Stationary Carrier avoids Torpedo. How???????

melnibonian · 10-12-06, 08:54 AM

Hello everyone

I’m in March 1940 on a VIIB sneaking through Scapa Flow, only to find the HMS Formidable (Illustrious Class Aircraft Carrier) and the HMS Queen of Bermuda (Auxiliary Cruiser) moored in the bay!!!!!

After the initial shock I’ve started planning an intercept course.

Both ships were stationary, so I assumed they were easy pickings. First I went for the Carrier. I’ve approached the HMS Formidable (in silent running at 3 knots at periscope depth) to 600m. There I stop the engines and fired a salvo of 4 torpedoes. To my big surprise the Carrier started moving at 9 knots instantly after I fired the salvo!!!!!!! One torpedo hit and the other three missed. I was firing from 600m away at an angle of 91 deg with fast torpedo settings. There are two questions here:

a) How on earth they could hear the torpedoes as they do not have hydrophones. It’s an aircraft carrier and not a destroyer!!!

b) How on earth they managed to go from stationary to 9 knots instantly and avoid the torpedoes???? The laws of physics talk about inertia and it’s mighty difficult to start moving a ship (especially a pretty big one) from a stationary position.

I don’t know I’m lost here. I just cannot understand how they’ve managed to avoid being hit, to hear the firing salvo and to start moving at top speed so quickly. I just don’t get it. Any ideas anyone?????

Thanks a lot. I’m playing GW by the way

P.S. In the end both the Illustrious and the Queen of Bermuda went down but not without using all my torpedoes.

Captain Nemo · 10-12-06, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melnibonian

a) How on earth they could hear the torpedoes as they do not have hydrophones. It’s an aircraft carrier and not a destroyer!!!

It was quite common for lookouts on warships to spot the torpedoes wake and take evasive action to avoid them. Not sure about your other points, but it does sound like an impossible manoeuvre to go from 0 to 9 knots instantly.

Nemo

Hartmann · 10-12-06, 09:26 AM

it means that the carrier has the boilers on, and the bridge manned , ready to steam at full speed , despite it is in port and probably the crew is in the cantines drinking and drinking

:rotfl:

it would be interesting the possibility of tweak the ship aceleration, they could reach the speed but not instantly

why this ugly avatars ??

Respenus · 10-12-06, 09:41 AM

That is strange. 0-9kn in an instant. Somene has been playing God in GW

To make sure you hit with good old steam torps, make sure you're really close. REALLY!!! 500m should be good enough (but it bring into question the arming time :hmm

. The second thing is, like mentioned before, gas torps leave a trail on the surface. You should have targeted a bit before the ship and set it fast (like you did).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartmann

it means that the carrier has the boilers on, and the bridge manned , ready to steam at full speed , despite it is in port and probably the crew is in the cantines drinking and drinking

:rotfl:

it would be interesting the possibility of tweak the ship aceleration, they could reach the speed but not instantly

why this ugly avatars ??

Well I believe it's a "one post stand" avatar. Write another post and it should be gone!

melnibonian · 10-12-06, 09:58 AM

Thanks.

I've learned from that experience and now I never fire beyond 400-350m!!!!!!! That's how I've got them in the end. Still the acceleration is a bit ....'unrealistic'

Sailor Steve · 10-12-06, 10:49 AM

As to "hearing" the torpedoes, what time of day was it? If it was daytime they could see the wakes, unless they were electrics.

As to moving, it's BS. Even a stationary destroyer couldn't accelerate fast enough to avoid a torpedo from a standing start. All ships in SHIII, including your U-boat, accelerate WAY too quickly.

On the other hand, you being able to go into Scapa Flow at all is BS as well. In October '39 Gunther Prien only managed to do it after much discussion with Doenitz himself, including consulting every available chart and planning the mission for days. After that embarassment the main British bases were much more heavily defended. The "harbor raids" in the game are a joke.

10-12-06, 08:54 AM	#1
melnibonian Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Reading UK Posts: 3,473 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Stationary Carrier avoids Torpedo. How??????? Hello everyone I’m in March 1940 on a VIIB sneaking through Scapa Flow, only to find the HMS Formidable (Illustrious Class Aircraft Carrier) and the HMS Queen of Bermuda (Auxiliary Cruiser) moored in the bay!!!!! After the initial shock I’ve started planning an intercept course. Both ships were stationary, so I assumed they were easy pickings. First I went for the Carrier. I’ve approached the HMS Formidable (in silent running at 3 knots at periscope depth) to 600m. There I stop the engines and fired a salvo of 4 torpedoes. To my big surprise the Carrier started moving at 9 knots instantly after I fired the salvo!!!!!!! One torpedo hit and the other three missed. I was firing from 600m away at an angle of 91 deg with fast torpedo settings. There are two questions here: a) How on earth they could hear the torpedoes as they do not have hydrophones. It’s an aircraft carrier and not a destroyer!!! b) How on earth they managed to go from stationary to 9 knots instantly and avoid the torpedoes???? The laws of physics talk about inertia and it’s mighty difficult to start moving a ship (especially a pretty big one) from a stationary position. I don’t know I’m lost here. I just cannot understand how they’ve managed to avoid being hit, to hear the firing salvo and to start moving at top speed so quickly. I just don’t get it. Any ideas anyone????? Thanks a lot. I’m playing GW by the way P.S. In the end both the Illustrious and the Queen of Bermuda went down but not without using all my torpedoes.

10-12-06, 09:26 AM	#3
Hartmann Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grid CH 26, Spain ,Barcelona Posts: 1,857 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	it means that the carrier has the boilers on, and the bridge manned , ready to steam at full speed , despite it is in port and probably the crew is in the cantines drinking and drinking :rotfl: it would be interesting the possibility of tweak the ship aceleration, they could reach the speed but not instantly why this ugly avatars ?? __________________ But this ship can't sink!... She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Strength and honor Last edited by Hartmann; 10-12-06 at 09:29 AM.

10-12-06, 10:49 AM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	As to "hearing" the torpedoes, what time of day was it? If it was daytime they could see the wakes, unless they were electrics. As to moving, it's BS. Even a stationary destroyer couldn't accelerate fast enough to avoid a torpedo from a standing start. All ships in SHIII, including your U-boat, accelerate WAY too quickly. On the other hand, you being able to go into Scapa Flow at all is BS as well. In October '39 Gunther Prien only managed to do it after much discussion with Doenitz himself, including consulting every available chart and planning the mission for days. After that embarassment the main British bases were much more heavily defended. The "harbor raids" in the game are a joke. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

10-12-06, 09:58 AM	#5
melnibonian Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Reading UK Posts: 3,473 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Thanks. I've learned from that experience and now I never fire beyond 400-350m!!!!!!! That's how I've got them in the end. Still the acceleration is a bit ....'unrealistic'