Torpedo speed setting question

[schlechter pfennig]

I was doing some research a while ago and ran across this on Wiki regarding the G7a torpedoes:

"The torpedo was of a straight-running unguided design, controlled by a gyroscope. The TI was of variable speed, running a distance of 5,000 m at 81 km/h (5,500 yd at 44kt), 7,500 m at 74 km/h (8,250 yd at 40 kt), and 12,000 m at 55.6 km/h (13,200 yd at 30 kt). The 44 kt setting was used only by torpedo boats like the Schnellboote on torpedoes with reinforced engine."

Since then I don't select the 44 kt speed, but that's my personal choice. I'm curious, however, if anyone else has encountered this tidbit.

[bstanko6]

I use this setting when in close. If they see the bubbles, it would be too late to evade due to the torp speed.

In a convoy attack, these settings are essential for timing your torps to hit multiple, varied, distance ships at the same time.

[stork100]

Great pickup schlechter pfennig. I also found this a few months ago and like you I now never use the 44kt setting in the interests of trying to be authentic. As to whether this information is accurate on the other hand I don't know. This "reinforced engine" variant isn't mentioned in the other variants listing, but it also says:

"44kn was to be used by S-Boote (problems with initial design lead to breakdown on motors running 44 kn, so this setting was banned until the new engine was available"

If it's true I wonder why only the Schnellboote was so equiped. Can't think of a reason.

[Fanuboat]

U boat commandant in 39 45 used high torp speedfor long distance target.

And anyway about bubbles, they where mostly attacking at night this way no one wont see any bubbles in the surface.

[Pisces]

There is a bug in the TDC that causes lead angles not to be updated when you switch between selected tubes with different torpedo types set to different speeds, i.e. T1 and T2. So it is best to set all of them to the common speed, lest you mess up your aiming. Whatever reality was like , this is more important to avoid in my opinion.

p.s. Scuttlebutt (or what is the german equivalent of navy gossip?) says it isn't so easy to modify the T1 torpedo speed controlling hardware. Atleast not on the fly. So this seems a reasonable realism limitation to do.

[Rhodes]

Pisces, do not know if I understood your last paragraph, but if it is about if the torpedo speed could be changed via the TDC or not, it could be.

The torpedo speed vt and quotient of the target and torpedo speed vgvt was entered by means of the knobs.
In the early versions of the calculator, the torpedo speed knob could be set only in three positions (30, 40, or 44 knots – the speed of the steam torpedoes G7a then in service could be set to these values, while the electric torpedoes G7e could cruise only at the speed of 30 knots). The quotient vgvt
and the torpedo speed vt were given as inputs of the multiplier unit ( ), which calculated the target speed vg indicated by the dial. After setting the desired torpedo speed, the operator turned the knob responsible for setting the quotient of the target and torpedo speed, to make the pointer of the target speed dial show the correct value.
Thereby, instead of using the complex dividing unit for calculating the quotient, the much simpler multiplier unit could be used.
In the later version of the calculator, the target and torpedo speed were shown by the compound dial. The torpedo speed could be set to any value in the range 10 to 46 knots. This was due to adjusting the calculator’s construction for usage with the LUT and acoustic G7e torpedoes.


From: http://www.tvre.org/en/torpedo-calculator-t-vh-re-s3

[Slammin Sam]

Hey fellow submarine enthusiasts! I'm Sam, master of the high seas. I practically grew up with Silent Hunter 2, and I really enjoy learning about submarines and how they work. Happy hunting!

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