What is positive bouyancy, daddy?

[Abd_von_Mumit]

Positive bouyancy is being a lousy, rusty tramp steamer (passenger/cargo) that takes six torpedoes before it sinks.

That happened on our last patrol, BF15, Nov. '39, windy weather. The ship was followed by a small tanker (both British) on her way East (probably Plymouth). The tanker sunk after the first hit in the bow. The steamer got more lucky – the first torpedo missed (ok, ok, I sometimes do not plot anything and just shoot, this time it didn't work). The second torpedo hit her... and just bounced off. Seas were too heavy to use magnetic pistol, so I set the depth to 2 m, impact. The third torpedo exploded and I started shadowing the ship to see it going down. But no... she listed a bit but didn't die. After 3 hours I decided to finish her with fourth torpedo, this time from the second side. Hit and blast... and nothing more. The ship was still going ahead. After 5 (five) more hours it was still going at 4 knots. That's enough, I said to myself, and... the fifth eel bounced off, despite being set very precisely. The sixth torpedo did the job and sent the rusty bucket straight to heaven in a huge blast (whole the ship went to pieces in a matter of seconds and sank soon after that).

And U-52 under Oberleun. z. S. Herbert Mann started trip back to Wilhelmshaven through Der Kanal. But noone aboard felt like a winner.

[Dekessey]

I met such a passenger/cargo thing lately in a type II.

2 eels at 2m deep weren't enough. Had to spend over half of my arsenal to kill a lousy 3t ship.

[trongey]

I just started a new career in Wilhelmshaven. My first patrol was grid AN16 - Scapa Flow! I was excited, but a little nervous about being around that many warships in a type II with only 5 eels.

Just after I entered the grid I got a radio report of a ship that I would almost intercept on my present course. I made a small adjustment and spotted the small merchant in great position. At 1250m I fired a steam torpedo running fast at 4m with impact trigger - it bounced of of the hull. I recalculated and fired #2 with the same settings - same result! Tube 3 was an electric that I fired 4m deep with impact trigger. I finally got an explosion, and the ship sank within minutes. Three of my five torpedos for one tiny cargo ship.

A few hours later I intercepted a T2. The intercept wasn't quite as good so I ended up right on his bow. At 1350m I fired a steam torpedo running fast at 9m with magnetic trigger. Hoping to enjoy the eye candy I switched to free view. Watched the eel run the length of the keel before detonating under the stern. Didn't even slow it down. I tried to line up a shot with my last eel, but couldn't get a good solution on the now evading target and missed. I vented my frustration by blowing all of the cargo off of it's decks with my flak gun before heading home.

-----------------------
Tony

[Brag]

The good news: Passenger/cargo in GWX 2.0 sink with 0ne torpedo

[Abd_von_Mumit]

Originally Posted by Brag

The good news: Passenger/cargo in GWX 2.0 sink with 0ne torpedo

Oh, it's a lie! My story comes from GWX 2.0.

[TarJak]

It all depends on where you hit em.

[candy2500]

Originally Posted by TarJak

It all depends on where you hit em.

true

[Dekessey]

Originally Posted by TarJak

It all depends on where you hit em.

How about in the middle? Shouldn't that be a good spot since the engine and fuel are supposed to be there?

I use GWX 2.0 also.

[Samwolf]

Originally Posted by Dekessey

How about in the middle? Shouldn't that be a good spot since the engine and fuel are supposed to be there?

I use GWX 2.0 also.

I usually have good luck hitting them right under the first mast.

[kenijaru]

mh... that sounds familiar.... oh yeah! Gunther Prien went through that too!

I read it on "the way to scapa flow"(1) he torpedoed a tanker full of some liquid way heavier than water and so, to his and his crew's surprise, the ship gained bouyancy instead of loosing it, as that liquid left the ship and was replaced with water. I dont remember what exactly happened next, but it ended up with some extra tonnage on the bottom.


(1) The way to Scapa Flow is a book writen by Gunther Prien in 1940 about his life and career. Its rather short and only 1/3 of it is about his career in the Kriegsmarine. But i recommend it nontheless

[Dekessey]

"We are not retreating, we are advancing in another direction."Gen Douglas MacArthur

LOL
Never heard that one, great quote.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Dekessey

How about in the middle? Shouldn't that be a good spot since the engine and fuel are supposed to be there?

It's also the easiest part to aim for, which is a big plus if you use manual targetting.

[poor sailor]

Originally Posted by Abd_von_Mumit

Oh, it's a lie! My story comes from GWX 2.0.

Just sinked one passenger/cargo with one torpedo, GWX v.2.0. Ship was hit with magnetic torpedo under keel and was located somewhere on stern side, also the propeller was hard destroyed. So it depend where the hit was.

[BulSoldier]

Torps spent on the cargo/passager combined are heavier than the ship you were trying to sink

[Jimbuna]

Try just ahead of the propellor :hmm: