Rear Torpedo Tube -VIIA

04-25-10, 05:29 AM

Can someone enlighten me, I'm just curious- the VIIA boat you start off with has the one rear torpedo tube, right?

I'm presuming that when in port the fish would be block and tackled and manhandled down a loading hatch?
Or was it inserted directly into the tube? Only I'm asking as in the game I can't see any rear tube at all.

I know from accounts that torpedos were complicated and temperamental and required frequent attention and maintenance. I am reading 'Das Boot' at the moment and it describes the routine cycle of a team of men, shirts off, and hours of physical labour to remove the bow torpedos from their tubes using block and tackle and overhead winches to grapple with 1.5 tons (Imp?) of torpedos where, on it's loading carriage, (I'm quoting directly from the book now) it can easily be moved forward, backward, or to either side.
Each man has his own special assignment. One tests the motor, another the bearings and axles. Special pipes are attached and the compressed-air tanks filled, rudder and hydroplane controls tested, the lubrication points filled with oil. Then, after much shouting and shoving, the fish is finally pushed back into the tube. (end quote).

So how was this achieved at the stern tube -

Those are e-motors in the screenie right? and I can't see any overhead loading carriage? or is this simply not dipicted in game?

Or, more likely, have I missed the point completely?

Regards to all!

hawk2495 · 04-25-10, 05:32 AM

The stern tube on the VIIA was loaded externally in port.. So no reloads, or maintenance were possible until you returned to port.

04-25-10, 05:40 AM

Ah! Makes sense as there are no reserves available. Cheers

Takao · 04-25-10, 07:14 AM

The rear tube on the Type VIIA was an "external Tube", i.e., it was located outside of the pressure hull. That is why you don't see it in your screen shot.

JU_88 · 04-25-10, 08:11 AM

British Submarines had alot of external tubes
The T-Class (type IX equivilent) had 4 to 5 of them.
The down side is that they cannot be reloaded or maintained while at sea.(and they werent all that reliable either)

And yes, As Takao says, you can't see them from inside the pressure hull because the're mounted outside

04-25-10, 08:24 AM

Ok, thanks.
It would make more sense to have a steam fish in that rear tube then, and the electrics up front, or a mix.

04-25-10, 05:29 AM	#1
rededge Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Rear Torpedo Tube -VIIA Can someone enlighten me, I'm just curious- the VIIA boat you start off with has the one rear torpedo tube, right? I'm presuming that when in port the fish would be block and tackled and manhandled down a loading hatch? Or was it inserted directly into the tube? Only I'm asking as in the game I can't see any rear tube at all. I know from accounts that torpedos were complicated and temperamental and required frequent attention and maintenance. I am reading 'Das Boot' at the moment and it describes the routine cycle of a team of men, shirts off, and hours of physical labour to remove the bow torpedos from their tubes using block and tackle and overhead winches to grapple with 1.5 tons (Imp?) of torpedos where, on it's loading carriage, (I'm quoting directly from the book now) it can easily be moved forward, backward, or to either side. Each man has his own special assignment. One tests the motor, another the bearings and axles. Special pipes are attached and the compressed-air tanks filled, rudder and hydroplane controls tested, the lubrication points filled with oil. Then, after much shouting and shoving, the fish is finally pushed back into the tube. (end quote). So how was this achieved at the stern tube - Those are e-motors in the screenie right? and I can't see any overhead loading carriage? or is this simply not dipicted in game? Or, more likely, have I missed the point completely? Regards to all!

04-25-10, 05:32 AM	#2
hawk2495 Sparky Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SierraVista, AZ Posts: 155 Downloads: 196 Uploads: 0	The stern tube on the VIIA was loaded externally in port.. So no reloads, or maintenance were possible until you returned to port.

04-25-10, 05:40 AM	#3
rededge Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Ah! Makes sense as there are no reserves available. Cheers

04-25-10, 07:14 AM	#4
Takao Officer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 244 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The rear tube on the Type VIIA was an "external Tube", i.e., it was located outside of the pressure hull. That is why you don't see it in your screen shot.

04-25-10, 08:11 AM	#5
JU_88 Silent Hunter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Posts: 3,803 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	British Submarines had alot of external tubes The T-Class (type IX equivilent) had 4 to 5 of them. The down side is that they cannot be reloaded or maintained while at sea.(and they werent all that reliable either) And yes, As Takao says, you can't see them from inside the pressure hull because the're mounted outside

04-25-10, 08:24 AM	#6
rededge Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Ok, thanks. It would make more sense to have a steam fish in that rear tube then, and the electrics up front, or a mix.