How Close is Too Close??
 

In terms of torp. arming. No closer than 400 yds.? 300? 200?

What's the deal?

Thanks.

I've never fired closer than 400 yards in this game, and those have all worked properly. I'm guessing 300-350 yards.

The historically accurate figure would be 450 yards, but whether this is implemented in SH4 I don't know (I guess it probably is, but then again, some stuff in SH4 is poorly researched - i.e. the USAAF Lancaster).

On real torpedoes: At 450 yards the detonator safety mechanisms released and the weapon would be live, also at this distance travelled, more advanced torpedoes such as the 14 and 18 would also enable some counter-mining devices to prevent sympathetic detonation from other torpedoes fired in a spread. It was this, along with the poorly-designed contact head of the detonator and the faulty depth control on early torpedoes that led to many duds and misses.

In theory a glancing angle should offer more chance of a detonation on an early US torpedo than a square-on hit, owing to the poor design of the Mark 3 detonating trigger. (I've found that on many occasions the opposite is true in SH4 however).

One other issue with torpedoes in SH4 is that an under the keel detonation if it happens in the right place, is almost always a great hit. A US study from 1943 determined that this was not actually the case in reality, when it was found that a loss of stability was invariably the cause for most sinkings, rather than flooding. This is not implemented in SH4, as you will often see ships that would be massively unstable, owing to hits, still merrily making their way along.

So, go for 450 yards minimum.

If you hear "Torpedo in the wa....." Doink... you might be too close.

Honestly I let one loose the other night on a ship targeted at about 400 yards.

A second ship slipped its bow in and "intercepted" the shot Im guessing closer than 200 yards damn near hit me.

We all cringed as the torp detonated and shook the entire boat.

Ive been working alot harder on my situational awarness since this mishap.

When one of my multiplayer sessions degenerated into a 'screw it, let's surface and blast them' affair (we nailed four destroyers BTW), I actually rammed a destroyer and while my boat was riding over the mid section of the destroyer, I launched a bow torpedo for a laugh, it just pooped out and then sank.

What a disappointment, I thought I was in for a ringside seat on the mother of all explosions. :arrgh!:

I demand that the devs fix this at once! - That's a joke by the way, before the flames arrive.

I am guessing from 300/550.:yep:

I think the 450 is about right in game. I was in a big storm, visibility down, rain, huge waves..........I popped up the scope for a quick look, right in the middle of a convoy. A huge tanker was 406y to my rear, I quickly fired 3 torps and all three (3) struck but did NOT explode. I'm assuming they didn't arm. :(

450 it is then. Thanks all.

I read a thread here that someone had a torp premature detonate as soon as it left the tube or it hit a rock or bottom or something.

He claimed it blew up as soon as it was launched and sank him.

I have had shots inside of 450 yards detonate but if you use 450 as a rule of thumb your safe... except for those circular runners :up:

lol i normally fire from 1400 :arrgh!:

I've been surprised once by a DD and had to fire from 100 meters. Enough said, the DD when down :D

I tend to engage at near point-blank range and I've never had a torp detonate inside 200 yards. I have had successful attacks inside 400 yards though...

Just to clarify: Is the range set comes from the TDC in yards or feet?

Yikes! that is far for a normal shot. I like to get up close and personal.

However I have shot at crippled ships at over 2000 but never normal shots.

How is your miss rate at that distance?

Meters.

No, I'm not kidding. See here:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=112747