Torpedo reload times

Sniper297 · 03-26-14, 08:16 PM

Been playing careers with a modified Sargo for so long I forgot exactly what I modded (senility is fun sometimes) so when I started fiddling with S-boat careers it struck me the torpedo reloads seemed unusually slow. After poking around here and there I discovered that at some point in the past (when I was still under 60 and had a few brain cells left) I changed the torpedo reload time setting in the \Data\Submarine\NSS_Sargo\NSS_Sargo.sim file from the default 1.32 to 0.5.

Before finding that I had been fooling with the S-18 CFG and UPC files changing the ReloadingweaponCoef= 0.072 to other numbers, which has no effect that I can detect. At the bottom of the .sim file however is 10/11 wpn_SubTorpedoSys. Under rooms\fore (and aft for anything other than a sugar boat) is LoadTime=1.32. Note at the bottom says this is reload time in minutes, but they're using a different clock because I timed the reload with an average crew (with GQ set) at 8 minutes per tube. So whatever the number is multiply by 6 and it should come pretty close, so what's a good compromise reload time? Don't want to make it too fast or there would be no point even having realistic reload on, but at 8 minutes per tube you might as well not bother sounding GQ since most of the remaining targets will become impatient waiting for you to reload and steam off to find another sub to sink them. The 0.5 I had set on the Sargo (still don't remember when I did that or why) comes out to about 3 minutes per tube, which is way too fast. 5 minutes or 6 be more reasonable? 5 minutes would have 4 tubes reloaded in 20 minutes, as opposed to 32 minutes for the default setting, would 4 minutes be too fast, four tubes in 16 minutes? Opinions vary, so let's see if we can find the average opinion.

Snarf · 03-27-14, 10:01 AM

One thing that I have found is that reload times are significantly shorter depending on if battle stations are called or not, since you have three times the crew working on it. Maybe if I get around to it i'll time the difference on that.

Sniper297 · 03-27-14, 10:30 AM

Right. GQ = General Quarters = same-same battle stations. The repeated tests timing 32-33 minutes to reload four tubes were with GQ set, crew at battle stations. Haven't tested without crew at GQ, no idea how much time that takes, and I never tried one of them superguys yet. I'm trying to find what the actual time was for reloading but google is worthless these days since you get zillions of hits that have nothing to do with the actual topic. My guess is it would have varied according to sub type as well, different kinds of reloading gear and space to work in would affect speed.

merc4ulfate · 03-27-14, 12:02 PM

http://maritime.org/doc/fleetsub/tubes/chap1.htm

While reading through the loading and firing procedures for the Mark 14 there was no mention of loading time but I'm still trying to find it as well. I searched for "loading time" "world war 2 submarine" and most of the hits google puts up are from subsim or ubi because search engines track your searches and sites and tries to steer you towards what you have wanted in the past.

I'm thinking about calling the folks over at the Battleship Park and see if any members might have the information about the Drum concerning loading times.

Sniper297 · 03-27-14, 03:04 PM

I'm used to misinformation on the internet, but this is no information at all. I'm GUESSING that it was slower than the U-boats, since the Germans had some high tech chutes/rollers/cranks to stuff their tubes, while Americans still used chain hoists and rope/pulley block&tackle powered by sweat&armstrong gruntworks.

But the consensus for dive times was Das Boot = 30 seconds, Yankee Doodle fleet boat = 60 seconds. Unless you read books written by actual submariners rather than journalists, all the real guys mention 3 to 5 minutes for the first dozen dives on sea trials while calculating compensation, after that it was drill drill drill until the 60 second dive was cut down to 30-35 seconds. No US fleet sub made it from the builder to Pearl without getting the standard time down to 35 seconds or less. But the 60 second myth persists and that's reflected in SH4. Changing that too, increased ballast flooding "liters per second" to at least double so a standard dive gets to periscope depth in less than 1 minute. Fiddling with the dive planes as well, still testing that.

For now I'm using 1.0 instead of 1.32 reload, that cuts the reload (WHILE AT GQ, AKA battle stations) from 8 minutes per tube to 6 minutes per tube. With an average crew of rated torpedomen, no supermen special abilities but no non-rated lubbers either.

ETR3(SS) · 03-28-14, 08:15 AM

Well a lot of the problem with info regarding WWII subs is you have more das boot fan boys than fleet boat fans.

Like you said this is reflected in SH4 and the fact that they made a u-boat expansion to increase sales.

But as far as your reload times go, I assume you're using realistic reloads? Uncheck that and measure the time then with the default 1.32.

Oh and if I remember correctly only the type 21 had the advanced loading system, rest of the boats used good 'ol manpower.

