How´s it possible?

[vodkavera]

I know that it´s impossible to use the deckgun or the flak when it´s stormy weather.
That´s allright by me, but I was wondering how is it possible to reload
the torpedoes from the external reserve when its windy and high waves?

I thought that the torps where stored in some sort of compartemens on deck and that the where manually moved/loaded to below. Is that right? How did it work?

For me it seems that reloading in a storm is a very risky project....:hmm:

/VV

[Sailor Steve]

That's one of the places where the game is messed up; it does let you reload 1-ton torpedoes from the external storage when the weather is too heavy for gun use. Also in bad weather you shouldn't even be able to load the internally-stored torpedoes - it's just too dangerous.

I only reload externals when the weather is dead calm and my boat is at a full stop.

[Mush Martin]

in RL often they would do it with decks awash as it made torpedo
handling much easier and the job go faster.
M

[Jimbuna]

Here's a few scanned photos to give everyone an idea of what such an operation entailed.....I have a few more, and will try to dig them out after I've had a bite to eat

[Wilcke]

Great pictures! That looks like a really miserable operation there. Even in calm seas.

[candy2500]

nice photos jimbuna, looks like they had there hands full loading them torps.

[vodkavera]

Very nice photos jimbuna.
That really gives an idea how it was and nothing that was done in hard weather.

/VV

[Jimbuna]

Decks Awash

[Skubber]

I just have it as a personal rule that I do not load externals unless seas are calm, and i do not load internals on the surface in very bad weather.

Also, if I am attacked mid-way through loading an external, I consider my u-boat unable to submerge. So I tend to not even try to load these if I am in a hot spot for enemy warships.

[K-61]

I also play by this honour rule, not loading external reserves unless the seas are reasonably still. My last patrol I came back to port with my stern external reserve still in its canister, as the weather was miserable all the way back to port. I've never been jumped yet while moving externals, but other players have reported that if they are jumped, they consider this torpedo abandoned in the haste to dive and make a point of not using it.

External torpedoes were stored below the deck plates in a watertight tube. The normal practice was to wait until the boat was in an area where they weren't likely to be surprised by an aircraft or enemy vessel. As shown in the photos above, it required a type of winch to be erected. In the game, you cannot move your stern external torpedo to the bow, or vice versa, but in real life they could; by tying flotation vests to the torpedo and tying lines to it, it could be floated fore or aft and then taken inside.

[BulSoldier]

I never imagined that internal torps couldnt be loaded in rough weather but reading it now it all makes sense.
Btw how the uboots stored enough fresh food for all the journey ? And did the supply boats had food suplies (probably did) and did they had freezer to store them ?

[K-61]

Thanks, guys. I now have one more honour rule to play by: no reloading internal torpedoes in rough weather. Does make very much sense; those things are heavy and would bob back and forth as they hung from the internal overhead racks. I imagine personal injuries and death could occur from being hit or crushed by a swinging torpedo.

Supply boats [milk cows] carried extra rations, of course, but their main mission was to supply fuel and torpedoes. They also carried doctors and more advanced medical facilities than there was room for on a regular U-boat. A number of sick or injured crewmen from combat subs were transferred to milk cows for treatment or a trip home. I can't recall of them ever carrying freezers; probably wasn't room for them, but I am open to contrary persuasion. The main limitation on the length of a U-boat's patrol was fuel, not food; they'd run low on fuel before running out of food.

[BulSoldier]

I guess it couldnt be avoided(swinging 1.5 ton torpedo).They were actually like small ships.Depth keeping, speed adjustmen(spell?),pistols,power unit, etc...

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by BulSoldier

I never imagined that internal torps couldnt be loaded in rough weather but reading it now it all makes sense.
Btw how the uboots stored enough fresh food for all the journey ? And did the supply boats had food suplies (probably did) and did they had freezer to store them ?

It's my understanding that they just ate the fresh food first and then started on the canned stuff. U.S. subs had freezers and refrigerators, but I'm pretty sure u-boats didn't.

As for transferring supplies at milk cows and supply ships, that could be done but how many u-boats actually ever had that opportunity? I'm betting that most did a patrol without ever resupplying.

Reloading interal torpedoes in bad weather? I use the the fact that it's a submarine and go deep to reload.

[BulSoldier]

I think that XXI had freezer on board. Well i guess the milk cows were quite usable since allies took action in destroying them along with the supplyships.And then all that were laid down to the construction were canceled.