Loading external torpedo, aircraft spotted, dive or flak?

Uboat177 · 09-05-16, 01:45 PM

Hello,

I just wanted to know what would be the proper historically accurate response for enemy aircraft appearing when loading external torpedo reserves. I just had this happen to me while playing. Do you man the flak gun and duke it out? Or crash dive? Wouldn't the torpedo be lost?

I honestly don't know the background behind all this. In game, I simply stop the boat at night in calm seas when loading external torpedoes.

Von Due · 09-05-16, 03:46 PM

In game and historically (I believe) diving was the number one way to deal with planes. That is, until the order came to engage planes but that turned out to be a less than brilliant plan. Even their attempts at a Flak boat turned into a near disaster.

My 2 bits: Dive flank speed if you can. Better to lose an hour of work than the entire boat. If you can't coz of shallow waters then man the guns, shoot like a maniac and head for deeper water.

For loading externals, I usually wait for night time (until later in the war) or rain/fog. You have to surface to recharge the batteries and to replenish the oxygen, so that would be a good time too. If you have to surface, might as well do the reloading then. Any plane appearing would have appeared anyway. Good thing too reloading while surfaced won't attract unwanted attention from destroyers if they can't see you.

The number one challenge for me anyway is the crew gets exhausted quickly reloading torpedos but a petty officer or two with the right medals works wonders.

Uboat177 · 09-05-16, 06:14 PM

Hello,

Thanks for the response. You're right, it wasn't smart of me to risk the boat for a torpedo. I will default to diving in the future should it happen again.

UKönig · 09-23-16, 04:17 PM

I think that a historically accurate response would depend on how far along in the extraction and loading process you were. Extraction of the external spares was a tedious and time consuming activity, which includes removal of the deck grating, setting up the block and tackle, opening the pressure tube, attaching the winch mechanism, opening the torpedo loading hatch, pulling it all the way out, and then (gently, because those things are heavy) lowering the eel into the boat. Then you have to seal up the hatches, stow the harness and tackle away, then put the grates back down. I suppose if you just started the process, it would be easy enough to abort and crash dive to safety, but if not, then yes, historically you may have to kick the spare over the side, seal the loading hatch as fast as possible, and *then* crash dive. I used to load my external spares in all weather and sea states, but now I limit myself to only when seas are 10m/s or less. If aircraft catch me on the surface, and I am able, then I will attempt to hold the planes at bay with my AA guns, until the loading process is finished. it can be a nail biting, edge of the seat experience...

Sailor Steve · 09-23-16, 09:05 PM

It's even worse than that, because loading any torpedoes requires absolute calm. Loading externals should be done in a flat sea, at a standstill. If you run the boat up to full speed to evade planes you might as well be diving, because the torpedo is not going to sit still.

That's another thing the game doesn't take into account. In real life they would fire off as many torpedoes as needed, If it was a convoy you would shoot your load and then dive. If nobody chased you, you might start reloading the internals, but never if a destroyer gave chase. You can't be hoisting a ton of steel with chains while the boat is maneuvering wildly. It's either wait until you're absolutely safe or don't reload.

UKönig · 09-25-16, 11:18 PM

And any captain who tries rushing the loading process, or in rough or violent seas, runs the risk of injuring the crew/torpedo mechanics with broken or crushed hands or fingers, or bad cuts or lacerations, which of course will put a later strain on the rest of the healthy crew as they now have to work harder to pick up the slack. I guess we should be glad that they don't model that aspect either...

BigWalleye · 09-26-16, 03:48 PM

"Loading external torpedo, aircraft spotted, dive or flak?"

Let's see: Can't dive with guys on deck. Can't dodge an attacking plane at night while sitting still.

How about KYAGB?

Hambone307 · 09-26-16, 04:31 PM

I'm with Walleye on this one! After '41 I usually just ignore externals. If I do reload them, it is when I'm out of range of allied air cover.

