Extra torpedoes reserves?

[Pistoliero]

http://i.imgur.com/jcA70EZ.jpg

There is 2 red torpedo storage rooms labeled as "extra reserves" on most u-boat types. Is there any difference between these red slots and normal (dark grey) ones?

[Raptor]

No.

All type IX boats could carry at least 22 torpedoes, 8 of which were carried in external water-tight containers.

The types IXD1 and D2 could carry 24.

As the war progressed and allied aircraft covered more of the seas, the number of places where a boat could safely surface long enough to move the external eels inside the boat rapidly decreased to the point where it external reloads were a liability and no longer carried.

Many type IX boats carried cargo between France and the Far East in their external containers.

The deck guns were also removed later in the war for a similar reason (vulnerability), and because the merchants were also armed and would shoot back at the attacking u-boat. The added drag from the gun also slowed the u-boat's underwater speed slightly. Removing it helped mitigate the drag caused by the extra flak guns that were needed later in the war.

[Pistoliero]

Thanks for reply, Raptor. Quite informative reading. Never knew that IXs ever sailed without deck gun.

But I asked slightly different thing - not about external containers, but about "extra" ones. VII and IX u-boats has 2 "extra" torpedo containers painted red on torpedo scheme (in fore reserves). They seem not external, as torpedoes from them are loaded properly when submerged. So initial question was what's so special about this 2 slots.

[Raptor]

Nothing!

The internal reserves were just that - reloads carried inside the boat. In the forward torpedo room, there were two hanging overhead on chains and four more under the floor grates. You couldn't walk upright in that space until the first four eels were fired.

Why the programmers bothered to give two of them a special name is anybody's guess. Maybe they considered the first four to be reloads for the four forward tubes and the last two were just "extras". YGIAGAM.

[maillemaker]

Great question, though, I have always wondered the same thing.

Steve

[Mittelwaechter]

The red ones should be used first as a reload, as they represent the two eels stored directly in the forward torpedo room right on the floor, while the other four eels were under the floor plates and only accessable after reloading the former two red ones.

As "realistic" Kaleun you should consider your weapons layout at your home port accordingly, to have steamers and electrics available anytime.

I switch to manual, but iirc the auto reload uses the red ones first.

[UKönig]

I heard once of a story where a U-boat crew managed to take the external stern reload out of its locker, turn it around, and load it into the forward tube.
I can't recall which boat did this, but I do remember it happened only once.
(all conditions to do so would have to be absolutely perfect).
I've wished that that could be done in the game...

[Mittelwaechter]

In calm seas they could remove an eel back outward through the aft hatch on deck, fix some floating device to it, float the upper decks awash and move the torpedo forward, blow balast again and reload through the forward hatch.

[maillemaker]

I only and always carry electrical torpedoes indoors. Outside is only steamers.

Until hedgehogs make their appearance. Then I go to all steam and shoot from a looooooong way away and dive well before they reach their targets. At that point in the war every shot is a Hail Mary and you absolutely cannot risk detection or you are done for.

Until you get homing torpedoes and/or a Type XXI boat. :)

Steve

[Tupolev]

The red Extra Reserve slots are technically the torpedoes stored in the bilges under the floor plates in bow compartments.

In game, I think it only really matters if you're using h.sie's and Stiebler's patches and resupplying at sea.

In reality, its only affected the VIIs. They had to carry electric torpedoes (G7e) in this location because the supports could damage the G7a engine. The opposite was true for the aft reserve torpedo; there was no access for battery maintenance for G7e's.

The XIs (from what my research has shown) had no restrictions aside from external storage.

T

[banryu79]

The red ones should be used first as a reload, as they represent the two eels stored directly in the forward torpedo room right on the floor, while the other four eels were under the floor plates...

The red Extra Reserve slots are technically the torpedoes stored in the bilges under the floor plates in bow compartments.

Mmm... I'm a bit confused now.
I like this kind of info cause then I can play trying to mimic what they did in RL. So could you please settle it in one way or the other?

[Pistoliero]

Well, ingame they deffinetely load red ones first.

[Mittelwaechter]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/68411017@N00/7955762018/?rb=1

They stored four torpedos under the plates and two directly on the floor.

In U-995 you can see them hanging, but that's just for the visitors not to balance over the eels to reach the tubes.

Think about removing torpedos from the tubes for maintenance and you'll understand they didn't fix/store the internal reserve at the reloading system.

The two "red" torpedos were stored on the floor - between the bunks - and covered with table plates for breakfast, dinner or spare time...

[Tupolev]

Well I'm basing my information on the Type VII manual, Type IXC design study, and lots of the interrogation reports on uboatarchive.net.

Which reserve slot relates to which in game is a matter of personal opinion. I guess the same could be said for which reserves were used first since I've never read any information on that. I would say whichever freed the most room for the crew.

There's an insane amount of information on that website. Very enlightening for playing to "historical accuracy".

T

[Mittelwaechter]

http://uboatarchive.net/DesignStudiesTypeIXCS75-3PlateII.jpg

http://uboat.net/forums/read.php?20,84419,84477

[banryu79]

:salute:
Thank you, misters, that's enough info for me.
Now, as I already store only steam eels on external reserves (I have command of a Type VIIB) I will also start to think about where to place my eels on a patrol start, beeing aware that the "red" locations will be the first to be loaded (I also use manual loading).