How common was it for sub/ship crews to torpedo themselves?

RedMenace · 11-15-12, 08:27 PM

I've done it a few times in both SH3 and DW, and it got me thinking, did this embarassment ever occur in real life?

Oberon · 11-15-12, 10:52 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_...use_of_sinking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tan...fth_war_patrol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Trinidad_%2846%29#Loss

http://www.subsowespac.org/the-patro...edo-runs.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_14_torpedo#Circulars

With the advent of wire guided torpedoes, the possibility of a submarine sinking itself has been reduced to a negligible number. Furthermore, the Mark 37 was, I believe, fitted with an anti-circle run device which self-destructed the torpedo if a circle run was detected.

The only modern submarine to be lost via its own torpedo is most likely the Kursk which suffered a catastrophic explosion of a torpedo whilst it was still in the tube due to a HTP leak which caused a violent rupture of the torpedo casing and set off the warhead, which in turn cooked off several other warheads in the torpedo room, ripping off most of the bow of the sub.

Of course, if you're careless enough to break the wire on the wire-guided torpedo whilst it is pointed at you, then you're just a big a target as the guy you're shooting at....as my 688 once found out...RIP USS Providence...

But the professionals are a bit more savvy than I.

Kaye T. Bai · 11-17-12, 11:05 AM

I wondered this as well; I had a good laugh at getting myself ADCAP'd in DW.

RedMenace · 11-27-12, 12:16 PM

Interesting! I'm sure there just isn't a feeling that can compare with seeing your fish fly right back at you.

Capt Kremin · 12-09-12, 04:02 AM

Just a minor update the U 869 is now believed to have been sunk by American destroyer escorts USS Howard D Crow and USS Koiner, http://www.uboat.net/boats/u869.htm
Also I believe there was a general order for U Boat commanders to dive after launching an acoustic torpedo as they were known to be able to home in on the subs screws if unable to locate a better target, then not just circle but actually aim at the launching boat.

11-15-12, 08:27 PM	#1
RedMenace Chief Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 319 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	How common was it for sub/ship crews to torpedo themselves? I've done it a few times in both SH3 and DW, and it got me thinking, did this embarassment ever occur in real life? __________________

11-27-12, 12:16 PM	#4
RedMenace Chief Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 319 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Interesting! I'm sure there just isn't a feeling that can compare with seeing your fish fly right back at you. __________________

11-15-12, 10:52 PM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_...use_of_sinking http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tan...fth_war_patrol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Trinidad_%2846%29#Loss http://www.subsowespac.org/the-patro...edo-runs.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_14_torpedo#Circulars With the advent of wire guided torpedoes, the possibility of a submarine sinking itself has been reduced to a negligible number. Furthermore, the Mark 37 was, I believe, fitted with an anti-circle run device which self-destructed the torpedo if a circle run was detected. The only modern submarine to be lost via its own torpedo is most likely the Kursk which suffered a catastrophic explosion of a torpedo whilst it was still in the tube due to a HTP leak which caused a violent rupture of the torpedo casing and set off the warhead, which in turn cooked off several other warheads in the torpedo room, ripping off most of the bow of the sub. Of course, if you're careless enough to break the wire on the wire-guided torpedo whilst it is pointed at you, then you're just a big a target as the guy you're shooting at....as my 688 once found out...RIP USS Providence... But the professionals are a bit more savvy than I.

11-17-12, 11:05 AM	#3
Kaye T. Bai Samurai Navy Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Western Hemisphere, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster Posts: 584 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	I wondered this as well; I had a good laugh at getting myself ADCAP'd in DW.

12-09-12, 04:02 AM	#5
Capt Kremin Swabbie Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 12 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Just a minor update the U 869 is now believed to have been sunk by American destroyer escorts USS Howard D Crow and USS Koiner, http://www.uboat.net/boats/u869.htm Also I believe there was a general order for U Boat commanders to dive after launching an acoustic torpedo as they were known to be able to home in on the subs screws if unable to locate a better target, then not just circle but actually aim at the launching boat.