How long did it take to reload DC racks and Hedgehogs IRL?

gouldjg · 12-01-2005, 05:08 PM

Hi Folks

Does anyone know how long it would have actually taken to reload, set DCs and Hedgehogs in real life?.

I find speed of 15 seconds hard to believe but stand to be corrected.

Thanks for any help

CCIP · 12-01-2005, 05:19 PM

I don't have the literature in front of me, so I hope someone comes back here with a few exact figures.

Well the DC racks are racks for a reason. Rolling charges off these was never a problem, I believe. Setting the charges is not a complicated process and is done by a crew. The racks are made to roll series of charges off as opposed to just single drops.

K-Guns and other such DC launcher would probably take at least 2-5 minutes

Hedgehogs - I had a figure for this somewhere. 10-20 minutes, I believe.

gouldjg · 12-01-2005, 05:27 PM

Thanks CCIP

Yes of course your right about the racks doh silly me

I am very interested in the kguns and hedgehogs.

I love the sound of 10 minutes, That sounds good to me, not too many on my head if I implement this then.

I will do a google to see if i can uncover some info.

Thanks again

CCIP · 12-01-2005, 05:36 PM

To give you an idea - the hedgehogs weighed 32lb each and had to be reloaded by hand (24 of them). They were pneumatically thrown.

The K-gun DCs were fired by an explosive charge strapped to the DC, and had to be lifted (with a manual lever, I believe) to fit onto the K-gun. The spares were prepared in advance.

I'm very sure there's concrete data on the time involved, since I came across it in the books I read.

timetraveller · 12-01-2005, 07:07 PM

Just finished reading "U-Boat Killer", by Capt. Donald MacIntyre, who commanded the HMS Hesperus and others, escorting convoys in the N. Atlantic. He claims his crew reloaded DCs in about 15-30 seconds one time. Hard to believe. They must have been "ready" I guess.

By the way, this is a great read. MacIntyre is the guy who captured Kretschmer in U-99 on the high seas, when Kretschmer surfaced "in the wrong place".

The book is on sale at Books-A-Million bargain rack for $7 right now. Hard cover too. A steal.

TT

12-01-2005, 05:08 PM	#1
gouldjg Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,235 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	How long did it take to reload DC racks and Hedgehogs IRL? Hi Folks Does anyone know how long it would have actually taken to reload, set DCs and Hedgehogs in real life?. I find speed of 15 seconds hard to believe but stand to be corrected. Thanks for any help __________________ My Mods Gouldjg's Crew Ability Balancing Mod for SH5 1.2 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=169630

12-01-2005, 05:19 PM	#2
CCIP Torpedo Momber Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 9,579 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 2	I don't have the literature in front of me, so I hope someone comes back here with a few exact figures. Well the DC racks are racks for a reason. Rolling charges off these was never a problem, I believe. Setting the charges is not a complicated process and is done by a crew. The racks are made to roll series of charges off as opposed to just single drops. K-Guns and other such DC launcher would probably take at least 2-5 minutes Hedgehogs - I had a figure for this somewhere. 10-20 minutes, I believe. __________________ I don’t like marches. I'll tell you why: war. It's very similar to disco. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

12-01-2005, 05:27 PM	#3
gouldjg Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,235 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Thanks CCIP Yes of course your right about the racks doh silly me I am very interested in the kguns and hedgehogs. I love the sound of 10 minutes, That sounds good to me, not too many on my head if I implement this then. I will do a google to see if i can uncover some info. Thanks again __________________ My Mods Gouldjg's Crew Ability Balancing Mod for SH5 1.2 http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=169630

12-01-2005, 05:36 PM	#4
CCIP Torpedo Momber Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 9,579 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 2	To give you an idea - the hedgehogs weighed 32lb each and had to be reloaded by hand (24 of them). They were pneumatically thrown. The K-gun DCs were fired by an explosive charge strapped to the DC, and had to be lifted (with a manual lever, I believe) to fit onto the K-gun. The spares were prepared in advance. I'm very sure there's concrete data on the time involved, since I came across it in the books I read. __________________ I don’t like marches. I'll tell you why: war. It's very similar to disco. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-01-2005, 07:07 PM	#5
timetraveller Ace of the Deep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Atlantic Shipping Lanes Posts: 1,030 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Just finished reading "U-Boat Killer", by Capt. Donald MacIntyre, who commanded the HMS Hesperus and others, escorting convoys in the N. Atlantic. He claims his crew reloaded DCs in about 15-30 seconds one time. Hard to believe. They must have been "ready" I guess. By the way, this is a great read. MacIntyre is the guy who captured Kretschmer in U-99 on the high seas, when Kretschmer surfaced "in the wrong place". The book is on sale at Books-A-Million bargain rack for $7 right now. Hard cover too. A steal. TT