Tactical Use of Different Torp Types
 

I am reading an excellent book called "Pampanito, Killer-Angel" about - err...- the USS Pampanito.

I am halfway thru the description of the first patrol in March of '44 and I found it interesting that the loadout was as follows:

Fore = Mark XIV steamers
Aft = Mark XVIII electrics

I don't understand this myself as - If I were the captain - I would do the reverse as I would want to stealth my way in using the element of surprise - which would include wakeless electric fish. Once the enemy knows I'm there I would be running away anyway and would go w/ the faster steamers.

Thoughts on deployment of a mixed bag of fish?

Barkhorn.

Mabe he points his aft at the enemy so he is ready to run away quickly, and in desperation charges an enemy head on firing stemers to seem imposing causing the enemy to swerve, allowing him to make good his escape ?

Speed?

The Mark XIV ran at 45 knots fast setting.

The Mark XVIII ran at 30 knots.

plus the Electrices where in shorter supply and cost a lot more to make.

I have two guesses

1.) If you have time enough to set up a stern shot (always a bit more tricky then using your bow), then you have time for an electric torpedo.

2.) If for whatever reason he has a jap tin can after him, said tin can wont be able to spot an electric fish like a steam fish. US subs taking on destroyers was not unheadof. THe coined phraise i beleive was a "down the throat shot"

Number 2. That's exactly what I was going to say. "The destroyer won't know he's being shot at". Yeah, I like that one. Ducimus, you're a genius.

Silent Hunter III works just like that, in fact. If you have a rookie Destroyer bearing down on you from behind without zig-zagging, you'll want to fire an electric torpedo at him. She won't hear it, and even if she does, it won't be until it's too late. A steamer, however, she'll spot in an instant and attempt to dodge.

Maybee they will keep that for SH IV. However after the war it was found that virtualy no mark XIV's were detected by IJN lookouts untill it was too late. That of course is hind sight. Just another thing that if made realistic could be taken advantage of by the player. The 15 knot speed difference could tempt you to use mark XIVs all the time if they modeled torpedo wake reality(post dud problem XIVs that is).

BTW. the Mark XIVs, after its problems were corrected, were used until the 1980s.