RL torpedo question
 

My son asked why they didn't move torpedoes from the front to the back, or the other way as needed. I explained that they're aimed in opposite directions and the problem of space not allowing to turn a torpedo around. And I added in the weight, lack of a good long straight shot. He then suggested that they could surface and do it that way. I got thinking and realized that theoretically, it was possible. In all the accounts that people have read, does anyone know of someone actually trying this?
:lurk:

This is two u-boats, not American subs, and they are transferring torpedoes from one boat to the other, not fore to aft.

Still, show him these, tell him that a torpedo weighs more than a ton, and he should get the idea.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...e/img004kt.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...e/img005tc.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...e/Resupply.jpg

Also, since American subs didn't carry external reloads, it's a pretty safe bet that they also didn't have any gear onboard for winching the torpedo out of the torpedo room and up to the deck.

It was not logistically feasible to remove a fish from one section, take it outside, move it over a rolling deck, then back inside the other section and turning it's direction.

It was hard work moving a 2000 lbs explosive from the pier to the boat with shore cranes ... almost impossible at sea for US Fleet boats

I found this:
Worse seems to be refueling:
http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-111INT.htm

I also found this video, which partially answers the question asked in the "Decks Awash" thread. It seems that the torpedo was loaded onto the deck of the supply sub and prepared for transfer, and then the milch kuh submerged to the lower conning tower and the torpedo floated off. The procedure was reversed on the recieving sub. I had no idea they could be that precise, but it seems so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=vl-P7Fhst60

Thanks for the answers, they were great. That's one of the best things about this community. I asked a question that may sound silly, but instead of ridicule, I got good thought out answers. Answers were complete enough that my son was able to well understand.:salute:

That's a good point. I think that those kinds of operation usually did take place in warmer climes, since in the North Atlantic they were close enough to home to resupply at a real base.

I think a more important point in the case of the Germans is that those supply subs didn't carry enough fuel or torpedoes to keep the operational boats on station for a whole extra patrol. I'm pretty sure they normally only gave the front-line boats enough fuel to get home, and a couple of torpedoes, just in case.