09-05-16, 01:45 PM	#1
Uboat177 Mate Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 52 Downloads: 138 Uploads: 0	Loading external torpedo, aircraft spotted, dive or flak? Hello, I just wanted to know what would be the proper historically accurate response for enemy aircraft appearing when loading external torpedo reserves. I just had this happen to me while playing. Do you man the flak gun and duke it out? Or crash dive? Wouldn't the torpedo be lost? I honestly don't know the background behind all this. In game, I simply stop the boat at night in calm seas when loading external torpedoes. __________________

09-05-16, 06:14 PM	#3
Uboat177 Mate Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 52 Downloads: 138 Uploads: 0	Hello, Thanks for the response. You're right, it wasn't smart of me to risk the boat for a torpedo. I will default to diving in the future should it happen again. __________________

09-23-16, 04:17 PM	#4
UKönig Captain Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 495 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I think that a historically accurate response would depend on how far along in the extraction and loading process you were. Extraction of the external spares was a tedious and time consuming activity, which includes removal of the deck grating, setting up the block and tackle, opening the pressure tube, attaching the winch mechanism, opening the torpedo loading hatch, pulling it all the way out, and then (gently, because those things are heavy) lowering the eel into the boat. Then you have to seal up the hatches, stow the harness and tackle away, then put the grates back down. I suppose if you just started the process, it would be easy enough to abort and crash dive to safety, but if not, then yes, historically you may have to kick the spare over the side, seal the loading hatch as fast as possible, and then crash dive. I used to load my external spares in all weather and sea states, but now I limit myself to only when seas are 10m/s or less. If aircraft catch me on the surface, and I am able, then I will attempt to hold the planes at bay with my AA guns, until the loading process is finished. it can be a nail biting, edge of the seat experience... __________________ Because I'm the captain, that's why!

09-23-16, 09:05 PM	#5
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	It's even worse than that, because loading any torpedoes requires absolute calm. Loading externals should be done in a flat sea, at a standstill. If you run the boat up to full speed to evade planes you might as well be diving, because the torpedo is not going to sit still. That's another thing the game doesn't take into account. In real life they would fire off as many torpedoes as needed, If it was a convoy you would shoot your load and then dive. If nobody chased you, you might start reloading the internals, but never if a destroyer gave chase. You can't be hoisting a ton of steel with chains while the boat is maneuvering wildly. It's either wait until you're absolutely safe or don't reload. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

09-25-16, 11:18 PM	#6
UKönig Captain Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 495 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	And any captain who tries rushing the loading process, or in rough or violent seas, runs the risk of injuring the crew/torpedo mechanics with broken or crushed hands or fingers, or bad cuts or lacerations, which of course will put a later strain on the rest of the healthy crew as they now have to work harder to pick up the slack. I guess we should be glad that they don't model that aspect either... __________________ Because I'm the captain, that's why!

09-05-16, 03:46 PM	#2
Von Due Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,660 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	In game and historically (I believe) diving was the number one way to deal with planes. That is, until the order came to engage planes but that turned out to be a less than brilliant plan. Even their attempts at a Flak boat turned into a near disaster. My 2 bits: Dive flank speed if you can. Better to lose an hour of work than the entire boat. If you can't coz of shallow waters then man the guns, shoot like a maniac and head for deeper water. For loading externals, I usually wait for night time (until later in the war) or rain/fog. You have to surface to recharge the batteries and to replenish the oxygen, so that would be a good time too. If you have to surface, might as well do the reloading then. Any plane appearing would have appeared anyway. Good thing too reloading while surfaced won't attract unwanted attention from destroyers if they can't see you. The number one challenge for me anyway is the crew gets exhausted quickly reloading torpedos but a petty officer or two with the right medals works wonders.

09-26-16, 03:48 PM	#7
BigWalleye Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: On the Eye-lond, mon! Posts: 1,987 Downloads: 465 Uploads: 0	"Loading external torpedo, aircraft spotted, dive or flak?" Let's see: Can't dive with guys on deck. Can't dodge an attacking plane at night while sitting still. How about KYAGB?

09-26-16, 04:31 PM	#8
Hambone307 Planesman Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 188 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	I'm with Walleye on this one! After '41 I usually just ignore externals. If I do reload them, it is when I'm out of range of allied air cover. __________________ ____ I can't tell if I have found a rope or lost my horse.