SH3 ships moving after a torpedo

[andwii]

Here is something that ive been wondering for awhile, out of the stories ive read from the merchant marines of WW2, if a torpedo hit their ship they would get off as fast as they could. Why is this not simulated in SH3? It seems when you torpedo a ship it will just keep moving like nothing happened. Anyone know of a mod to fix this problem, or is it really not a problem.

[Dread Knot]

Here is something that ive been wondering for awhile, out of the stories ive read from the merchant marines of WW2, if a torpedo hit their ship they would get off as fast as they could.


Sounds like a recipe for scattering a convoy, which not what you want to happen. The convoy would often turn away from where the attack took place to present a narrower target, but simply running pell-mell at each captain's discretion would invite disaster and collisions.

You also have to bear in mind that the top speed of a WW2 merchant was about 12 knots. You're not going anywhere fast and a U-Boat on the surface at night can still easily out run you. Plus, I don't know of too many WW2 merchants which could crank up to full speed with a torpedo in their belly.

[Sailor Steve]

By and large most medium merchants were sunk with one torpedo, and like as not they would stop fairly quickly. That said, there were many examples of merchants sailing away.
http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2966.html
http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2966.html

One thing the records show is that it was rare for a medium merchant to sink after just one torpedo. They usually took two or even three.

On the other hand there was this tanker whose crew abandoned ship after not being hit by a torpedo that detonated early. The u-boat kaleun then fired a second eel that ran deep and detonated on the far side of the target. Thinking he had sunk her he departed the area. The crew reboarded the ship and sailed away.

Three years later she was sunk by another u-boat.
http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2578.html

One American sub chased a Japanese freighter for six hours and hit it with eight torpedoes before it finally sank.

And of course there was San Demetrio, which was shelled by Admiral Scheer. The crew abandoned ship which then sailed away on its own, made a huge circle back to the crew, which reboarded her and finished the trip.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_San_Demetrio

You're right, most ships should stop after one torpedo, but it can also be argued that you shouldn't be surprised or cry foul when they don't.

[brett25]

nice info, sailor steve, thanks for that:salute:

what a gallant action on the part of the heroic crew of the Jervis Bay

[krashkart]

And of course there was San Demetrio, which was shelled by Admiral Scheer. The crew abandoned ship which then sailed away on its own, made a huge circle back to the crew, which reboarded her and finished the trip.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_San_Demetrio

One could say they had a...

fortunate turn of events. :cool:


YYYYYYEEEEAAAAAHH!!!

[andwii]

ya the San Demetrio. I was very inspired by the events that took place there. Actually did a book report on uboats and focused on that story.

[Captain Nemo]

Sounds like a recipe for scattering a convoy, which not what you want to happen. The convoy would often turn away from where the attack took place to present a narrower target, but simply running pell-mell at each captain's discretion would invite disaster and collisions.

Ships in a convoy going in all different directions occasionally happens in SH3. The ships in the convoy I was stalking recently had been attacked by the Luftwaffe or an AI u-boat (I didn't see which) and the ships were zig zagging. I fired off three torpedoes, one hit a large merchant, two missed their intended target but one of those misses hit a large merchant on the far side of the convoy. I noticed at this point that the convoy was in total disarray the ships were sailing in all different directions and moving quite fast. I dived deep and a few minutes later was on the receiving end of a quite accurate depth charge attack by four Black Swan Class frigates. I managed to creep away by which time the convoy had regrouped was sailing in a more orderly fashion.

Nemo

[Luno]

By and large most medium merchants were sunk with one torpedo...

...One thing the records show is that it was rare for a medium merchant to sink after just one torpedo...

I'm confused :doh:

[Sailor Steve]

I'm confused :doh:
Over what?

[Raptor]

Realistic Sinking Time - do you have it turned "On" or "Off"?

That will influence how long a ship stays active and/or afloat after its hit.

I usually give a target 1 eel initially, depending on its size and what's going on around me, then follow along for awhile and wait for it to stop and then sink. I can also surface and use my gun if I'm impatient.

In a convoy attack, I pick the larger ships and give them 2 eels each. Even that is no guarentee they'll go down, or that I'll get credit when they do. While the escort and I play the dance of death, the ship and I can get beyond the programmed separation distance for sinking credit.

I've seen torpedoed ships run on a bit and then stop. Most will sink, but a few will stay there indefinitely until I put one round of cannon fire into them. A few times, a single round from the AA did the trick; just something to push it over the edge. Must be a programming thing.

[Captain Nemo]

Over what?

I think Luno is pointing out that your statement on the sinking of medium merchants seems to contradict itself.

Nemo

[Sailor Steve]

I think Luno is pointing out that your statement on the sinking of medium merchants seems to contradict itself.
Ah. Well, that's easily explained. Let's see, I know there's a reason hiding around here somewhere, or at least a good excuse. :D

Sorry about that. I meant to say that most records I found indicate that single-torpedo sinkings were the norm, but there were also a fair amount that took more. When a thousand ships are sunk, 20% can add up to quite a few. Not that it was actually 20% - I didn't count.

But still, if you have several get away you shouldn't be surprised.