Torpedo attack using hydrophone only...is it realistic?

Weisia · 05-20-10, 04:56 PM

Currently I am sailing in heavy rain, storm and fog and visibility is less then 1000m (already had a couple of merchants suddenly appearing from the fog with only 500m between by boat and the merchant) . Now I have a convoy report and it seems I have the correct course plotted. I am considering firing my torpedoes with hydrophone only but was this done in real life as well?

Platapus · 05-20-10, 05:02 PM

It was done in simulated training before the war. One thing to keep in mind if you are plotting via the hydrophones - where the noise is the loudest is where the target used to be.

The point of greatest sound will be either at the propeller or just aft of the propeller. In any case, it is no where near the center of the target. Be sure to compensate or you will probably miss aft of the target.

Brag · 05-20-10, 05:46 PM

Like Platapus says, it was practiced. I would recommend very short range, like four hundred meters and about five degrees ahead of max noise. I've had a couple of succesul hydrophone firings.

Sailor Steve · 05-20-10, 06:27 PM

Like both of the above said, it was practiced. I don't think it ever actually worked though.

Platapus · 05-20-10, 06:34 PM

An interesting question. Is there any record of a German submarine in WWII sinking a moving target solely by tracking with the hydrophones?

timmy41 · 05-20-10, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

An interesting question. Is there any record of a German submarine in WWII sinking a moving target solely by tracking with the hydrophones?

well the only sub ever sunk by a torpedo from another sub was targeted using hydrophones, but they did have visual contact of each other several times.

Mittelwaechter · 05-20-10, 09:15 PM

I guess they had orders to identify the ship before shooting it for obvious reasons.

05-20-10, 04:56 PM	#1
Weisia A-ganger Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 71 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 0	Torpedo attack using hydrophone only...is it realistic? Currently I am sailing in heavy rain, storm and fog and visibility is less then 1000m (already had a couple of merchants suddenly appearing from the fog with only 500m between by boat and the merchant) . Now I have a convoy report and it seems I have the correct course plotted. I am considering firing my torpedoes with hydrophone only but was this done in real life as well?

05-20-10, 05:02 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,404 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	It was done in simulated training before the war. One thing to keep in mind if you are plotting via the hydrophones - where the noise is the loudest is where the target used to be. The point of greatest sound will be either at the propeller or just aft of the propeller. In any case, it is no where near the center of the target. Be sure to compensate or you will probably miss aft of the target. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-20-10, 05:46 PM	#3
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Like Platapus says, it was practiced. I would recommend very short range, like four hundred meters and about five degrees ahead of max noise. I've had a couple of succesul hydrophone firings. __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

05-20-10, 06:27 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Like both of the above said, it was practiced. I don't think it ever actually worked though. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-20-10, 06:34 PM	#5
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,404 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	An interesting question. Is there any record of a German submarine in WWII sinking a moving target solely by tracking with the hydrophones? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-20-10, 09:15 PM	#7
Mittelwaechter The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,304 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	I guess they had orders to identify the ship before shooting it for obvious reasons. __________________ 10 happy wolves rear 90 blinded, ensnared sheep. 90 happy sheep banish the wolves. Arrest the 1% - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ6hg1oNeGE