Why does my torpedoes bounce off target ships???

[Ahmed_Yjj]

E?
At most times they just bounce off and do not explode!!!
I am using SH3 Gray Wolves.

[Paul Riley]

A few things could be happening here -

1 - The target ship's angle of bow to the direction of the torpedo could be too steep causing the torpedo to glance off.Ideally you want the contact angle to be as near to 90 degrees as is practically possible.When you attack a ship you want to be able to see as much of the beam (the side of the ship) as possible,this will then tell you that you have a decent contact angle for the torpedo.

2 - The torpedo could have been a dud (which IS rendered in the game)

3 - The target ship could be pitching heavily in rough sea causing the torpedo to bounce off the keel (underside)

[Ahmed_Yjj]

Originally Posted by Paul Riley

A few things could be happening here -

1 - The target ship's angle of bow to the direction of the torpedo could be too steep causing the torpedo to glance off.Ideally you want the contact angle to be as near to 90 degrees as is practically possible.When you attack a ship you want to be able to see as much of the beam (the side of the ship) as possible,this will then tell you that you have a decent contact angle for the torpedo.

2 - The torpedo could have been a dud (which IS rendered in the game)

3 - The target ship could be pitching heavily in rough sea causing the torpedo to bounce off the keel (underside)

So it is normal?
:-(

[Paul Riley]

It is normal probably yes,you could be experiencing any of the things I mentioned earlier.If it happens again explain to me what the conditions were,and your angle to the target ship.
Are you new to the game?

[irish1958]

For the first couple of years in the war, the American torpedoes had a very high failure rate (duds). This was due to the Naval Department of ordinance's failure to test them (they were afraid that if they did, the enemy would learn of the results and develop a counter-measure). In spite of not having tested the torpedoes, the Navy brass refused to believe the sub commanders reports of faulty hits and no testing was done for a couple of years. When finally tested, the found out that the sub commanders were correct: the damn things didn't work.
This is modeled in the game in SHIV.
The German torpedoes had a similar problem with the magnetic exploder, and this is modeled in the game. The BDU issued a directive to not use them until they were fixed and the defective torpedoes were used up.

[Torp III]

Also with the above, make sure your not running the torpedoes to deep. I run mine at from 2 to 2.5 meters when using impact pistols.

[ralphnader23]

Try varying your depth. Like Trop III said, if you are going for impact, make sure you are setting the depth to less than 4m. If you are going magnetic try setting the depth to about a meter less than the draft of the ship. The default depth of about 5-6m will result in you bouncing off the angled part of the boat.

imagine this is a ship with the m's being the waterline (assumes a 90 AoB)

      x
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
      x
      x <======  good, this will detonate, because it's flatter
      x
     x
    x     
  x    <======   bad, this might bounce, because of the slope of the keel.
x

<======  good, this will detonate if you have magnetic set when it goes under the ship.

That's been my experience at least.

[Ahmed_Yjj]

Originally Posted by Paul Riley

It is normal probably yes,you could be experiencing any of the things I mentioned earlier.If it happens again explain to me what the conditions were,and your angle to the target ship.
Are you new to the game?

Yes, i`m new. Well I am 1939 and have successfully lunched torpedoes only few times, including to Dane ship (such a success, but then at watching drowning and looking on Dane flag remember that I forget to check it!).
I am trying to make shallow torpedoes, but problem is with right angle I guess. But to get 90 degree is so hard for newbie.

That scheme explains lot, thanks.

BTW - how You deal with speadboats if You can not use a deck gun because of weather? What is tactics against warships when You can not use torpedoes? Dive and tray to slip away while repairing damage?

Thanks for answers.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Ahmed_Yjj

Yes, i`m new. Well I am 1939 and have successfully lunched torpedoes only few times, including to Dane ship (such a success, but then at watching drowning and looking on Dane flag remember that I forget to check it!).
I am trying to make shallow torpedoes, but problem is with right angle I guess. But to get 90 degree is so hard for newbie.