03-26-14, 08:16 PM	#1
Sniper297 The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philadelphia Shipyard Brig Posts: 1,386 Downloads: 160 Uploads: 19	Torpedo reload times Been playing careers with a modified Sargo for so long I forgot exactly what I modded (senility is fun sometimes) so when I started fiddling with S-boat careers it struck me the torpedo reloads seemed unusually slow. After poking around here and there I discovered that at some point in the past (when I was still under 60 and had a few brain cells left) I changed the torpedo reload time setting in the \Data\Submarine\NSS_Sargo\NSS_Sargo.sim file from the default 1.32 to 0.5. Before finding that I had been fooling with the S-18 CFG and UPC files changing the ReloadingweaponCoef= 0.072 to other numbers, which has no effect that I can detect. At the bottom of the .sim file however is 10/11 wpn_SubTorpedoSys. Under rooms\fore (and aft for anything other than a sugar boat) is LoadTime=1.32. Note at the bottom says this is reload time in minutes, but they're using a different clock because I timed the reload with an average crew (with GQ set) at 8 minutes per tube. So whatever the number is multiply by 6 and it should come pretty close, so what's a good compromise reload time? Don't want to make it too fast or there would be no point even having realistic reload on, but at 8 minutes per tube you might as well not bother sounding GQ since most of the remaining targets will become impatient waiting for you to reload and steam off to find another sub to sink them. The 0.5 I had set on the Sargo (still don't remember when I did that or why) comes out to about 3 minutes per tube, which is way too fast. 5 minutes or 6 be more reasonable? 5 minutes would have 4 tubes reloaded in 20 minutes, as opposed to 32 minutes for the default setting, would 4 minutes be too fast, four tubes in 16 minutes? Opinions vary, so let's see if we can find the average opinion.

03-27-14, 10:01 AM	#2
Snarf Officer Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: USS Tuna out of Pearl Harbor Posts: 243 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 10	One thing that I have found is that reload times are significantly shorter depending on if battle stations are called or not, since you have three times the crew working on it. Maybe if I get around to it i'll time the difference on that. __________________ "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -David Farragut (probably repeated by many WWII sub skippers)

03-27-14, 12:02 PM	#4
merc4ulfate DILLIGAF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: florida Posts: 2,058 Downloads: 210 Uploads: 0	http://maritime.org/doc/fleetsub/tubes/chap1.htm While reading through the loading and firing procedures for the Mark 14 there was no mention of loading time but I'm still trying to find it as well. I searched for "loading time" "world war 2 submarine" and most of the hits google puts up are from subsim or ubi because search engines track your searches and sites and tries to steer you towards what you have wanted in the past. I'm thinking about calling the folks over at the Battleship Park and see if any members might have the information about the Drum concerning loading times. __________________ Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is. ~Isaac Asimov~ Mercfulfate 将補日本帝國海軍

03-28-14, 08:15 AM	#6
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	Well a lot of the problem with info regarding WWII subs is you have more das boot fan boys than fleet boat fans. Like you said this is reflected in SH4 and the fact that they made a u-boat expansion to increase sales. But as far as your reload times go, I assume you're using realistic reloads? Uncheck that and measure the time then with the default 1.32. Oh and if I remember correctly only the type 21 had the advanced loading system, rest of the boats used good 'ol manpower. __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.

03-27-14, 10:30 AM	#3
Sniper297 The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philadelphia Shipyard Brig Posts: 1,386 Downloads: 160 Uploads: 19	Right. GQ = General Quarters = same-same battle stations. The repeated tests timing 32-33 minutes to reload four tubes were with GQ set, crew at battle stations. Haven't tested without crew at GQ, no idea how much time that takes, and I never tried one of them superguys yet. I'm trying to find what the actual time was for reloading but google is worthless these days since you get zillions of hits that have nothing to do with the actual topic. My guess is it would have varied according to sub type as well, different kinds of reloading gear and space to work in would affect speed.

03-27-14, 03:04 PM	#5
Sniper297 The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philadelphia Shipyard Brig Posts: 1,386 Downloads: 160 Uploads: 19	I'm used to misinformation on the internet, but this is no information at all. I'm GUESSING that it was slower than the U-boats, since the Germans had some high tech chutes/rollers/cranks to stuff their tubes, while Americans still used chain hoists and rope/pulley block&tackle powered by sweat&armstrong gruntworks. But the consensus for dive times was Das Boot = 30 seconds, Yankee Doodle fleet boat = 60 seconds. Unless you read books written by actual submariners rather than journalists, all the real guys mention 3 to 5 minutes for the first dozen dives on sea trials while calculating compensation, after that it was drill drill drill until the 60 second dive was cut down to 30-35 seconds. No US fleet sub made it from the builder to Pearl without getting the standard time down to 35 seconds or less. But the 60 second myth persists and that's reflected in SH4. Changing that too, increased ballast flooding "liters per second" to at least double so a standard dive gets to periscope depth in less than 1 minute. Fiddling with the dive planes as well, still testing that. For now I'm using 1.0 instead of 1.32 reload, that cuts the reload (WHILE AT GQ, AKA battle stations) from 8 minutes per tube to 6 minutes per tube. With an average crew of rated torpedomen, no supermen special abilities but no non-rated lubbers either.