Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Platapus
I guess the ships sound heads would have to be aimed directly at the torpedo in order to pick up the sounds. What would be the chance of that happening at precisely the same moment as the torpedo passing through the bearing?
I think it would be much easier spotting the steam torpedo path and from what I read even that was difficult except in calm seas.
I think it would be a pretty lucky sound crew to detect a torpedo in WWII and to be able to locate and determine a reciprocal plot in time to take any effective maneuvers would be extra tough.
Has anyone come across any references from British or American ASW folks in WWII addressing this?
|
Yea - you'd be lucky to catch the transients. However, having 7-10 escorts per convoy tends to make you lucky. But once a torpedo is running, it's crazy to think that one of the escorts' SO wouldn't pick it up. As for specific plotting, like, i imagine that it would be hard to do because torpedoes move fast/flip across bearings. But at least you could get a crude guess about the position of the sub - and at the very least, you'd be able to initiate evasive maneuvers - snaking, etc, and potentially save ships.