Circular Running torpedoes
 

On the 9th of January 1942, at approximately 0020hrs, the USS Thresher(SS-200) Commanded by Lieutenant Commander William Jackson spotted a Japanese Nagara Maru class Freighter at 133°41' E 31°30' N. The Thresher then dived to periscope depth to engage the enemy with torpedoes. After leveling out, the Thresher fired two of her Mark 14 torpedoes at the target. Upon realizing that the first two shots had both missed, Lt-Cdr Jackson fired another two torpedoes. Moments later the Thresher was hit by an unidentified object, causing a massive external explosion, which resulted in major flooding in the Engine room, as well as the Aft Torpedo compartment. The Thresher then attempted to surface, but the damage control crews were overcome by the severe flooding. Around 0035hrs, the Thresher sunk with all hands lost. It is believed that the Thresher may in fact have been hit by one of her own torpedoes.



So, uhh, this just happened to me, I'm running TMO, and just wanted to ask if this is actually implemented in the mod, or if it just happened because I somehow planned a poor shot.

It's implemented in the stock game.

This hasn't happened to me yet...I'll have to remember to check that they are running hot straight and normal...it hasn't even occurred to me to check this. I must have fired over a hundred torpedoes so far and afaik, none have circled back - unless I just got lucky - is the circular run always an exact circle, or is more random than that?

I fired it, then lowered the periscope. I checked on the hydrophone to make sure they were on course, but they seemed to be buzzing all over the place.

:timeout: I thought the same thing, I must be real lucky, never had a circle runner. Then someone posted a thread about circle runners, within two days I had one that destroyed my engines and took out most of my batteries, Very Bad Ju-Ju these kinda of threads, be careful Keelbuster

Yup, what varies is percentage of the likeyhood of it happening. If i remember correctly, stock is a 0.5% chance, i think i upped that to 1.5% or 2% chance in TMO, i forget which. Getting one is totally random. Not much you can do to prevent it, it'll just happen out of the blue.

I had it happen once. It was during "practice" so I got to use the external cam to watch it go round and round. It made a perfect circle and passed several times right over the deck above the aft torpedo room. I ordered a backing bell and reduced depth to see what would happen if it hit. I got it to smack the hull right about at the control room. It turned out to be a dud, so it just bounced off and sank to the bottom.

Wow... I didn't know it was that high. I'm probably on borrowed time now since I'm sure I've fired more than 50.

Just funny that it happened in my first real war patrol :/ Anyway, after that, I started another career based in the Phillipines, and ran into a nice taskforce 4+ DDs, 1 CA, 1 CL, 2 Seaplane Tenders and heaps of freighters. I lined up to fire 2 torpedoes at the CA and 2 at one of the Seaplane tenders, and guess what, all 4 exploded prematurely :(

I've had exactly the same experience. Hadn't had a single one and was wondering if they ever happened at all, started reading about other people's experiences of them and within a few days had one hit me during a convoy attack!

Playing stock though, so actually made it back to base with a big hole in the side of the boat. Don't think it would have survived in real life!

One of my first experiences with a circle runner was during an attack on a convoy in stock shortly after the game was released.

I managed to avoid the escorts and get in close. I fired four torpedoes, two aimed at each of two freighters. The first three ran straight, but the fourth fish started in a circle. The first two hit, taking down one ship. The other freighter started doing the constant helming dance. It managed to avoid torpedo number three. I had gone to flank and started maneuvering to avoid the rouge torpedo, so I went to the external camera to watch. The torpedo went around and around, the freighter went weaving like a drunken sailor, right towards where I had launched from.

When the torpedo came around and hit the freighter, I got my second sinking of the attack.

Do the Mark 10's, 14's, and 18's all have a different chance of circling? Or are they all the same percentage chance?:-?

I've had it happen to me twice, but not recently.

Wish there was some way to have the sonar operator check the torpedo run.

Yeah usually when I play without external views, I check the torpedo to make sure that its roughly lined up with the target. At first it seemed like it was a little bit off though, then when I checked it again a minute or so later, it was way off.