worst attack ever.

[maillemaker]

So I came out of Brest and headed into the Atlantic. I was south of Ireland when I'm alerted to a huge convoy right on top of me. I move to intercept, and get out in front of them. There is a nice, fat, juicy Whale Factory Ship.

Convoy is reported as 8 knots, but by fixed wire I estimate about 10.

I set up a volley of 4 torpedoes.

They all pass in front of the entire convoy!

I go deep, end-around, get back in position. Fixed-wire the speed to be 8 knots.

Fire 2 at the Whale Factory Ship, both again miss way in front of the target!

I fired 2 at another ship - one hit a small freighter.

Go deep, evade, end-around again. Fire 2 more at the Whale, then 2 more. All go in front of the target.

In desperation I stay at periscope depth and nail a steamer with my rear tube, then nail a Town Class destroyer.

I was fitted out with steamers when I left Brest - usually I use electrics. I remember reading some speed-setting bug with steamers. Could that have caused this?

Steve

[Steiger]

You probably had the AOB wrong.

[nikimcbee]

Don't woory, I hear the infanrty has openings.:haha:

[Falkirion]

A few things.

1) Did you measure speed and course yourself?

2) Were you using manual or auto targeting?

And in answer about your steam torps. Steam torps by default are set to slow. I like to keep them handy as having a fast one come out of my stern into a DD's bow at 50 knots is generally unavoidable.

[RConch]

All that risk and little reward.
Been there done that.:salute:

The worst "bug" for me was with auto targeting in bad weather when you hit a ship once or twice and you know it is no longer going XX knots anymore yet the target pad still says XX knots. Wasted my share of torps due to this.:oops:

[Dissaray]

When did that attack take place and from what distance? If it was a long range day light attack there is the possiblilty that you had every thing set right and they simply evaided by slowing down. Though seeing as this one ship evaided eight torpidos, if I have the math of it right, and you didn't report any course changes in your target this isn't likely. I would guess the error is in your fiering solution. If your AOB was off by a few degrees and your speed wasn't bang on you would have missed quite wide; I know I have done that and had solutions that looked very right.

One way I have found to mitigate the chances of missing like that is to manualy space the vollys. Insted of having the fire controly launch all the torpidos back to back select, aim and fire the torpidos individualy. It is best if first you open all the doors by seting the fire control to a volly with all the tubes you want to use then press the open tube doors buton, after that you simply switch back to single fire mode. When you space your shots on your own time you get the benifit of a relitivly rapid fire rate that is found in automatic vollies but the accuracy of idndividualy aimed shots, you can even place each shot along the ship as you see fit not just where ever the x-degree spred hapens to place them. With a longer intervul bewteen shots, not much longer mind you, the odds are better that errors in your firing solution will totaly mess up your attack.

Also the patern runing torpidos are particularly useful in convoy attacks if they are availible. All the benifit of a strait runing torpido with the added bounous of turning around for another go at it if you miss. And a very usefull aspect of some times confusing the escorts most soundly if the torpido misses its initial run and then strikes a ship while coming back your way. I have seen them search the other side of the convoy for long enuf for me to get off a few more good shots and dive and escape befor they realy knew what was hapening. Most enjoyable to watch.

[maillemaker]

Range on the first attack was about 5000 - was shooting on the far side of the convoy. My electric torpedoes just made the trip.

Range on the rest of the attacks was probably 2000-3000 meters - I actually got inside the outer columns of the convoy.

I did a speed check myself.

I don't think I had the AOB wrong as the lead was towards the approaching convoy, not on the other side of 000.

[Dissaray]

If you AOB was off by 10 or 15 degrees it would be more than enuf to throw your shots off enuf to miss targets all together while still giving you a reasonable looking lead angle. Basicaly with the AOB off you are changing the peramiters of the triangle that the TDC biulds to give you the lead angle and if that triangle is sufficantly misshapen you will miss every time.

[Red Heat]

Don't woory, I hear the infanrty has openings.:haha:

I like your sense of humor! :D

[pickinthebanjo]

Range on the first attack was about 5000 - was shooting on the far side of the convoy. My electric torpedoes just made the trip.

Range on the rest of the attacks was probably 2000-3000 meters - I actually got inside the outer columns of the convoy.


You should be trying to get in closer than that. The closer you are the better your chances are of scoring a successful hit.

I get in front of the convoy and cut my engines, then wait and let it come to you. when your inside the convoy (300-1000m from ships) start firing.

[Iranon]

I'd just like to point out that an attack in which you managed to sink something and weren't sunk yourself doesn't qualify for the worst attack ever.

Still, for long ranges... may I suggest having Bernard steer a torpedo manually?

[RConch]

I'd just like to point out that an attack in which you managed to sink something and weren't sunk yourself doesn't qualify for the worst attack ever.

Still, for long ranges... may I suggest having Bernard steer a torpedo manually?

I totally agree with the first part.
If I am not DID-it is a good attack.:DL

[maillemaker]

Well the thing is I have been doing fantastic with fixed-wire manual targeting. I can bullseye targets with ease.

Like I said, I remember reading, I think in the GWX manual, about a bug with steam torpedoes and the speed selection switch, something about you have to click it last or something to make sure the speed selection takes. I wonder if my speed selection was off or something.

I should have never put in to Brest. Should have gone home to Wilhelmshaven and taken on my usual load of TIIs.

Steve

[derrinurban]

If I remember correctly, there is not really a bug per say. You just have to verify the speed of the torpedo by clicking on the speed setting. Your speed settings reset to slow with every reload but the indicator switch may still show medium or fast or something like that. I just remember that you must click the switch everytime to verify the correct speed setting.

[pickinthebanjo]

I occasionaly get a "bug" where my gyro angle consistently reads 10-15 less than whatever im looking at, i just compensate by aiming a bit further over. Though I usually reset it. The only real time I can remember this happening was when my boat got rammed and i lost my scope, and was forced to use a dammaged obs. scope

[Snestorm]

Something went wrong in the math. (No bug.)
If a radio report says "9 Knots", 9 Knots is what they're making.