Magnetic pistol

[commandosolo2009]

Ahoy mateys,
Let me start by mentioning the pistol article at wikipedia. Are equatorial latitudes influence represented in-game for the pistol? Can torpedoes in 43 be set to detonate at a specified range from the stadimeter? Be it that range of the ship minus beam? I know its flawed in-game but previously, in calm waters, 0 m/s , they failed to detonate (which I suppose pertinent to realism in representing flaws of the Mk6 exploder).

No tweaks or anything to correct the magnetic pistol in the current year? I know for certain that Mk14's were better by 43 thanks to Adm. Lockwood. Sorry if this is an old gossip.

[TorpX]

First, the German and US magnetic pistols were of different designs. I don't know much about the German type.

Lockwood did improve the Mk 14 torpedo, but I don't think the mark 6 exploder was ever fixed. By that I mean it was considered irredemably flawed. From what I have read, there were three exploders used with the Mk 14 torpedo:

1. the mk 6 exploder.......................................mag netic/impact
2. the "Pearl Harbor" exploder............................impact only
3. an electrical type exploder.............................impact only

The "Pearl Harbor" exploder was some sort of improvisation; not a BuOrd purpose designed unit. I don't know the details of it. The last type was a completely new design, and used a ball switch to close an electrical contact and fire the detonator. I think this one solved the dud problem for good. AFAIK, Lockwood's impact tests, marked the end of end of efforts to use the magnetic exploder. Details about all of this tend to vary from source to source. Maybe others will post more info on this.

Can torpedoes in 43 be set to detonate at a specified range from the stadimeter? Be it that range of the ship minus beam? I know its flawed in-game but previously, in calm waters, 0 m/s , they failed to detonate (which I suppose pertinent to realism in representing flaws of the Mk6 exploder).

I'm sure the game is modeled too rigidly to permit this. SH3, from what I've read on the forums, doesn't even have torpedo malfunctions.





After reading about all these torpedo issues, I've been wondering why no attempt was made to use a earlier exploder. We had Mk 10 torpedos, and also inventories of Mk 9 and even Mk 8 torps. Could the exploders from them have been used? Also, little is written about exploders in the Mk 13 or Mk 15 torpedos (the air-launched and destroyer launched versions). They evidently did not use the mk 6 exploder. I suspect the problems could have been fixed fairly easily, if only the Navy had been willing to admit there was a problem.

[Mescator]

Originally Posted by TorpX

The "Pearl Harbor" exploder was some sort of improvisation; not a BuOrd purpose designed unit. I don't know the details of it.

As i recall, It was basically the same as the BuOrd version, only machined in lightweight aluminum from the japanese planes that were shot down during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lowered the initial forces by replacing the heavier metal they originally used.

Originally Posted by TorpX

Also, little is written about exploders in the Mk 13 or Mk 15 torpedos (the air-launched and destroyer launched versions). They evidently did not use the mk 6 exploder. I suspect the problems could have been fixed fairly easily, if only the Navy had been willing to admit there was a problem.

I believe the 13 and 15 suffered the same problems, but it was less obvious. Due to the nature of Arial bombing and surface combat, less attention was paid to the detonations. A unobserved Submarine however....

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by Mescator

As i recall, It was basically the same as the BuOrd version, only machined in lightweight aluminum from the japanese planes that were shot down during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lowered the initial forces by replacing the heavier metal they originally used.

I've read this, but some sources described this as the firing pins being aluminum, and some as guide pins being aluminum. Most authors don't seem to be very interested in the details of this. I would love to see a schematic of the mk 6. Anyway, it suggests that the problem could be easily fixed once it was identified.

I believe the 13 and 15 suffered the same problems, but it was less obvious. Due to the nature of Arial bombing and surface combat, less attention was paid to the detonations. A unobserved Submarine however....

One would think the BuOrd would use the same exploder in all it's first line offensive torpedos, but I have no confirmation of this. I really don't know. The last book I read on the subject, talked quite a bit about the Mk 13 and problems related to water-entry (nothing about any exploder issues), but said nothing about the Mk 15. Perhaps destroyers did not use them enough for any shortcomings to be noticed. I have also not read much about whatever exploder was in the Mk 10. Apparently, it worked well enough. I must try to find some more info on the subject.