My First Acoustic Torpedo Attack

Sawdust · 04-22-07, 11:07 AM

After 6 months of not playing, I decided to fire up SHIII this morning. (Reading these foruxms added some inspiration.

) I started a new career in 1942, operating out of Bergen, Norway, a place I hadn't used before.

One new surprise was that my Type VII U-boat was outfitted with a few of the T IV, acoustically-guided torpedoes. I hadn't ever used them before (mostly because I was always killed before 1942 arrived

).

Anyways, I came across a Small Merhcant and a C2 Cargo ship travelling together in the seas to the northeast of Scapa Flow. My first torpedo missed the C2 (too far aft); I was a little rusty using the TDC.

The second torpedo wounded the C2, but didn't sink it...and the Small Merchant was beginning to steam away.

I surfaced to finish off both ships with the deck gun, but couldn't due to the weather. The small merchant started shooting me with its gun, so I had to submerge (with a damaged foredeck). The small merchant was going too fast to catch while submerged, so I figured I'd have to let it go and just stay to finish off the slowed C2.

Then I remembered the acoustic torpedo loaded in the aft tube! :hmm: This was perfect opportunity to test it out. I slowly turned my aft tubes toward the escaping merchant and just set the TDC to give the torpedo a 0° gyro angle in the general direction of the merchant (now about 1500m away).

After firing, I watched the torpedo on the F6 screen. It was slow, but was gradually gaining ground (gaining water?) on the small merchant, which was zig-zagging away. I hoped that the torpedo could catch up to the target before reaching its maximum range. It was magical to watch the torpedo occasionally adjust its course to home in on the target! Eventually, a hit was scored and the merchant was sunk, 2000+ meters away!

I'll definitely have a few acoustic torpedoes on board for every mission. All that remains now is to finish off the crippled C2 with a torpedo and send in a positive report to headquarters.

emtmedic005 · 04-22-07, 11:21 AM

Yeah those acoustic torpedos r great but they suck when ur trying to sink an Aircraft carrier

I love to use them against DDs and escorts comming after u, If u want to get better at acoustic torpedo attacks, set something up in the Mission Editor and do some practice, there lots of fun.

Herr Russ · 04-23-07, 08:42 AM

I had my last career saved many times by keeping an acoustic in a stern tube. Unfortunately, I've also been hit by my own acoustic torpedo as well.. That hurts..

I don't know if they also have a magnetic pistol, since I often have to fire them conventionally (last eel left) and although I can set the pistol type, they never seem to explode under the keel..

Congrats on the shot!!

fastfed · 04-23-07, 08:48 AM

I would only "waste" An acoustic torp against a DD, do you guys agree with that?

Puster Bill · 04-23-07, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfed

I would only "waste" An acoustic torp against a DD, do you guys agree with that?

Not necessarily. There are times when it is prudent to use an acoustic torpedo against a high value target, if only to stop them or slow them down so that you can take more shots at them.

For instance, I there was a capital ship or a large tanker that was going to fast for me to chase submerged, I would use one in that situation.

gabeeg · 04-23-07, 12:43 PM

Like Puster Bill, I find value in using them against larger fast targets. A hit will either disable the ship or reduce its speed. This is very helpful in a convoy or taskforce situation. The escorts will eventual abandon the stricken vessel and with a little patience you will have a nice fat target to destroy at your leisure. The only problem with this tactic is that it negates one of the benefits of using accoustics, I find you have to aim them a bit more than you usually have to. If you don't take at least a half-way decent aim at your intended target, chances are the torp will take off after an escort or some other fast moving vessel.

They are darn fun to watch. One of the funnest attacks I can recall was in an XXI at around 30m depth with the 6 forward tubes loaded with 4 LUTs and 2 Accoustics. I launched them all blind in a spread as the first ship in the convoy passed my nose. Not really a historically correct attack nor the most effiecent...but I wanted to see what would happen...it was also early '45 and I needed every advantage to avoid the escorts. Surprisingly I had 5 hits on 3 different ships!

