[REQ] resupply ship

[Capt. Shark Bait]

no doubt there wereprobably some of these in somewhat friendly waters in the Pacific. make things a bit easier than going to whatever port just to resupply. this would be seperate from when it's necessary to goto a port for another mission

[perisher]

You cannot resupply from a depot ship on the open sea, unless there is no wind and no swell, the war could end before that happened. The difficulty in safely loading torpedoes, big, long, heavy objects that had a tendency to explode, into a submarine from a larger ship alongside is so great that it is, in fact, impossible. The alternative, of lowering the torpedoes into the water, floating them to the sub, while the sub runs with decks awash so they can float onto the deck, is so time consuming that it just would not be worth it.

[FIREWALL]

Am I missing something here or did you two just get SH-4 ?

Those anchor's on the map with white strips are resupply ships.


Edit: Sorry I thought you meant a mod.

[perisher]

I think the point of the original post was a request for wandering resupply ships, forgive me if I misunderstood. Yes I had noticed the forward support depot ships, I was just pointing out the difficulties in replenishment at sea for submarines.

[Chock]

with regard to real-life operations, transferring torpedoes at sea was certainly not impossible.

I do know that the Kriegsmarine had long rubber rafts specifically designed for the transfer of torpedoes at sea from ships and resupply submarines, although I can't imagine that it was a very easy or indeed safe process. Imagine the fun a Sunderland would have had chancing across that sort of thing taking place!

Presumably the US Navy would have also had that capability, and although I've never seen one in game either in the 3D sim or on the map, I'm led to believe they are in there.

[Capt. Shark Bait]

yup, got it a coupla weeks ago, or so, now. i know about the anchors, and it's exactly what perisher said, tho it would be no different from when you goto a port and the refit icon shows in the corner. you'd just need tyo get within a certain range of the ship, unless something in the game engine would prevent it. it would definitely be convenient than running outta ammo and having top break off contact to resupply at a base a few days away.

[perisher]

Originally Posted by Chock

with regard to real-life operations, transferring torpedoes at sea was certainly not impossible.

I do know that the Kriegsmarine had long rubber rafts specifically designed for the transfer of torpedoes at sea from ships and resupply submarines, although I can't imagine that it was a very easy or indeed safe process. Imagine the fun a Sunderland would have had chancing across that sort of thing taking place!

Presumably the US Navy would have also had that capability, and although I've never seen one in game either in the 3D sim or on the map, I'm led to believe they are in there.

I am sure that the USN could have done so, had they wanted to, or, probably more correctly, needed to. However it would have be a major change in operational procedures. A U boat was equipped with the cordage, tackles and sheers necessary to move the external torpedoes into the torpedo rooms. US fleet subs routinely sailed on war patrols leaving almost all of their cordage, ropes and lines behind at base, or a forward refuelling point. The idea being that if a D/C blew a deck storage compartment open there would be nothing inside to float up and betray the boat's position.
The other drawback to replenishment at sea, especially of torpedoes, is the weather and sea state. I have read of U boats waiting for many days for the weather to clear enough for them to take on supplies from a milch-cow and, I believe, Pacific ocean swells are a bigger problem than Atlantic ones. Like you say, it would be target heaven for an aircraft.
I often wonder just how often a successful resupply was made from a milch-cow, not very often, I suspect. In most cases it would just have been fuel and stores.

[Sailor Steve]

As far as I know, U.S. submarines never ressupplied at sea.

[AirborneTD]

US boats never resupplied by sea that I've read. All Tenders were docked either at main bases or forward.

There was one interesting story I've read (out of many recently) where a US sub transferred torps from the rear torpedo room to the front (or vice versa). They removed them and floated them to the other end for reloading. That did not happen much (or ever again) in a combat zone. I forget the exact reason they needed to do this.

[perisher]

Originally Posted by AirborneTD

US boats never resupplied by sea that I've read. All Tenders were docked either at main bases or forward.

There was one interesting story I've read (out of many recently) where a US sub transferred torps from the rear torpedo room to the front (or vice versa). They removed them and floated them to the other end for reloading. That did not happen much (or ever again) in a combat zone. I forget the exact reason they needed to do this.

I have seen film of U Boat doing this. Obviously the torpedoes are more use in the forward room, but it's a difficult evolution to carry out. First they hauled two torps out onto the after deck. Then they fitted them with life-jackets, to act as fenders, and attached several lines. The boat then trimmed right down until the deck was sufficiently awash to float the torps off. Then it was fully surfaced again, so that the deck crew could work the torpedoes forward. Then again they trimmed down to float them aboard the fore deck. A handful of very brave men stayed on the deck to guide them aboard. Sod that for a game of sailors!

[DeerHunter UK]

Just out of interest the Royal Navy had 2 supply ships operating in the Pacific theatre, HMS Adamant which serviced our T class subs and was later joined by HMS Maidstone which serviced our S class subs and also some of the Dutch subs I believe.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by DeerHunter UK

Just out of interest the Royal Navy had 2 supply ships operating in the Pacific theatre, HMS Adamant which serviced our T class subs and was later joined by HMS Maidstone which serviced our S class subs and also some of the Dutch subs I believe.

But did they supply them at sea or in a port?

[perisher]

In port, or at least a sheltered anchorage.

[DeerHunter UK]

I believe they were all in port. There was also a 3rd Royal Navy supply ship, HMS Wolfe which was part of the 2nd Flotilla. She was stationed at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from August '44.

[Egan]

Out of interest, there are several documented cases of rendezvous between Two U-boats ( and more on occasion?) to trade fuel and supplies (I don't know about torpedoes,) are there any instances of US boats doing similar?