Pattern-Running Torpedo General Thread
 

Despite frequently sailing during 1943, it occurs to me that I haven't given much thought to how pattern-runners are used. Like most people, I generally just aim them at specific merchants in a convoy and figure the pattern-running gear might get us an undeserved hit if the intended target is missed, but it's the specific settings I'm unsure about.

Do you find one generally has more success running FATs with the convoy, or against it? Does the convoy's speed matter? i.e, should we run against the convoy if its speed is slow and with the convoy if its speed is fast? Is there ever a good reason to use the narrower pattern?

Has anyone had any luck shooting stern tube FATs defensively at attacking escorts? Apparently the FAT II was intended for this, but I can't imagine preferring it to a TV for that job.

With the LUT, has anyone found success shooting while directly underneath (and possibly parallel to) the convoy? In some writings about the XXI, I've seen it implied that this was the intended use of the LUT by that boat. Conceptually I like the idea, but the LUT is so time-consuming to program, it sounds stressful!

Useless gadgets
 

I find the most important thing is to make sure the torpedo doesn't start its pattern before arriving at the target I aimed at! It's almost as annoying as firing a spread and missing by 5m fore and aft.

You need some range to get a useful number of wiggles so I usually set low speed for the steam flavoured ones. I make the pattern run in the convoy direction. The ocean is a big place and firing at random is not a great strategy. Not sure what the best running depth is - based on primary target or as shallow as possible?

Any luck? Not usually. Maybe you should ignore the above :hmmm: I tend to do better from "overs" and "shorts" with the straight ones. i get the impression they were not a huge success in real life either. But I'm open to education on that one as well.


If you are inside the convoy... how did you survive until 1943?