That scheme explains lot, thanks.

BTW - how You deal with speadboats if You can not use a deck gun because of weather? What is tactics against warships when You can not use torpedoes? Dive and tray to slip away while repairing damage?

Thanks for answers.

And good hunting....

[Dissaray]

The best thing you can do with regard to war ships is not get found out by them. Failing that going as deep as you can never hurts. Switching over to silent runing is also a good idea. The simple fact is that distroyers, the most common war ship you are likely to encounter, are biult with two things in mind killing you and killing aircraft; they are very good at what they do. Battleships, aircraft cariers and heavy crusers on the other hand are sitting ducks, having no weapons to counter a sub on them and therefor reliant on the smaller ships. Generaly speeking the renown for sinking distroyers and other anti-sub warfair ships isn't worth the expence of a torpido, save them for the bigger ships if at all possible.

As for your trubles in geting a 90deg torpido strike, ya it is hard. One thing you have to do in order to get this done is plan ahead. The best general plan is to get out ahead of your target and on a perpendicular course. Get accurate speed and AOB readings, if you are using manual targeting, and fire your torpido when your gyroangle is close to 000. This will result in your torpido streeking out from your tube and going in a strait line and if you have all the data correct the ship will reach the point directly infront of you at the same time the torpido reaches out to the distance to target and if all is right with the torpido a fantasitic explosion will be yoru reward.

[Paul Riley]

Originally Posted by Ahmed_Yjj

Yes, i`m new. Well I am 1939 and have successfully lunched torpedoes only few times, including to Dane ship (such a success, but then at watching drowning and looking on Dane flag remember that I forget to check it!).
I am trying to make shallow torpedoes, but problem is with right angle I guess. But to get 90 degree is so hard for newbie.

That scheme explains lot, thanks.

BTW - how You deal with speadboats if You can not use a deck gun because of weather? What is tactics against warships when You can not use torpedoes? Dive and tray to slip away while repairing damage?

Thanks for answers.

Personally I would refrain from attacking warships as much as you can,after all,UBoats were designed to sink merchant shipping (ideally when undetected),the surface fleets are designed to engage warships in a duel.
HOWEVER,there may be times when you are evading a warship and he is perfectly lined up for a stern (rear) shot as he chases you (it is possible to lure warships into chasing you and you are at periscope depth moving away from him,then you can force him to run into one of your stern torpedoes),and the rare moments you may get the chance to sink a capitol ship/battleship etc etc,in which case an attack would be too irresistable to refuse!

And forget speedboats,they are not worth the time and effort,giving something like a meagre 50-100 tonnes? for bagging one,simply evade them and stay down until they are out of sight,then surface.If you REALLY wanted to attack one maybe using the AA guns would seem a better choice.

[Pisces]

Speedboats are too fast, too small and move around too much. Don't bother with them. Just go for big merchants, freighters... basically anything that has big cargo holds. Trampsteamers and bigger should be your prey.

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by Pisces

Speedboats are too fast, too small and move around too much. Don't bother with them. Just go for big merchants, freighters... basically anything that has big cargo holds. Trampsteamers and bigger should be your prey.

I agree; speedboats can kill your deck crew pretty quickly (if you are playing with GWX or another realistic mod). Plus, they will often call destroyers for backup.

[timmy41]

dont forget that until 1940-41 that a third of the torpedoes were duds

[krashkart]

Originally Posted by Ahmed_Yjj

BTW - how You deal with speadboats if You can not use a deck gun because of weather? What is tactics against warships when You can not use torpedoes? Dive and tray to slip away while repairing damage?

Thanks for answers.

Hi Ahmed_Yjj. Those little torpedo boats aren't worth the ammunition. They move too fast for the deck gun, so if one spots you while you are surfaced it is best practice to dive and slip away. Don't waste any torpedoes on them, either. The only real good thing about them is that they aren't equipped with detection gear.

Welcome to Subsim!