Quote:
Originally Posted by kapuhy
Let's say I am directly behind 150 meters long enemy ship in a convoy in a really bad weather - visibility is about 200 meters, so I have no chance to aim a shot properly. But if I fire a magnetic torpedo up his back from those 200 meters, theoretically it should arm itself and explode while still being under the target. Will this work or the torpedo has to be already armed while entering magnetic field of the target ship?
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At that range, it will not arm, and it must be armed before it can explode.
Also, directly behind (000) is a tough shot, though once you get 10 degrees out either way, you should be fine.
At short range (300-500 m), even in rough weather, premature detonation is not a big problem, no matter what the manuals say. Maybe 5% will go off early.
But attacking convoys in really rough weather is not advisable. As you point out, well-considered shots are impossible. Worse, if you do hit something, you will find it very hard to find again. Even worse, you can be sliced in half by another merchant as you try to line up your shot.
On my boat, in rough seas, we go down below and pinch each other.