Quote:
Originally Posted by Revus
Question:
Did the early Mk 18's have any depth keeping issues as well? just fired two at a stationary Zinbu Maru (15' keel). Fired two 18's at her, depth 10', mag pistols (as per orders from Brisbane). Both ran under her.
3 Aug 43, 0620, 6-47S 149-27E, calm seas. Picked her up on SJ not moving, heavily loaded. Submerged stern attack.
Tube 9: Gyro 12, Track 58S, 2300 yds
Tube 10: Gyro 13, Track 58S, 2300 yds
Turned on ext cams just because its the first patrol with these new 18's, watched them swim harmlessly under and continue on... sad...
Reengaged with tubes 7 & 8 with Mk 14's, at 7' depth. No problem at all, sunk like a flaming Japanese stone.
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Yes, the early MK 18 in 1943 had depth control problems as well as issues maintaining proper track on firing due to gyro issues, circular run, and battery problems causing a lot of missed shots. WAHOO famously took a full load of the early MK 18's out on her 6th patrol and did not even sink one ship due to all issues, other boats had similar issues.
Fortunately, the MK 18 never had the detonator issues, since it had the MK 8 detonator, not the MK 6 used by MK 14 torpedo. So duds not a issue. MK 18 never had magnetic detonator so not present in the sim, I disabled magnetic features on them, so use contact only.
I incorporated the depth control, gyro, and circular run issues into the update for TMO. Unfortunately no way to simulate the battery problems. I recall reading in some cases, torpedo was lauched then once clear of tube, just dropped, motor had no power to propel it. Dangerous was it could potentially "fall" onto the sub or sub could run into it, depending on how far it launched, how fast was sinking.
In the sim MK 18 becomes reliable in 1944 but early on but does retain a higher propensity to circle run than other torpedoes. In 1943, will have depth control issues similar to MK 14 in early war so will watch to do as skippers did, set them to minimum depth possible. a small chance of running a few feet deeper than set remains for entire war, as it was in reality.
They also have slightly less hitting power than MK 14 or MK 23, since warhead was 575 lbs or torpex vs 643 lbs. Still becomes a reliable torpedo though.