldnt help but use the cam to take a look, the DD had severe damage to stern, rudder and props, was basically stationary, small fire, not sinking, but damaged and out of the war.

[Red October1984]

Me, I'll just never get into a situation that requires the use of this thing.

I took 3 on a patrol once and they were basically useless IMO.