T-II eel woes (Third patrol of U-3)

[Deep-Six]

Oberleutenat Z. S. Strelow reporting:

Was ordered to AN56 and patrol that area again. (What is BdU thinking).

So, on the way there, we ran into a small merchant. Lined her up and

fired my only T-1 eel I had on board. Just to mention that the seas were

heavy. Fired the torp from over 3000m and hits the merchant. Crew

cheers. I finally do get to my PA and do a standard search pattern and

another small merchant appears. Rough seas are still a problem. I open

tube 1 and launch the eel on the uproll. The eel falls into the water and

about two seconds later it explodes. GGGRRRRRR!!!!!! I launch a second

and this time it was on the downroll. About 15 seconds later, BOOM!! It

explodes prematurely. What the hell!!!. I nixed the idea to launching a

third. Few hours later Hurricanes appear and forced me to dive as a result

of not gettting that merchant.

Having two eels left, I head towards Hartlespool. Got in there and went

after the T-2 first. Lined up the target and launched my first eel and it

explodes under the keel. The tanker is now on fire. I launch my last eel

and it bounced off the side of the ship. Now I am really mad duds are

making me really frustrated. :damn: :damn: :damn: :damn:

By not getting those two ships cost me over 12000t of shipping. I am

starting to hate the T-II eels. :yep:

[Ula Jolly]

German high command did at one point actually issue an order NOT to use the magnetic setting, and for a good reason. :D

[Skubber]

T-IIs in rough seas are a bad mix, esp. with the magnetic setting.
I sometimes still forget and try it ... lost a tanker last patrol due to premature explosion.

It happens. :cry:

[Deep-Six]

on the next patrol I am doing a all T-1s.

[Kissaki]

I always carry two T-IIs and the rest T-Is. In case of calm, sunny day-time weather, especially if it's a warship, it's good to have something wakeless. However, I would never fire at 3000m in rough seas unless I had no other choice. Ideally my target is around 600-700 meters away when I fire in rough seas.

[Deep-Six]

The eel that i fired from over 3000m was a T-1. I would never fire a T-II

from that range as I know that it will miss.

[Kissaki]

Oh yes, from that range I would never fire a lazy 30 knotter. If the target is three minutes or so away, I don't risk it. But the T-I will occasionally blow up in the middle of the path as well, which is why I like the proximity. Especially if I'm in the midst of a convoy and they're not supposed to know of my presence yet. I've had a T-I explode that way a couple of times and attract all sorts of unwanted attention, and completely ruining my beautiful attack run. What usually follows is a resounding "VERDAMMT!" and a quick dive.

[Sailor Steve]

All I can say is...

Be more aggressive.

[Kissaki]

Easy for you to say, you don't have 200 flower corvettes chasing your rear end. :shifty: ;)