For full disclosure...I have edited my installation so that all torps are free....I do not believe in spending renown on ammo

emtmedic005 · 04-23-07, 01:18 PM

OK just being a curuois captain i tried to fire an acoustic torpedo at my own boat, but it never works. hahaha

gabeeg · 04-23-07, 01:29 PM

LOL....well curiosity did kill the cat....

Have you tried launching from a stern tube with torp set to 0 degrees while you are surfaced going at flank speed? Seems like if it were possible to hit yourself that this would be the best bet...I am real curious how you make out.

From what I have read, it seems it is likely that one or more boats were actually thought sunk by there own torps during the war...

Keelbuster · 04-23-07, 02:14 PM

I recently started using acoustic torps to attack convoys in fog. I'll approach using the hydrophone, take a rough course and speed estimate, then which I think I'm ~2kms away from them, launch a couple of T5s in. They almost always find _something_ in a big mass like that. The only problem is that if they only disable a ship, it's hard to find it in the fog to make a kill shot, especially if it's engine is off and it has no hydrophone signature.

Keelbuster · 04-23-07, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabeeg

LOL....well curiosity did kill the cat....

Have you tried launching from a stern tube with torp set to 0 degrees while you are surfaced going at flank speed? Seems like if it were possible to hit yourself that this would be the best bet...I am real curious how you make out.

From what I have read, it seems it is likely that one or more boats were actually thought sunk by there own torps during the war...

I've never been able to make this work - firing the torp at flank, with a 90 degree gyro, while turning. The problem is that the torp has a RTE (run-to-enable) of about a klick or so, making it hard (impossible?) to get inside of its search cone. I've used them on other subs in multiplayer with great success (they can even track a boat in silent running). On the other hand, I think i've read posts about people TVing themselves.

Maybe the way to do it is to get it tracking a boat that is approaching you, then pass that boat head-on, at flank, and capture the torp's interest. Maybe?

shadow701 · 04-29-07, 11:43 AM

I've torpedoed my own boat a bit more than I care to admit.

Acoustics are supposed to lock on to the loudest sound after a run of 400m. If it locks onto a destroyer that's locked on to you, it's possible for it to follow the destroyer into your path. That's why they advise you to dive to 50-60m and run silent after firing them from the bow tubes.

04-22-07, 11:07 AM	#1
Sawdust Planesman Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Quadrant DB22 Posts: 198 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My First Acoustic Torpedo Attack After 6 months of not playing, I decided to fire up SHIII this morning. (Reading these foruxms added some inspiration. ) I started a new career in 1942, operating out of Bergen, Norway, a place I hadn't used before. One new surprise was that my Type VII U-boat was outfitted with a few of the T IV, acoustically-guided torpedoes. I hadn't ever used them before (mostly because I was always killed before 1942 arrived ). Anyways, I came across a Small Merhcant and a C2 Cargo ship travelling together in the seas to the northeast of Scapa Flow. My first torpedo missed the C2 (too far aft); I was a little rusty using the TDC. The second torpedo wounded the C2, but didn't sink it...and the Small Merchant was beginning to steam away. I surfaced to finish off both ships with the deck gun, but couldn't due to the weather. The small merchant started shooting me with its gun, so I had to submerge (with a damaged foredeck). The small merchant was going too fast to catch while submerged, so I figured I'd have to let it go and just stay to finish off the slowed C2. Then I remembered the acoustic torpedo loaded in the aft tube! :hmm: This was perfect opportunity to test it out. I slowly turned my aft tubes toward the escaping merchant and just set the TDC to give the torpedo a 0° gyro angle in the general direction of the merchant (now about 1500m away). After firing, I watched the torpedo on the F6 screen. It was slow, but was gradually gaining ground (gaining water?) on the small merchant, which was zig-zagging away. I hoped that the torpedo could catch up to the target before reaching its maximum range. It was magical to watch the torpedo occasionally adjust its course to home in on the target! Eventually, a hit was scored and the merchant was sunk, 2000+ meters away! I'll definitely have a few acoustic torpedoes on board for every mission. All that remains now is to finish off the crippled C2 with a torpedo and send in a positive report to headquarters. __________________ .-. --- ..- --. .... ... . .- ... .- .... . .- -..

