Heavy seas affect torpedo performance?

Gambit · 01-10-09, 07:53 AM

Hi all, I'm a newbie here. Have learnt a lot from this forum the last few weeks thanks to everybody. I've practiced much manual targeting including the Dick O'Kane constant bearing method which works quite well!

However I have a question. In my current scenario I've a juicy 6 ship convoy coming down in 2 nice rows for a constant bearing shot. However I've tried twice and miss with all 4 bow torpedoes.

This hasn't happened to me before. The only difference seems to be the heavy seas (my conning tower pokes out sometimes in the wave troughs).

Finally my question: Does the sea state affect torpedo performance, e.g. at 25ft depth setting do they jump out of the waves and affect accuracy? What can be done if so? I really want to nail this convoy. Thanks.

JonB · 01-10-09, 11:16 AM

Do you have extarnal view activated? In that case you can follow a torpedo and see if it´s ever out of the water... If it never out of the water, then I dont think the waves affect it...

Are they too fast or too slow? Have you got about 90 degrees to the targets? And perhaps most important, have you opened the torpedo doors prior to the shooting???

SteamWake · 01-10-09, 11:55 AM

Honestly sea state seem to have no effect on torpedoes with the sole exception of premature detonations.

If you follow a torp in rough seas with the external camera you will see that at times it actually 'flys' through the air between troughs.

Not very realistic but it is what it is.

As to speed, range, and course it doesent seem to effect them. I havent tested range though as I rarely take a shot from outside of 2,000 yards.

Perhaps the heavy seas are effecting your inital solutions.

Its a good question and welcome to sub sim.

Good luck have fun.

Gambit · 01-10-09, 10:08 PM

Thanks for the advice guys.

I've got a perfect constant bearing solution, 90 degrees to target track, and opened all doors prior to firing. Speed should be good, been tracking them for hours. About 1500 yards in range.

I will go to external view to check it out, although I'd usually prefer to maintain some realism. Hope to find out why I'm missing!

In one of my retries, COMSUBPAC actually told me 'good find, break contact, we'll take care of it, rtb at your discretion.'

Like hell I'm doing that!

Aramike · 01-11-09, 01:54 AM

Any chance your fish are passing underneath your target?

Sandman_28054 · 01-11-09, 02:25 AM

Now I can testify that heavy seas do play a row.

Playing TMO, just try to shot at an Auxliary Subchaser in high seas. The "fish" will do nothing but pass under the hull.

Gambit · 01-11-09, 06:37 AM

I gave it another shot. All the targets have drafts between 20-28 ft.

I set various torpedo depths, none less than 18 ft. All missed and went exactly under the merchants. Either all the magnetic fuses are seriously porked, or the heavy sea state is making them run deeper.

I'm going to try with depths no higher than 15 ft and will report results.

Lagger123987 · 01-11-09, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gambit

I gave it another shot. All the targets have drafts between 20-28 ft.

I set various torpedo depths, none less than 18 ft. All missed and went exactly under the merchants. Either all the magnetic fuses are seriously porked, or the heavy sea state is making them run deeper.

I'm going to try with depths no higher than 15 ft and will report results.

The magnetic fuses are unless in the early war till they fixed it in 1943, also, torpedoes tend to run deeper than it usually set it too, so like if you put 25ft, it might go down to like 5-10ft deeper than what you just input it to.

Gambit · 01-11-09, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagger123987

The magnetic fuses are unless in the early war till they fixed it in 1943, also, torpedoes tend to run deeper than it usually set it too, so like if you put 25ft, it might go down to like 5-10ft deeper than what you just input it to.

Yeah I knew that. However my other torpedoes from just a few days earlier in the patrol were ok with magnetic settings. So the only difference is the weather, unless I really happen to have a bad batch. I agree that's a possibility, but think it is remote at this point.

Anyway, latest test: 4 torpedoes, depths 10, 12, 15, 10. Four direct hits on a merchant with draft 28.

I think I'm going to set lower depths in high sea states from here on.

SteamWake · 01-11-09, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gambit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagger123987

The magnetic fuses are unless in the early war till they fixed it in 1943, also, torpedoes tend to run deeper than it usually set it too, so like if you put 25ft, it might go down to like 5-10ft deeper than what you just input it to.

Yeah I knew that. However my other torpedoes from just a few days earlier in the patrol were ok with magnetic settings. So the only difference is the weather, unless I really happen to have a bad batch. I agree that's a possibility, but think it is remote at this point.

Anyway, latest test: 4 torpedoes, depths 10, 12, 15, 10. Four direct hits on a merchant with draft 28.

I think I'm going to set lower depths in high sea states from here on.

Ah I dident understand what you were saying completly. Heavy seas can effect the 'draft' of a ship as it pitches and rolls. See it effects the target, not the torpedo.

Also remember that the torpedoes tend to run 10' too deep in the first place.

In these conditions you are best off setting the torpedoe as shallow as you can with a contact fuse. I like Mk10's for these conditions.

rifleman13 · 01-11-09, 11:46 PM

Tried to sink a Kuma class criuser just south of the Shortland Islands on Oct 1942 in a Gar class.
Lined up a perfect shot and fired a spread of 6 fish.
Four premature detonations and two duds.
This happened during really rough seas.
Gave up since it was very annoying.

Sandman_28054 · 01-12-09, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gambit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagger123987

The magnetic fuses are unless in the early war till they fixed it in 1943, also, torpedoes tend to run deeper than it usually set it too, so like if you put 25ft, it might go down to like 5-10ft deeper than what you just input it to.

Yeah I knew that. However my other torpedoes from just a few days earlier in the patrol were ok with magnetic settings. So the only difference is the weather, unless I really happen to have a bad batch. I agree that's a possibility, but think it is remote at this point.

Anyway, latest test: 4 torpedoes, depths 10, 12, 15, 10. Four direct hits on a merchant with draft 28.

I think I'm going to set lower depths in high sea states from here on.

As a general rule of thumb for me, unless the circumstances dictate differently, I never set my "fish" to run deeper than 3.5'.

Even at that, in heavy seas, I have personally seen a torpedo running at 3.5' hit the bottom of the hull, and I have also seen some torpedos in heavy seas, hit the deck.

01-10-09, 07:53 AM	#1
Gambit Watch Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 17 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 0	Heavy seas affect torpedo performance? Hi all, I'm a newbie here. Have learnt a lot from this forum the last few weeks thanks to everybody. I've practiced much manual targeting including the Dick O'Kane constant bearing method which works quite well! However I have a question. In my current scenario I've a juicy 6 ship convoy coming down in 2 nice rows for a constant bearing shot. However I've tried twice and miss with all 4 bow torpedoes. This hasn't happened to me before. The only difference seems to be the heavy seas (my conning tower pokes out sometimes in the wave troughs). Finally my question: Does the sea state affect torpedo performance, e.g. at 25ft depth setting do they jump out of the waves and affect accuracy? What can be done if so? I really want to nail this convoy. Thanks.

01-10-09, 11:16 AM	#2
JonB Bosun Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Halmstad, Sweden Posts: 69 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Do you have extarnal view activated? In that case you can follow a torpedo and see if it´s ever out of the water... If it never out of the water, then I dont think the waves affect it... Are they too fast or too slow? Have you got about 90 degrees to the targets? And perhaps most important, have you opened the torpedo doors prior to the shooting???

01-10-09, 11:55 AM	#3
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Honestly sea state seem to have no effect on torpedoes with the sole exception of premature detonations. If you follow a torp in rough seas with the external camera you will see that at times it actually 'flys' through the air between troughs. Not very realistic but it is what it is. As to speed, range, and course it doesent seem to effect them. I havent tested range though as I rarely take a shot from outside of 2,000 yards. Perhaps the heavy seas are effecting your inital solutions. Its a good question and welcome to sub sim. Good luck have fun.

01-10-09, 10:08 PM	#4
Gambit Watch Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 17 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the advice guys. I've got a perfect constant bearing solution, 90 degrees to target track, and opened all doors prior to firing. Speed should be good, been tracking them for hours. About 1500 yards in range. I will go to external view to check it out, although I'd usually prefer to maintain some realism. Hope to find out why I'm missing! In one of my retries, COMSUBPAC actually told me 'good find, break contact, we'll take care of it, rtb at your discretion.' Like hell I'm doing that!

01-11-09, 01:54 AM	#5
Aramike Ocean Warrior Best of SUBSIM Chairman Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 3,207 Downloads: 59 Uploads: 0	Any chance your fish are passing underneath your target?

01-11-09, 02:25 AM	#6
Sandman_28054 Captain Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 547 Downloads: 279 Uploads: 0	Now I can testify that heavy seas do play a row. Playing TMO, just try to shot at an Auxliary Subchaser in high seas. The "fish" will do nothing but pass under the hull.

01-11-09, 06:37 AM	#7
Gambit Watch Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 17 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 0	I gave it another shot. All the targets have drafts between 20-28 ft. I set various torpedo depths, none less than 18 ft. All missed and went exactly under the merchants. Either all the magnetic fuses are seriously porked, or the heavy sea state is making them run deeper. I'm going to try with depths no higher than 15 ft and will report results.

01-11-09, 11:46 PM	#11
rifleman13 Grey Wolf Join Date: May 2008 Location: Depth-charged to Kingdom Come Posts: 927 Downloads: 28 Uploads: 0	Tried to sink a Kuma class criuser just south of the Shortland Islands on Oct 1942 in a Gar class. Lined up a perfect shot and fired a spread of 6 fish. Four premature detonations and two duds. This happened during really rough seas. Gave up since it was very annoying.