04-23-07, 12:43 PM	#6
gabeeg Helmsman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fresno, CA USA Posts: 101 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	Like Puster Bill, I find value in using them against larger fast targets. A hit will either disable the ship or reduce its speed. This is very helpful in a convoy or taskforce situation. The escorts will eventual abandon the stricken vessel and with a little patience you will have a nice fat target to destroy at your leisure. The only problem with this tactic is that it negates one of the benefits of using accoustics, I find you have to aim them a bit more than you usually have to. If you don't take at least a half-way decent aim at your intended target, chances are the torp will take off after an escort or some other fast moving vessel. They are darn fun to watch. One of the funnest attacks I can recall was in an XXI at around 30m depth with the 6 forward tubes loaded with 4 LUTs and 2 Accoustics. I launched them all blind in a spread as the first ship in the convoy passed my nose. Not really a historically correct attack nor the most effiecent...but I wanted to see what would happen...it was also early '45 and I needed every advantage to avoid the escorts. Surprisingly I had 5 hits on 3 different ships! For full disclosure...I have edited my installation so that all torps are free....I do not believe in spending renown on ammo __________________ Kind Regards, Harry J. Miktarian

04-23-07, 01:29 PM	#8
gabeeg Helmsman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fresno, CA USA Posts: 101 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	LOL....well curiosity did kill the cat.... Have you tried launching from a stern tube with torp set to 0 degrees while you are surfaced going at flank speed? Seems like if it were possible to hit yourself that this would be the best bet...I am real curious how you make out. From what I have read, it seems it is likely that one or more boats were actually thought sunk by there own torps during the war... __________________ Kind Regards, Harry J. Miktarian

04-23-07, 02:14 PM	#9
Keelbuster Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: BA 72 Posts: 1,092 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I recently started using acoustic torps to attack convoys in fog. I'll approach using the hydrophone, take a rough course and speed estimate, then which I think I'm ~2kms away from them, launch a couple of T5s in. They almost always find _something_ in a big mass like that. The only problem is that if they only disable a ship, it's hard to find it in the fog to make a kill shot, especially if it's engine is off and it has no hydrophone signature. __________________

04-22-07, 11:21 AM	#2
emtmedic005 Weps Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Andover, MA Posts: 361 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yeah those acoustic torpedos r great but they suck when ur trying to sink an Aircraft carrier I love to use them against DDs and escorts comming after u, If u want to get better at acoustic torpedo attacks, set something up in the Mission Editor and do some practice, there lots of fun.

04-23-07, 08:42 AM	#3
Herr Russ Officer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Diego, CA. Posts: 246 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I had my last career saved many times by keeping an acoustic in a stern tube. Unfortunately, I've also been hit by my own acoustic torpedo as well.. That hurts.. I don't know if they also have a magnetic pistol, since I often have to fire them conventionally (last eel left) and although I can set the pistol type, they never seem to explode under the keel.. Congrats on the shot!!

04-23-07, 08:48 AM	#4
fastfed Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 786 Downloads: 254 Uploads: 0	I would only "waste" An acoustic torp against a DD, do you guys agree with that?

04-23-07, 01:18 PM	#7
emtmedic005 Weps Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Andover, MA Posts: 361 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	OK just being a curuois captain i tried to fire an acoustic torpedo at my own boat, but it never works. hahaha

04-29-07, 11:43 AM	#11
shadow701 Swabbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Atlantic, NY Posts: 12 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've torpedoed my own boat a bit more than I care to admit. Acoustics are supposed to lock on to the loudest sound after a run of 400m. If it locks onto a destroyer that's locked on to you, it's possible for it to follow the destroyer into your path. That's why they advise you to dive to 50-60m and run silent after firing them from the bow tubes.